The school hall and library blocks at Community Primary School, Akwete, Abia State, have been in a deplorable condition for more than a year. Yet no one has fixed them.
FIJ found that N25 million was earmarked for the renovation of the school hall in the 2024 Federal Government budget, but the project has not been done, with less than two weeks to the end of the year.
On Wednesday, Nwankpa Celestina Chimuo, the headmistress of the primary school, told FIJ that the hall was no longer usable for extracurricular activities or Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings due to its terrible state.
The interior view of the school hall. Source: Nwankpa C. Chimuo.
The school library. Source: Nwankpa C. Chimuo.
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When Tracka, a platform helping citizens to track and give feedback on public projects, first drew attention to the yet-to-be-done renovated school hall via a social media post on Friday, it noted that the ceiling of building was falling apart.
“Additionally, the admin building housing the HM’s office, school library and other offices is in terrible condition as the roof has been removed by rain. We call on @ubecnigeria, the implementing agency and @Abia_Update to provide the public with details of this project and facilitate its immediate execution,” Tracka wrote on X.
The approved 2024 budget, as well as the FG constituency and consolidated capital projects in Abia State, compiled by Tracka show that the project is listed under the federal ministry of education and managed by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
A screenshot of the project code on the 2024 budget.
The FG consolidated capital projects in Abia. Source: Tracka.
“Schools in Abia State have halls where children gather for extracurricular activities and whenever we have PTA meetings, we used to use the hall. There are a series of other things that we do in the hall but because of the condition of the hall, we can no longer use it,” said the headmistress.
But it’s not just the school hall that needs attention. The library block does, too. This is where textbooks are kept and where the headmistress’ office used to be.
However, since the library block has been destroyed by rain, the school no longer has a place to store its books, and Chimuo has no office.
“Our library is very bad. We don’t even have a place to keep our textbooks. Even the children don’t make use of it again,” she said.
“I no longer have an office. My Office is in the library block, but l presently do not have a place to stay or receive visitor. Some of our textbooks have been destroyed by rain water.
“So these two blocks need urgent attention. These buildings have been like this for almost a year plus.”
Community Primary School, Akwete. Source: Nwankpa C. Chimuo.
Community Primary School, Akwete. Source: Nwankpa C. Chimuo.
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FIJ learnt from the headmistress that until Tuesday, December 17, no contractor had been to this school in Akwete all year to examine what needs to be fixed.
Chimuo said, “Somebody came on Tuesday. He said he’s a contractor.”
To know the reason for the delay and when the allocated funds would be disbursed, FIJ sent an email to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the implementing agency for the project, on Monday. However, no response had been received at the time of publication.
Similarly, considering that the primary school is under Ukwa East federal constituency, FIJ emailed Chris Nkwonta, the house of representatives member representing the Ukwa East and West constituencies, on Monday. FIJ had got no response at press time.
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