From Sola Ojo, Abuja
In the rural community of Sankwab Runji, Zango Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State, the crumbling walls of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School stand as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by pupils and teachers in several rural communities in Nigeria.
In recent years, Kaduna State Government has made impactful strides in the provision of infrastructure in schools across the state though more in the urban areas.
But, communities like Sankwab Runji, and several others, are yet to feel the impact of the government and donor agencies like UNICEF within reach.
Despite the determination and relentless effort of the community, the school’s precarious state has become a symbol of neglect, threatening the future of its 200 pupils as parents with deep pockets evacuate their children from the school to a better one.
For years, the school has operated with partially collapsed walls, exposing its pupils to harsh weather conditions.
In the wet season, rainwater floods the classrooms, while cold winds whip through the exposed spaces during the dry season. Many parents prefer their children to stay at home during harmattan.
The challenges are overwhelming, yet the community refuses to give up on its oars, believing things will turn out well in due course.
Established in 1992 with just a block of two classrooms by the state government, the school depended on community efforts to build additional classrooms.
The parents believe that with government intervention, the resilience of the pupils, and the dedication of their teachers, they can inspire change and enable their children to achieve their academic dreams.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mr. Bitrus Magaji, lamented the situation, stating, “We have only four teachers who are making extraordinary efforts to ensure learning continues.
“Every year, community members make voluntary contributions and provide community service to fix the school, but each year brings new challenges. The school’s makeshift solutions, including holding classes under tree shades, are inadequate.
“Some parents have been forced to transfer their children to nearby public or private schools, while others remain determined to keep their children in the community school”, he added.
Also sharing his mind, the Youth Leader in the community, Mr. Livinus Achi, expressed frustration and appealed to the state government and local government chairman to intervene.
“We have been engaging in community service, but the situation is getting worse. We need the state government’s assistance to rebuild our school.
“That is why we are calling on our Governor, Senator Uba Sani and the Local Government Chairman, Engineer Bege Joseph to come to our assistance”, he appealed.
A parent, Mr. Joseph Bitrus, decried the state of the 32-year-old school, urging the state government, corporate bodies and wealthy individuals to come to its rescue.
Mr. Moses Dodo, an indigenous member of the community who participated in the building of the collapsed classroom blocks three decades ago, expressed deep concern for the future of the children growing up in the community.
“I’m one of the pioneers of the school. When I travelled home during the festive period and saw the dilapidating state of the school, I developed goose pimples with my jaw dropping on my chest.
“I remembered how we worked hard to build two blocks of two classrooms each in addition to the one built by the state government so at least we could have six classes.
“Unfortunately, the two blocks built by community effort have collapsed. Even the one built by the state government is nothing to write home about because there are no windows, no doors, no chairs, no table, let alone any other learning material for the pupils.
“That school is the only hope for the village children. The nearest primary school is far away. We have to cross many rivers.
“Again, there is no secondary school in the village. In those days, when we came back from school, we used to organise lessons for our younger ones.
“That was what led to that single block we put up then. Already, the children are no longer going to school. The local politicians have been complaining, but there has been no impact yet. We need help from anywhere it can come”, Dodo pleaded.
As the pupils and teachers in this Zango Kataf elementary school struggle to learn and teach in unbearable conditions, will their cries for help be heard, or will their dreams be crushed by the crumbling walls of their school? Only time will tell.