Parents, pupils, teachers, and authorities of St. George’s Primary School, Okeagbe-Akoko in Ondo State are in dire straits following a rainstorm which destroyed facilities they once took pride in, reports DAMOLA KOLA-DARE
Teaching and learning at St. George’s Anglican Primary School, Okeagbe, Akoko in Ondo State were unhindered until March 12, when a rainstorm damaged almost all the facilities in the school. Though now dilapidated, the school administration refused to be discouraged; it is making do with the available facilities to serve the needs of its 467 pupils.
Before the incident, there were five blocks of classrooms. The school had a functional IT laboratory with 30 computers, and a library.
The school closed normally that March 12, for the weekend. However, a rainstorm that started by 5pm that Friday wreaked havoc, leaving the facilities a shadow of their selves. When classes resumed the following Monday, what the pupils and teachers met was destruction.
The roofs of the school’s five blocks, including the library and computer room; the computers and hundreds of books were destroyed. The Head Teacher’s Office was partially affected as well as other buildings in the school’s host community.
However, the Head Teacher, Mrs. Olukemi Bello, said the poor state of facilities did not deter the 467 pupils of the school from learning.
“The school is in a terrible state as I speak to you. The storm that occurred on Friday, March 12, has really affected the school and other facilities, including my office.
‘’However, pupils continue to come to school. They have not allowed that to discourage them. We now use the partially-destroyed classrooms for lessons, though they are not conducive,” she said.
She said the Local Government Chairman for Akoko Northwest, Hon. Ayo Akande, as well as officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had visited the place to assess the damage and chart a way forward.
Appeal for government’s support
During his inauguration in February for the second term in office, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, reiterated his commitment to repositioning education.
“This administration has renovated, rebuilt or constructed almost 800 primary schools through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Our goal is to make all public schools as attractive as possible. We have given approval for the recruitment of teachers in primary schools in the state. As soon as the economy begins to look up, the secondary schools will have their fair share,” he said.
However, St. George’s Anglican Primary School, Okeagbe was not one of the schools rehabilitated and is now in urgent need of government’s intervention.
Parents, teachers and pupils have been sending ‘Save Our Soul’ (SOS) messages to the Ondo State Government, well-meaning individuals and philanthropists for urgent help to reconstruct the school.
The Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Mr. Awe Samuel, expressed sadness on the porous nature of the school after the destruction.
“What happened to the school is disturbing and worrisome. The pupils are now exposed to danger. Classrooms and facilities which cost a lot have been destroyed. I urge the state government to save the future of our children. The school needs to be rebuilt,” he said.
Funsho Abiodun, a Social Studies teacher, said: “The interest of the children is paramount to us. Government should assist us in rebuilding the school. Many of the structures were dilapidated. But the storm worsened everything. Our computers, UPS, and books have been destroyed. We want government to erect new buildings for us. We know the Ondo State Government is committed to education.”
The National President of National Congress of Akoko Students (NACAS), Comrade Lemuel Akinyele, while sympathising with the school, urged the state government to come to the aid of the school and save the future of the pupils.
The Head Boy, Timileyin Ajulo, a Primary Six pupil, lamented that they were learning under terrible conditions, urging the government to come to their aid.
“We are learning under poor conditions. When it rains, we get soaked; our books as well. We are not spared by the sun, too. The classroom we now use, though partially broken, is not convenient for us. We plead with the government to urgently address the situation. We do not want our education disturbed,” Ajulo pleaded.
While also appealing for quick help, Sarah Olugbenga, the head girl, said: “Since our classrooms got destroyed, learning has been tough for us. Concentrating in an environment like this is difficult. The state government should rescue us as fast as possible.”
Another pupil, Afon Joshua, said: “We learn in the sun. We learn in the rain. It is affecting us. Our school has been blown off by storm. Government should help secure our future.”
Local government cash-strapped
The Local Government Chairman, Akoko Northwest, Ayo Akande, said he could not say how soon reconstruction would commence, citing lack of funds.
“I don’t know how soon the rebuilding will start because the local government does not have the needed funds to embark on the project. Nevertheless, we have contacted the State Universal Basic Education Board and officials in the Ministry of Education.
‘’We have also written letters to the governor and other relevant agencies and forwarded our report to them.”
The copy of the letter was made available to The Nation. The letter entitled: “Rainstorm Havoc in Akoko Northwest Local Government,” was written by the Director-General Services and Administration, T.O. Ibrahim, on behalf of the chairman. It was addressed to the Managing Director, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), office of the Deputy Governor, Akure, Ondo State.
It reads in part: “I am directed to inform you that the heavy rainfall of March 12, 2021 was accompanied with a storm that wreaked havoc in Okeagbe, Akoko precisely, where properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
“The properties destroyed included government buildings, schools, electric poles and ,houses, among others.
“You may also note this for the state government’s possible assistance.”
He called on kind-hearted individuals and prominent indigenes of Akoko for support towards rebuilding the school, adding that the state government couldn’t do it alone.
SUBEB promises help
Chief Education Officer, School Services, Akoko Northwest, Mr. Aina Benjamin Babatunde, who lamented that the school was in bad shape, noted that SUBEB would notify appropriate authorities of the damage.
He said: “Teaching and learning will be seriously disturbed. I was there last week. It was a huge damage. Classrooms were affected, computers and books were destroyed.
“Thus, I asked the headmistress to take the photos of the building which will be submitted alongside her report at the SUBEB headquarters in Akure, the state capital,” Babatunde added.
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