Werner Ahiakwo
These are pictures of St Stephen’s Nursery and Primary School along Cemetery Road, Omoku town, Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area.
Some of the teachers who spoke on anonymity told our correspondent that the children and teachers are under threat because of the state of the school building which may collapse any moment.
The teachers said they have primary five and six sharing one classroom. Not enough sits for children to sit and learn which has led to some of the children sitting on the floor to learn.
“The environment is not conducive for learning especially for children. Broken ceiling, cracked school walls, snake infested environment, broken seats which the children manages to sit, and sometimes go home with torn uniforms and injured skin as a result of the nails on the broken seats. There are no windows and doors in the classrooms even the classrooms are not sufficient for the pupils!” One of the teachers said.
“We need toilets here as the children uses the nearby bush to defecate. Also, we the teachers have to go to some people’s homes around the school to use their toilets.
The Rivers state government should come and renovate the school and make the environment conducive for learning” another teacher said.
“Some of the pupils come to school healthy and leave sick because of the environment which has become unhealthy for them! We don’t have writing and teaching materials. We buy these items with our money and this not right.
Sometimes we find snakes and all sorts of insects taking shade in the classrooms. The government should come to our aid! The school board have been making promises of renovating the school but nothing has been done about it.” Another teacher lamented.
