By Ehis Agbon, 14 February 2025.
Kaduna, Nigeria – The LGEA Primary School Sabon Tasha, established in 1977, is facing severe infrastructural, security, and sanitation challenges, threatening the education and safety of its 911 pupils. This was revealed during a one-day advocacy visit conducted on February 3, 2025, by the Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism Education Cohort (KAD-LGAM), in collaboration with Community Action and Outreach on Girl Education (COURAGE) and ProcyonNews RTV.
The visit, which followed earlier community engagements, exposed a range of issues that continue to hinder the school’s growth and the well-being of its learners, especially girls, who make up 599 of the 911 pupils.
A School in Crisis
The school, which attracts learners from nine communities including Gbagyi Villa, Ungwan
Yelwa, and Ungwan Matari, has been plagued by insecurity due to the lack of perimeter fencing. This has turned the school grounds into a hub for criminal activities, including drug use and inappropriate activities after school hours.
“The absence of a fence has made it impossible to secure the premises. Every morning, pupils arrive to find traces of drug use and other disturbing activities, which they have to clean before learning can commence,” said Jeremiah Dawah, a youth leader from Ungwan Matari.
The lack of fencing has also exposed pupils to health hazards, as the school compound has become an open defecation site and a public passage for pedestrians and mentally unstable individuals.
Overcrowded Classrooms and Incomplete Renovations
The advocacy team observed that several classrooms were overcrowded due to ongoing renovations that were abandoned mid-project. In 2024, contractors removed the roofs of some dilapidated classrooms but failed to complete the work, leaving pupils without adequate learning spaces.
“Many classes are now forced to merge, creating multi-grade classrooms where different levels of learners struggle to learn simultaneously,” noted Alheri Waje, the lead of the KAD-LGAM Education Cohort.
Sanitation and Learning Materials in Short Supply
The school’s sanitation facilities are non-existent, with pupils resorting to open defecation around the premises. The lack of functional toilets poses a significant health risk, particularly for female learners.
Additionally, the pupils lack basic educational materials, including books, chalk, uniforms, and playground
equipment for the Early Childhood Care, Development, and Education (ECCDE) learners.
“Our children are willing to learn, but they lack the necessary tools. We appeal to the government to intervene,” said Waniya Ilu, a representative of COURAGE.
Recommendations for Urgent Action
The advocacy team put forward several recommendations to address the school’s challenges:
- Immediate Construction of a Perimeter Fence:
To curb vandalism, restrict unauthorized access, and provide a safe learning environment. - Deployment of Security Personnel:
To protect the school’s infrastructure and ensure the safety of the pupils. - Completion of Abandoned Renovation Projects:
The contractors responsible for the incomplete work should be held accountable to restore the classrooms. - Provision of Essential Learning Materials and ECCDE Facilities:
To support the academic development of pupils, especially pre-primary learners. - Improvement of Sanitation Facilities:
The government should build functional toilets to eliminate open defecation and improve hygiene. - Community Sensitization:
Awareness campaigns should be conducted to discourage the use of the school grounds for non-educational purposes.
A Call to Action
The advocacy visit concluded with an urgent appeal to the Kaduna State Government to prioritize the school’s needs in its education sector interventions. The stakeholders emphasized that timely intervention would not only improve the learning environment but also protect the future of the children who walk long distances daily in pursuit of education.
“This school is a beacon of hope for children from multiple communities. We cannot let it continue to deteriorate,” Waje stressed.
The visit underscored the resilience of the pupils and staff at LGEA Primary School Sabon Tasha and the pressing need for the government and the community to work together to restore the school to a place of safe, effective learning.
