The prolonged closure of schools as part of the preventive measures against the spread of Covid-19 has affected infrastructure in public schools.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the environment and premises of schools reflected total deterioration due to uncontrolled weeds and encroachment by hooligans as well as domestic animals.
As Radio Nigeria correspondent, Rotimi Famakin observes in some public primary and secondary schools visited that ever since the coronavirus made its presence known in Nigeria, academic activities put on hold had made students to vacate schools compulsorily thereby leaving schools infrastructure in poor condition.
Some of the primary and secondary schools visited were overgrown with weeds and unpruned flowers, roofs of some classes were damaged while dried leaves and tree branches littered the premises.
At Agbaje Memorial Primary School Ayeye, IMG Primary and Secondary School, Sharp Corner Oke-Bola, Orogun Grammer School, Ajibode Grammer And Community High School,human and animal feaces littering the classrooms.
Apart from the smooth open fields converted to football pitch, coaches used some school premises to train footballers.
Of serious concern are hooligans who use some of the schools mentioned as smoking lodge while they consume alcohol, defecate and perpetrate other nefarious activities.
Radio Nigeria caught up with a 20-year-old boy, Joshua Sunday who convey waste for traders at Ayeye market but use Agbaje Primary School as his second home.
“I carry waste for people and dump the in the river over there. The people I state with said I am old enough to rent a room. I don’t have the money to rent an apartment that is why I come here. I change my cloth here and go to work and come back later in the evening.”
Some residents around the school including Oladimeji Akerele and a security guard in one of the secondary schools, Mr Raji Bayonle, confirmed the regular presence of Indian hemp smokers and hooligans who use facilities of the schools during the lockdown.
“There are no chairs, no window, no door. It was because of the poor security in this school, the contribute to the problem. Unkown persons come here. Some do all sort of things there. They defecate, some bath there, and even sleep. At the back over there, some boys come in the evening and smoke. Some come come here to play ball. They contribute money and give it to some boys to clear the bush for them.”
A teacher who did not want his name mentioned said the situation of the schools were expected due to the absence of students
“The situation is expected. It was because the students were not in school. Everything will normalize when coronavirus pandemic is over.”
Reacting to the situation on ground, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science And Technology Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye said the state government was not unaware of the condition of public schools in the state, saying the state governor had devoted 22.3 percent of the state budget to the education sector.
Professor Olaleye said with the budget, facilities in public schools including fence would be repaired to prevent hoodlums who use the public schools as hiding places.
“You will recall that the his excellency has devoted 22.3 percent of the the education sector. i assure you that with the fund, we shall reposition the education sector before the end of this year’”
The state commissioner who said the state governor had prioritized the welfare of teachers and also ensure free education in the state cautioned against the use of public schools as a relaxation spot for hoodlums.
It would be recalled that some group of people were arrested recently for converting one of some of the public schools to block making industry.
Rotimi Famakin
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