Public School in Need of Surgical Knife

By Ime Udosoh

Schools, especially the public supposed to be a model environment for learning, teaching and the transfer of knowledge for the advancement and progress of society. Efforts of the government, especially the present administration led by Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel through the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Co-ordinating Committee has carried out series of intervention in both Primary and Post Primary schools across the 31 local government areas of the state.

The case of Government Primary School located at Nung Ita Ikot Ebienin Udobia, opposite Uruanwa market square, Oruk Anam local government area seems to be different. The reason could vary, either the governor is not aware of the condition of the school or contract was given and the contract sum siphoned; there is no political leader that has the connection as par where and how to make requisition or requisition has been made but no attention; one politician from the area must have offended ‘the system’ as a result, the entire community is punished or ‘the system’ believed that the area did not give enough support.

The school in question has become a habitation for all sorts of rodents and dangerous animals. It has become both a reservoir and breeding ground for cows, sheep, goats including rabbits. The environment has become greenish enough to attract all manners of macro and micro-organisms. Tall grasses have formed alliances with trees to form a mini forest within the school premises.

While pupils sit on the bare floor to learn, teachers stand from the beginning to the close of the school as others have their rest by leaning on the wall. The school, which was built in 1986, has all buildings in complete state of dilapidation.

Speaking to our reporter, some citizens of the community who claimed for attending the school called on the government, public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the school as pupils are exposed to what they described as unnecessary pains, “we don’t know why the present government is abandoning us here in Oruk Anam, I don’t think that we decided on coming to be born in this area or is it a crime to be born in a community as this? Our children are passing through unnecessary pains in the course of seeking for their future, if the government says that education is free, is this the effect of free education that we are facing? I think the government should come to our rescue by reconstructing the school for our children to have a sense of belonging”.