By Moses John
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Mandate Guard, has threatened to mobilise Nigerians against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, and his Education counterpart, Malam Adamu Adamu, over what they described as the “neglect of primary schools within the FCT.”
Convener of the group, Comrade Fidel Obi, in a statement, said a visit to primary schools in Dobi in Gwagwalada and Mpape showed that no less than 150 children are in a class instead of 30.
Obi also lamented that infrastructure and other learning facilities were not on ground, adding that classrooms were looking like goat houses.
He said: “We visited Dobi in Gwagwalada and Nomadic Primary School in Mpape. These schools are under the supervision of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and administered through the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).
“It was amazing to see the decay in our primary schools which is a foundation level for our children. Children are cramped up to about 150 in a class meant for 30 children. Roofs and ceiling boards are off, teaching materials are non-existent, toilet facilities unavailable making children to use adjourning bushes as convenience. Teacher’s office blocks unavailable, buildings collapsing. Classrooms turned to goat houses and emergency toilets and a whole lot me. This visit is an eye opener and the videos and pictures will shock you.
“We call on the relevant authorities-The FCT Minister, UBEB and in fact the Minister of Education to urgently make similar assessments and correct these evils going on. These children are the future of our nation. We cannot be this uninterested in our children and education.”
Continuing, he said: “We have designed a programme that will be executed in series around the nation to expose the yawning gaps between governance and development on one hand and policy and execution on the other hand.
“This programme shall take us to schools from primary to University levels, Hospitals both public and private, roads, infrastructural development and policy formulation across the country.
“All these are in line with the present administrations agenda of change and PMB’s desire at accountability, transparency and good governance. We shall be faced with antagonism, rejection, attacks and intimidation by agents of darkness and sabotage but it is for all of us to be consistent in our thoughts, words and actions. It is for all of us to be patriotic and sincere in our dealings.”
