The state of primary education in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has come under scrutiny following recent visits by local officials to several Local Education Authority (LEA) schools. The visits have revealed a troubling picture of inadequate infrastructure, insufficient staffing, and security concerns that are hampering the learning environment for young students in the nation’s capital.
During a tour led by AMAC Chairman Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, represented by Supervisory Councillor for Education Hon. Obiora Arinze, several school administrators voiced their concerns about the challenges they face daily. The issues raised paint a stark contrast to the image of Abuja as a modern capital city, highlighting the disparities that exist even within the FCT.
At LEA Primary School, Chorin Bisa, Headteacher Mrs Liberty Emmanuel described a situation where over 93 pupils lack basic amenities such as desks and toilets. The school also suffers from a shortage of office space for teachers and leaking roofs that disrupt classes during rainy seasons. “Our teachers have been sharing desks with pupils,” Emmanuel stated, underscoring the urgent need for additional resources.
The situation at LEA Primary School, Dakibiyu, is equally concerning. Headteacher Mrs Nkiru Anaenyeonu revealed that only two paid teachers and one volunteer are responsible for educating approximately 100 pupils. This severe understaffing not only affects the quality of education but also leads to high teacher turnover, as many request transfers due to the challenging work environment.
Security emerged as another critical issue, particularly at the Dakibiyu school. Its isolated location has made it vulnerable to criminal activities, with Anaenyeonu reporting instances of police chasing suspects into the surrounding bushes. The lack of proper fencing compounds this problem, putting both students and staff at risk.
The absence of toilet facilities in these schools forces teachers and pupils to resort to using nearby bushes, a situation that is not only unhygienic but also potentially dangerous, especially for young children.
In response to these challenges, Chairman Maikalangu has initiated a desk distribution program, providing 288 desks to four public schools in the area. While this intervention has been welcomed by school administrators, it addresses only a fraction of the problems faced by these institutions.
The AMAC chairman, through his representative, assured that the council is aware of the schools’ needs and pledged to take further action. “The education of children in AMAC is the priority of this administration,” Arinze stated, promising efforts to create a more conducive learning environment.
However, the scale of the problems suggests that a more comprehensive and sustained effort will be necessary to bring these schools up to acceptable standards. The situation calls for a coordinated response from various levels of government and possibly the private sector to address infrastructure deficits, security concerns, and staffing shortages.
As the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja’s educational facilities should ideally set the standard for the rest of the country. The current state of these LEA schools, however, indicates a significant gap between this ideal and the reality on the ground. Addressing these issues is not just a matter of improving education but also of ensuring the safety and dignity of the FCT’s youngest residents.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the promises made by local officials will translate into meaningful improvements for these struggling schools and the communities they serve.
