Public schools in decrepit state, need renovation ― Lagos Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly has moved for more private and public schools under Education District 1 in Alimosho and has urged the State Ministry of Education to conduct on-the-spot assessment of some public schools in the area due to infrastructural decay.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu gave the directive on Wednesday during a tour to schools in Lagos to assess the level of compliance to COVID-19 protocols as students are writing this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The Committee observed infrastructural decay at State Senior College Ipaja Road, Alimosho and Orisunmbare Senior High School, where students were writing their WASSCE exams under the shed.

In his comments at Orisunmbare  High School, Ogundimu said, “There are a lot of limitations in the school and we cannot blame the Principal. The situation is pathetic and the classrooms are not conducive for learning.

“I will want the Ministry of Education to come down here and take immediate action. I will just want the school management to do something on the wash hand basins that have been provided for the students,” he said.

The Committee also observed that most of the classrooms, the staff room and the Principal office were not conducive.

“The situation is one of the worst that we have seen and we will communicate with the leadership of the House and let them see what they can do about it.

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“There will be total attention to the school. We just want the management of the school to do everything in their power to provide a conducive environment. We will definitely come back here,” Ogundimu added.

According to the Principal of Orisunmbare Senior High School, Ayobo, Mr Ogunode Sunday the total population of the school is 1027 students out of which 156 are SS3 students.

The situation at Olorunnisola Community Junior High School, Ayobo as regards poor infrastructure was not different.

The staff of the School urged the committee members to return to the school for proper visitation.

The Committee observed that the schools were able to comply with COVID-19 guidelines stipulated by healthcare authorities.

The schools visited include State Senior High School, Alimosho, State Senior College, Honeyland School, Topmost International Schools and Orisunmbare Senior High School,  Ayobo, Samuel Adegbiye Anglican Comprehensive High School Ipaja to mention few.

According to Ogundimu, the essence of being in the public schools was to check the level of compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

While counselling the principals of the school, he told them to ensure the use of face masks by the students always.

“We have seen the students with their face masks, but we will want to see sanitizers in the offices.

“We will call on the Ministry of Education to renovate the school because the students would soon resume,” he added.

The Committee also observed the need for improvement on two isolation rooms in the schools visited and called for more provisions of washing hand basins, sanitizers and thermometres.

On the private schools visited, the Committee said, “Your association has spoken about COVID-19 protocols being put in place by private schools before reopening.

“We will like to see the facilities being put in place. We have moved around and we are satisfied with what we saw.

“We just want the school management to increase the number of washing hand basins for the use of the students. Also, the bags of the students should be separated. The whole environment is good for learning and they are observing COVID-19 protocols,” he said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE