The dire state of the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Jijimgba, Kuje Area Council, is a stark reminder of the education infrastructure crisis in most parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Development Diaries reports that parents of pupils at the school have begun withdrawing their children due to a shortage of teachers and the deteriorating condition of the classrooms, according to findings by Daily Trust.
The fact that pupils sit on the bare floor while teachers resort to perching on windows due to the lack of desks and chairs is a blatant violation of their right to quality education.
With Nigeria already grappling with an out-of-school children crisis, estimated at 20 million by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2022, neglecting primary education in rural communities like Jijimgba further contributes to educational inequality.
The dilapidation of classrooms, built through community efforts over 18 years ago, shows a systemic failure in ensuring sustained investment in public education infrastructure.
Despite Abuja’s status as the nation’s capital, rural schools face chronic neglect, leading to overcrowded classrooms, inadequate learning materials, and a severe shortage of teachers.
According to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), over 40 percent of primary school pupils in Nigeria lack access to proper learning facilities.
UBEC’s statistics further reveal that the country’s schools lack 194,867 qualified teachers and 1.1 million classrooms.
The lack of qualified teachers in Jijimgba, compounded by insecurity concerns, further cripples the learning process.
Without urgent intervention, many more parents may withdraw their children, increasing the already high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The FCT Education Secretariat must uphold its mandate to provide accessible and quality education for all children, irrespective of their location.
Development Diaries calls on the Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, to prioritise addressing infrastructural gaps in schools like Jijimgba by ensuring the provision of desks, chairs, and adequate classroom structures.
Furthermore, targeted interventions such as incentives for teachers posted to rural areas and security enhancements would encourage retention and improve learning outcomes.
The ongoing neglect of primary education in rural Abuja contradicts Nigeria’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG four) on inclusive and equitable education.
Also, the Director of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCTUBEB), Adamu Noma, who oversees the Local Education Authority (LEA) in Kuje, must take immediate action to deploy more teachers and address the infrastructural decay in Jijimgba’s primary school.
The responsibility of ensuring a conducive learning environment falls directly under his office. Beyond this, the FCTUBEB must work with the LEA and relevant authorities to audit and rehabilitate other rural schools facing similar challenges.
The government must recognise that quality basic education is not a privilege but a right, and urgent measures are needed to prevent further educational decline in the FCT’s underserved communities.
Photo source: Daily Trust
