Ajibulu school in state of disrepair

As Parents Task Lagos Govt On Rehabilitation

The Parents’ Forum of Ajibulu Nursery and Primary School, Mafoluku in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government has called on Lagos State government to urgently rehabilitate the school, which is in a bad state.The school, which was the first government school in the area, was established on October 3, 1980. But it has gone into disrepair, due to neglect.

When The Guardian visited, the school premises the present condition has become worrisome, as the pupils are currently learning in a poor environment.Most of the classrooms have no chairs and students have no option than to sit on the floor to take lessons.

The school’s Chairman, Parents’ Forum, Mr. Toyin Ojuola, said most of the structures in the school are in a very terrible state and called on the state government to intervene in rehabilitating the school.He urged the state government to take care of the school, by providing good infrastructural development, because the children are tomorrow’s leaders and have the right to learn in a conducive environment.

He said: “We have been contributing money among ourselves to make the school look better, but there is not much self-help can do considering the school’s condition. We have written series of letters to the state government, informing them of the school’s condition, but they only keep promising.

“We have reported to Lagos State Ministry, including the Office of Deputy Governor. Sometimes, some groups of people will come from Alausa to take the pictures, but we have not seen any development till date. We call on all well meaning Nigerians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to respond and help these children by rehabilitating the school.”

Another parent, Mr. Lukuman Koiki, said the school was one of those established under the leadership of former Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande, but ever since, there has been no maintenance or rehabilitation. We need necessary infrastructure towards the achievement of the educational goals. Whenever it rains, the children will be in the rain, because all the roofs are in bad condition. Koiki explained that the school’s condition became worse, when the students went on Easter vacation and one of the school buildings collapsed.

“The school was in a critical condition after the rainstorm,” he said. Koiki explained that the Forum had been trying to repair most of the dilapidated building since the school was established, stressing that all their efforts to seek government’s intervention were not fruitful.

A parent, Mrs. Benedict Chukwu said the school structures were destroyed by the rainstorm. She said: “There are no windows or doors in all the classrooms, not to talk of other facilities. There is a need to make the learning environment conducive for our students. The students’ experience here is disheartening, as all the classrooms are not in good condition, and they are not happy with it. We appeal to Lagos State government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to our assistance, as a matter of urgency because the damage done by the rainstorm is too enormous for us to manage alone”.

Another leader of the Parents’ Forum, Engineer Williams Nzekwe, said the children were always scared because the ceiling of the building once fell, while they were receiving lessons in the classrooms. He said: “This could have been one of the reasons for low patronage of public schools, thereby making private schools the next option for people who want befitting education for their children and wards.

“I remember one of my daughters called on phone to say the ceiling of their school had collapsed. I had to abandon my work and rush back home. We need government to intervene and rehabilitate this school.“It is regrettable that the school, which was reputable in the past, and produced important personalities in Lagos State, is now an option for only the poorest and vulnerable people, who cannot afford to take their children to private schools. “A great scholar once said, “If you want to destroy any community, you do not need weapons. All you have to do is to reduce the quality of education.”