CRACKED WALLS, LEAKING ROOFS: THE SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN LEARN ON STONES

Pupils of Nomadic Primary School, Bagalang, and Sabara Primary School in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State are being forced to learn on bare floors and stones, while others take lessons under trees due to inadequate classrooms and deteriorating infrastructure.

The crisis was raised in an open letter published on Facebook by a community advocate, Levy Andy, who appealed to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and federal lawmakers to intervene, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE CONDITIONS

Andy identified cracked classroom walls and leaking roofs among the challenges confronting the schools, warning that the deteriorating structures could endanger pupils and teachers.

He lamented that inadequate furniture has forced some pupils to sit on bare floors and stones while receiving lessons.

The shortage of classrooms has resulted in overcrowding, with some pupils allegedly forced to take lessons under trees and remain exposed to harsh weather conditions .

He also identified poor sanitation and inadequate basic hygiene facilities as major challenges requiring urgent government attention.

“Our children’s future is at stake! The poor state of infrastructure in these schools is a serious concern that requires your immediate attention and intervention,” Andy wrote .

ADVERTISEMENT

THE PLEA

Andy specifically appealed to the lawmaker representing Balanga South in the Gombe State House of Assembly, Isaac M. Lamido; the member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ali Isa JC; as well as Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South Senatorial District; and Governor Yahaya.

He called on them to renovate the existing classrooms, provide desks and chairs, construct additional classrooms and improve sanitation facilities at the affected schools.

“Education is the foundation of every society, and no child should be denied a conducive learning environment because of where they come from,” he said. “The children of Bagalang and Sabara deserve the same educational opportunities, dignity, and attention as children in other communities”.

Andy stressed that the appeal was not intended as a political attack but as a call for action to protect the future of children in the communities.

“This is not a political attack against anyone; it is a sincere appeal for the future of our children and the development of our communities,” he said .

He urged the lawmakers and the governor to personally visit the schools, assess their conditions and take immediate steps to address the infrastructure and welfare challenges.

He also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Health and UNICEF to take note of the situation.”Our leaders, please hear the cries of these innocent children. Their future depends on the decisions we make today,” Andy said. “Let us not allow the dreams of our children to be buried under collapsing roofs and inadequate classrooms”.

THE BROADER CONTEXT

The appeal comes amid continuing concerns over inadequate educational infrastructure in rural and underserved communities across Nigeria, where pupils in some areas continue to contend with shortages of classrooms, furniture, sanitation facilities and other basic learning amenities .

In a separate report, The PUNCH had previously documented similar conditions in Galdimari, a community within Gombe metropolis, where children were learning under trees and inside mosques years after the government approved the establishment of a primary school .

WHY IT MATTERS

Every child who sits on a bare floor to learn is a child whose potential is being stifled by neglect.

The children of Bagalang and Sabara are not asking for luxury. They are asking for desks, chairs, and a roof over their heads. They are asking for the same dignity that children in well-equipped schools take for granted.

The government approved a school for Galdimari in 2018. Years later, there are still no classrooms.

If the same fate awaits Bagalang and Sabara, another generation will be lost to the silence of leaders who see but do not act.The letter has been written. The appeal has been made. The question is whether anyone in power will listen. ValidViewNetwork reports.