Lagos government has signal intention to undertake the rehabilitation of dilapidated public primary and schools with the aim to improving the condition of learning for students and teachers alike.
To have first-hand information on the conditions of the schools, the deputy governor of the state, Obafemi Hamzat, has begun on-the-spot assessment of public schools. Hamzat, while touring some of the schools, assured of the immediate repairs of those identified with dilapidated facilities.
“The reason why we are embarking on a tour of our schools is to physically assess the quality of facilities. We are choosing schools that are in bad shapes for immediate rehabilitation. Children will be going on holiday; before they come back, we want to see what we can immediately fix, so that these pupils won’t be at disadvantage in the area of learning,” he said.
Hamzat said that pupils and students needed to be protected from harsh weather and made comfortable while in school.
“If it is dilapidated classrooms, we are fixing immediately in these schools, this would go a long way in reducing overcrowding in our schools. But, we understand the challenges vary from one school to another; we are committed to changing their conditions for the future of our children and state.”
Among the schools visited was Maryland Primary School, where the headmistress, Adeyemi, conducted the deputy governor round and explained the challenges posed by decrepit facilities to pupils.
It was discovered that out of the 32 classrooms originally built by the government, only 22 classrooms are currently in use in the school – a development that has led to overcrowding.
Also visited were Saint Francis Primary School, also in Maryland, as well as other schools in Papa Ajao and Agege areas of the state.
JOSHUA BASSEY
