The civic tech organisation’s report noted that a recent visit to the school revealed the collapsed block had been poorly constructed and could not withstand the storm that struck the area, ultimately rendering the only existing three-classroom building unusable…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
More than 1,500 students of the Government Science Secondary School, Ogori-Magongo in Kogi State have been left stranded and denied their right to quality education as the state government has abandoned the school since a heavy windstorm struck and destroyed its only existing block of three classrooms.
The civic tech organisation’s report noted that a recent visit to the school revealed the collapsed block had been poorly constructed and could not withstand the storm that struck the area, ultimately rendering the only existing three-classroom building unusable.
It noted that the collapse has displaced more than 1,500 students, leaving them without classrooms or any safe space to continue their education.
What should have served as a centre of learning and growth has instead become a stark symbol of abandonment and government neglect.
in a statement issued on Monday, raised an alarm over the condition of the facility and the broader crisis facing the education sector in Kogi State.
“The plight of these students highlights a deeper, systemic problem in Kogi State’s approach to education,”
The organisation noted that during the eight years of the former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello’s administration, education for ordinary citizens was never a priority.
schools across the state were left to rot in disrepair, while many rural communities were forced to rely on dilapidated facilities or improvised learning spaces under trees.
“Instead of channeling resources into building a sustainable and equitable education system, the same government chose to finance personal interests, with reports that state funds were used to sponsor the former governor’s children abroad,” the organisation stated.
It noted that the stark contrast between the neglect of Kogi’s children and the privileges enjoyed by the elite underscores the deep inequality that has plagued the state’s governance.
“Billions of naira that should have been invested in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and teachers were mismanaged or diverted,” the statement added.
“The result today is that children who should be in school, building a future for themselves and the state, are increasingly being pushed out due to the lack of infrastructure and government will.”
the collapse of the classrooms at the Government Science Secondary School in Ogori/Magongo is not just an isolated event, stressing that it is a reflection of years of negligence and misplaced priorities by the government.
“Kogi State is now faced with a growing crisis of out-of-school children, a crisis that threatens to rob an entire generation of their potential.
“Education is the bedrock of development, yet it has been consistently ignored, leaving thousands of young people vulnerable to poverty, crime, and hopelessness,” the organisation stated.
It said, “We are calling on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to urgently declare a state of emergency in education.
“This is not the time for rhetoric but for decisive action. The future of Kogi State depends on bold investments in its young people.
“Schools must be rebuilt, teachers supported, and resources properly allocated. Only then can we begin to restore hope and ensure that no child is left behind.”…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
