Nigerian Schools Looking Like Battle Ground, Abandoned And Forgotten.

On a warm Wednesday morning, you stroll into the premises of a public primary school in Lagos. At the entrance, flies in a pile of refuse welcome you as you come face-to-face with this school which is in a state of disrepair. As you move further, a putrid smell from an abandoned classroom block assails your nostrils.

At that moment, you want to run back. But at a distance, the pupils of First African Church Mission Primary School I and II, Iju-Ishaga who are in the morning assembly are singing their marching song: “The day is bright, it is bright and fair, oh, happy day, the day of joy, the day is bright, it is bright and gay, oh happy day.” Left-right-left-right-left-right, and without the luxury of a school band, they marched excitedly into their dilapidated classrooms. Looking at the deplorable state of the school, it is doubtful if they are really going to have a happy day.

There are four buildings in this school and two blocks of three classrooms have been abandoned. Even in the remaining dilapidated blocks, only two classrooms in each block are in use. With blown-off roofs, decayed ceilings, no electricity, no water, no teachers’ room, the school is a dumping place for refuse. At night, it is a magnet for undesirable people and events as some parts of the school fence have collapsed making it porous and accessible to miscreants. At the moment, anyone can enter the school through the collapsed fence.

In fact, the school is an eyesore. Everyday, pupils and teachers are faced with this reality when they come to school. A former Minister of Education during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime once wept after seeing images of dilapidated schools across the federation. Like the minister, the sight of children running about in this distressed school would make anyone sad that our children are studying in such squalid conditions in the Centre of Excellence. According to Education Review investigations, the school, formerly called (UNA) United African Church Primary School, was managed by the Ogun State government for decades and was taken over by the Lagos State government in March last year.

A source who did not want to be named, told Education Review: “For many years, the school had been in a dilapidated state and when it was handed over to Lagos State, Ogun State moved their pupils to a school in their state and only few pupils were left, those who wanted to remain here.

“After taking over, some officials from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) came here to inspect the school, took photographs and surveyed the compound to know what to do concerning the reconstruction and rehabilitation before 2012.

“Similarly, officials from the Education Office at Ifako/Ijaye Local Government, through the Chairman, Chief Demola Doherty, even came and they also promised to assist in repairing the few classrooms that can be used for learning.”