Clergyman bemoans decay in education sector in Kogi

The Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, His Lordship Bishop Anthony Ademu Adaji, has expressed deep concern over the decay and deterioration of public primary and secondary schools in rural areas across Kogi State.

The clergy member, while calling on State Governor Ahmed Ododo to address the challenges faced by public schools in Kogi East, decried the situation where secondary school students were receiving lessons and writing exams on the floor, despite the substantial amounts of money the state government claimed to have committed to the education sector over the last nine years.

Bishop Adaji made this statement during the Chrism Mass at Saint Boniface Cathedral, part of the Catholic Diocese of Idah, which commemorated the institution of Catholic priesthood.

The Bishop, visibly upset by the situation, lamented that less than 10 per cent of public schools were functional in Kogi State. He pointed out that the worst affected area, in terms of deteriorating infrastructure, was Kogi East.

He stressed that most schools in Kogi East had deteriorated beyond recognition, questioning, “Is there still a government in Kogi State?”

“On a serious note, you cannot find 5 per cent of functional public schools in Kogi East, yet billions of naira are budgeted for education year in, year out. Over the past eight or nine years, the education system in rural communities has been a total shambles,” he said.

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Bishop Adaji further urged the Kogi State government to stop using the condition of public schools in the state capital to assess the overall state of education, emphasising that the majority of the population lives in rural areas. He regretted that in these areas, the educational system, especially in secondary and primary schools, was in a precarious state, to the detriment of the children, who are often referred to as the leaders of tomorrow.

He continued, “If you visit some government schools, both secondary and primary, in Kogi East, and you truly value education and know what it can do for humanity, you will weep. Governor Ododo must take action before it’s too late.”

In closing, Bishop Adaji appealed to Governor Ododo to continue his positive initiative of paying regular salaries to both state and local government workers and to extend this commitment to education and infrastructure, as both are crucial for the development of Kogi State.

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