Why Are Abuja Pupils Still Learning in a Potentially Collapsing School?
Concerns are mounting over the safety and learning conditions of pupils at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Affa II community, Gudun-Karya ward of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, as nearly 100 children continue to receive lessons inside a deteriorating mud-built classroom.
Parents and community leaders say the situation represents a serious threat to children’s right to development through safe and quality education, especially as the rainy season intensifies.
According to residents, the only classroom serving the school was constructed years ago by members of the community using mud blocks due to the absence of government intervention. The school reportedly accommodates about 98 pupils with only one classroom, one teacher, and the headmaster, who also assists with teaching.
A parent, Zakari Musa, described the condition as unacceptable, lamenting that children in the community have been denied access to basic educational infrastructure despite repeated appeals to authorities.
“It is unfortunate that a community with close to 100 pupils still has no standard school building,” he said.
The Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Danjuma Bako, warned that the mud structure has become increasingly dangerous and could collapse during heavy rainfall, putting pupils and teachers at risk.
Education advocates say learning in unsafe and overcrowded environments undermines children’s cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and academic performance. They argue that every child has the right to study in a secure and conducive environment that promotes learning and personal growth.
The PTA also raised concerns over inadequate furniture, shortage of teaching materials, and insufficient teachers, saying the situation continues to affect the quality of education available to children in the community.
Although officials of the council and the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB) said plans for new classrooms and additional teachers have been included in the budget, parents insist urgent action is needed before tragedy strikes.
