Residents of Bare community in Billi local government area of Gombe State have alleged that their only primary school has been neglected, leading to turning it in to ‘defecating site’ by hoodlums.
Bare Primary School, located behind the Palace of Hakimin Bare, Galadiman Tangale in Billiri town, is facing severe infrastructure challenges, prompting concerns from residents and pupils about the government’s commitment to changing the situation.
The school, which is the only public school in the entire area, has been neglected over the years that it lacks basic amenities that are needed to foster a conducive learning environment.
According to residents’ familiar with the deplorable condition of the school, there is an absence of facilities such as a staff room for teachers, chairs and desk forcing them to use the headteacher’s office.
WikkiTimes learnt that sometimes kids from the neighbourhood turn the school classes into playgrounds due to lack of doors and windows to close them after school hours.
“Children have converted the classes into playing grounds for activities like football, among others. The school buildings lack doors and windows, and the students usually find it difficult, most especially when it’s raining, a teacher who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.
He added “I have been in this school for two years, and when I came, I met the school in this condition, with no sufficient classes. If it’s raining; we keep the students in one class because the rest are leaking.”
A pupil from the school whose identity is hidden due to his age corroborated the teacher’s account, saying, “Our colleagues from other classes use to gather in our class if it’s about to rain because other classes are leaking.”
Residents also lamented that the development has led to criminals taking advantage of the school’s openness as their hideout. According to Zainab Ahmad popularly known as “Zainab PC”, a resident of Bare, “The lack of doors and windows for this school has caused a lot of problems. Some people enter the classes and plan their devilish activities, and it’s not supposed to be. It needs to be renovated and protected.”
She resident disclosed that there were reported cases of thugs and other evil-minded people using the dilapidated buildings, young people reportedly engaging in immoral act of infidelity.
Another resident, Lukman Shu’aibu also known as Bencho noted that “We have severally reported this issue to the local government secretariat, but nothing has been done on this note.”
Residents and pupils are appealing to the government to address the deplorable conditions and provide a conducive learning environment.
In an interview with some students, many commended the efforts and commitment of their teachers towards imparting knowledge to them. They also decried lack of sufficient instructional materials.
“Our friends from other schools use to mock us by saying that our school is ‘Makarantan kashi’ because people use to defecate in our classes because our classes don’t have windows and doors. It has turned to public toilet where people use to defecate,” a student said.
Another pupil added, “I am from Unguwar Lon but I school here. We are urging the government to renovate our windows, construct desks, bring First Aid Box, and construct toilet facilities for us. I am praying to our teachers for their selfless efforts rendered to us. I pray may Almighty increase them in knowledge and wisdom.”
When contacted for their reaction to about the school, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman, Mr. Babaji Babadidi, said that Billiri education secretary is the right person to respond to the development not his board.
Mr. Titus Ladolli, the Education Secretary Billi local government education authority (LGEA), in a phone interview, told WikkiTimes that as a new officer in the area said he had to reach out to his predecessor for more information about the situation.
Ladolli explained that schools with challenges that need to be resolved should submit proposals to SUBEB for consideration.
According to him, Bare Primary School should send a complaint to Gombe SUBEB for review and potential support but he cannot do anything about it at the moment.
