A non-governmental pro-educational organization, Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Members of the board of trustees of the organization, led by Mr. Solomon Oseagah, during one of their periodic visits to schools in rural areas observed that LEA Primary School, Kpakpantoshi Angwa Shehu Karimo Abuja has been left in a state worse than an IDP camp.
Mr Oseagah who led the team of the board of trustees to the school expressed displeasure at what he described as outright negligence of schools in rural areas by the authorities of the Federal Capital territory.
Addressing newsmen in the organization’s office following inspection of rural schools in FCT, the Chairman, Board of Trustees Light Shedrack said it has become worrisome that FCT administration has continued to cater for schools within the city center, while blatantly neglecting schools and students in rural areas of the federal capital.
He said the school building poses danger to the lives of the pupils even as he said that there are no learning facilities that could aid pupils in their studies.
“From what we saw today, it is obvious that the administration of the Federal capital territory concentrates on schools within the city centers. We have been visiting schools in rural and isolated areas, and our experience is nothing to write home about.
“Today, we visited the LEA Primary School Kpakpantoshi and what we say was better imagined than experienced. From dilapidated buildings which pose safety threat to the lives of the pupils, to classrooms without ceilings, writing boards, desks and tables. The teachers have no enabling and conducive environment to teach. No library. No learning aids and materials. The condition of the pupils could be said to be worse than children in IDP camps. Some of the pupils sit on bare floor to study. The truth is that those children are exposed to avoidable dangers.
Mr. Shedrack said that the school is one of the schools the organization has enlisted in its ”One-child, One-Book Project” of the organization. He therefore called on the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, the senator and honourable members, including the local council authorities representing Kpakpantoshi constituency to hasten to the help of the pupils before the unimaginable happens.
Books Across Borders Initiative is a pro-literacy and skills acquisition advocate group comprising of educationists, authors and other stakeholders in educations and skills acquisition. The group donates mind-enriching books to schools and pupils in rural and isolated areas in Nigeria.