Few
months ago, there was a revelation on Ajuwon secondary school where students
writing exams were made to sit on tyres, dusty floors. Argument on who is
responsible shifted back and forth with chunk of it falling on the state
governor, Ibikunle Amosu, for failing in his election promises.
A
similar scene greets my visit recently when I made a call to Igbobi Junior High
school, Yaba. Unlike the case of Ajuwon high school, something remarkable that
each and every one of us can learn from happened.
****
Igbobi Junior High School, located on the
border axis of the old western region and Lagos now falls under Somolu Local
Government in the heart of Lagos. Established in 1982, during the short-lived
second republic under Jakande’s administration as Igbobi Girls High School (an
all girls school). Before Governor Babatunde Fashola’s
administration facelift the school structure with modern edifice, a
poultry-like structure has been the school standard classroom.
Until few years back
when government put a moratorium on students providing furniture for by
themselves, pupils in this school had better days.
The school comprises of about 2000 students as
at November 2012 with total furniture capable of handling less than 10% of
these students. With words of mouth, I cannot describe what greeted my eyes
when I visited the school.
I will never have agreed
with anyone saying such a situation is possible in Lagos if I didn’t see it
with my own eyes.
During lecture hours,
these young boys and girls hanged on weak wall, sat on makeshift stools or on
heap of dust they gathered as makeshift seat.
From 8:00am when
lecture starts till 2:00pm when the school close shop, these young pupils
between the ages of 10-14 years endured unimaginable conditions in the name of
learning.
July 2012, when the
matter attained a torrid point, an emergency parent/teacher meeting was called
on how to tackle the issue. At the end of a tempered debate, majority of the
parents decided to contribute and put the needed furniture in place.
The vice-principal of
the school, M.A. Adelugba (Mr.), slim in stature, ripe in age and management
experience rejected the resolution.
“After the meeting,
parents sent delegate with a pledge that they want to replace all the
furniture. I blocked the move and swung into action.”
With a hard time
keeping up with the rate at which I rapped my questions, he explained how he
began a journey of letters to Special Adviser to Education (MoEdc.), State
Universal Education Board (SEPEB), Ministry of Education and other agency in charge
of education inn Lagos.
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