When Olatunji Felicia received her transfer letter to become the principal of Junior Secondary School Awon-ga High School Shao (AHSS), she was brimming with excitement.
Before her appointment, she had heard stories about the school’s condition, but she dismissed them as mere hearsay, her eagerness to assume leadership overshadowing any concerns.
Nestled in the heart of the ancient Shao town in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, the school is the first community secondary school founded in the area, serving as a citadel of learning for people from all walks of life.
However, years later, the school has become a shadow of its former self. To Olatunji’s utmost surprise, she was greeted by only three students and two teachers on her first day.
Her hopes of an academic environment bustling with class activities were instantly dashed, and she realized that reviving the lost glory of AHSS would be her first challenge.
“With the help of some staff, we went to persuade parents in town to enroll their wards in Awon-ga High School,” said Olatunji, who is presumably in her early forties.
According to her, efforts to convince nearby parents to take advantage of the school for their children’s education proved fruitless, as they all cited one obstacle or another.
“The parents all say the same thing—that the school is too far from town, and the road is in poor condition, affecting their children’s health.”
Olatunji further explained that the shortage of teachers and the apathetic attitudes of students were likely due to the inaccessible road, which had forced many to abandon the school.
Even if the road were in good condition, the school’s deplorable state, with no modern facilities to support learning, would still discourage students.
The principal expressed her dissatisfaction with the government’s neglect of the school. She recalled making several efforts to draw the government’s attention, but they yielded no positive results.
“I personally met the Secretary for Education of Moro Local Government in July 2023. She assured us that action would be taken, but there’s been no progress,” she recounted.
A teacher at the school, Jimoh Comfort, who has worked there for a decade, said she never expected the school to fall into such disrepair. “I’ve been teaching at Awon-ga High School for the past ten years, and the school was in good condition back then,” said the Civic Education teacher.
“Today, in Shao town, we are among the schools with the lowest student enrollment and inadequate facilities, despite being the first established school in the area,” she lamented.
Comfort continued, “If there were a school bus to transport students, it would encourage parents to enroll their wards. Students from different villages, towns, and cities would find it easier to attend.”
She also noted that the Ministry of Education occasionally visits the school to assess the infrastructure, but due to the low student numbers, they are not motivated to provide the necessary facilities.
“Despite the distance, if the facilities were available, parents would be eager to enroll their children,” she exclaimed.
A deep dive into Section 4 of the National Policy on Education (NPE) (2014) reveals that the Nigerian government is committed to providing functional basic education for youth and adults who might not have had the opportunity for formal education. It was also reported that Nigeria is grappling with a record 19.7 million out-of-school children.
Although Awon-ga High School is community-owned with government intervention, many challenges highlighted in this report reveal gaps in functional education, forcing locals within this low-income community to send their wards to better-equipped schools in distant locations.
In the Shao community, it was learned that committees represent the town’s interests at the state level, including the Shao Education Committee. This committee is tasked with addressing contemporary issues, challenges, and the way forward in the town’s education sector.
Emmanuel Adebara, a source with considerable knowledge of the school, stated that Awon-ga High School was left in shambles due to religious diversity among the Shao people, leading each sect to prefer supporting schools established by them.
“In the late 1980s, Awon-ga High School was renowned as the best school, attracting students from various states across Nigeria. People from different tribes, including Igbo, Hausa, and Nupe, were enrolled in the school,” said Elder Adebara.
Rebuilding a Lost Glory
When contacted for comments, the Chairman of the Shao Educational Committee, Kehinde Akano, acknowledged the infrastructural problems and low student turnout at the school. He expressed his commitment to rebuilding the school’s lost glory.
“Donations will be sought and be offered to the community as incentives, such as scholarships and sponsorships, so that parents will only need to pay for their wards’ transport, with other costs covered by the donated funds,” the chairman said as necessary steps to revitalize the school.
He also suggested that the community of Shao work together to relocate the school to the center of town, making it easier for students, teachers, and visitors to access.
“With five blocks of classrooms, we can accommodate the students and provide a space for staff,” he added.
Moro LG Chair Reacts
In an interview, the Chairman of Moro Local Government Area, Isiaka Ganniyu Alkinla, noted that he was unaware of the school’s current state as the issue had not been brought to his attention.
The chairman then directed this reporter to the Supervisor for Education of the local government, Abel Awonsola.
When contacted, Awonsola acknowledged that he was aware of the school’s condition and there is planned assessment visit which he will brief the chairman later.
“I plan to visit the school formally and provide the appropriate feedback to the chairman,” he said in a terse response.
