Students in Gurfata Community, Ibwa Ward, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, are facing disruptions to their schooling following the poor condition of a junior secondary school building in the community.
The school reportedly has no roof, while parts of the structure are also in need of repair. The condition has affected classes, particularly during periods of rainfall, when pupils and teachers cannot use the facility under normal conditions.
According to civic technology organisation TrackaNG, the situation has disrupted teaching and learning and affected students’ ability to maintain regular academic activities.
The community secretary, identified as Sarki, said some parents have chosen to keep their children away from the school or take them to farms because of the condition of the classroom.
“We see no reason for them to go and be under the rain,” he said.
Residents also alleged that education officials have limited presence in the community. They attributed some of the difficulty in accessing the area to insecurity.
The community has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the FCT Education Board and the Gwagwalada Area Council, including the council chairman, Mohammed Kasim Ikwa, to intervene.
Residents are requesting the rehabilitation of the school, replacement of the roof and improvement of the learning environment to enable pupils and teachers to resume regular classes.
TrackaNG has similarly called for the rehabilitation of the facility, noting that children in rural communities require functioning schools to participate effectively in the education system.
For the pupils in Gurfata, restoring the school would provide a more suitable environment for them to continue their education while allowing teachers to conduct classes with fewer disruptions.