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Education

The Abuja’s Crumbling Schools Where Pupils are Forced to Learn in Pain

Before now, going to school was a delight for Muhammad until his mother transferred him to Science Pilot Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The crumbling infrastructure and broken furniture crushed his enthusiasm, forcing him to learn amid squalor. 

Despite an estimated ₦18 billion allocated to education in the 2024 budget, many schools in FCT remain in disarray. During Campus Reporter‘s visit to the school, our reporter witnessed firsthand the dire conditions. Pupils sat on mats or broken planks, while staff perched on windowsills, their faces etched with frustration.

Pupils of the Science Pilot Primary School, Abaji, sitting on mats

Speaking with our reporter, Salihu Jibril, who is the current headmaster of the school berated the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), which is responsible for providing chairs to the Local Education Authority (LEA), who then distributes and supervises their delivery.

The Universal Basic Education Act 2004 established Local Education Authority (LEA) to support improvement in the education system

“We have reached out to them on several occasions. In fact, there was a time they came to inspect, and we even sent photos of the classes. It’s been two years now, but they keep telling us to wait,” Jibril said. “Most of the pupils in the school sit on the floor, while others sit on mats. Also, the staff sit by the window  due to the lack of chairs.”

As of the time of filing this report, UBEC has yet to respond to Campus Reporter‘s enquiries on the neglect of Science Pilot Primary School. Calls and text messages sent to the board known contacts are yet to be responded to. 

As this reporter delved deeper, more tales of woe unfolded as teachers and pupils shared struggles laced with desperation. One of them, Hafsat Muhammad, a kindergarten class teacher, corroborated the school’s head that their pleas for chairs have fallen on deaf ears of authorities.

“Sixty pupils, seven desks – it’s a crisis. Broken chairs force students to sit on planks, hindering learning. Despite complaints, supervisors ignore our plights. Seeing students suffer due to basic resource shortages is devastating,” Hafsat said.

At Abaji East primary school, pupils and teachers also expressed their concern on the lack of chairs in their school. A class teacher, Muhammad Zaliha, expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation of her school. 

“I’m unhappy because pupils can’t write comfortably on a mat. The government should provide us with chairs,” she said. 

Students sitting on flour sacks in Abaji East Primary School, Abaji

While they said their school authorities have tried their best by providing sacks, they call on the government to renovate the classrooms and provide chairs. 

“The lack of chairs is significantly hindering our pupils’ ability to write effectively. I have taken it upon myself to visit other schools to procure chairs for my pupils and have even used my personal funds to purchase mats to support them. However, I cannot bear the burden alone,” Ismail Muhammad Yusuf, the Headmaster of Abaji East Primary School told Campus Reporter.

Reacting to this, Aminat Bint Ahmad, a lecturer at the National Teachers Institute (NTI) and an evaluator in the Department of Education Quality Assurance in Abaji zone, emphasised the essential factors that contribute to a comfortable learning environment.

A damaged classroom in Abaji East Primary School, Abaji

“Students need their own textbooks, chairs, and visual aids to facilitate comprehensive learning,” she stressed. “Chairs and desks are crucial, as the lack of seating facilities can lead to disengagement.”

 

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