…During rainy season we huddle at a corner of the class, when sun shines, we are disoriented
…Two years after, school building billed to be ready in four months yet to be completed
…We’re aware of dilapidated school structure, completion of building underway — SUBEB

By Elizabeth Uwandu

Pity, alarm and pain are the emotions that greet you as you behold pupils of Cherubim & Seraphim Nursery and Primary School Igbo-Alejo as they learn  in dilapidated classrooms with broken roofs, broken walls and broken chairs.

File: Pupils in a modern classroom

The C & S Nur/Pry School, Igbo-Alejo, established in 1954 and located in Igbo-Alejo near Itun Agan in riverine area of Amuwo-Odofin which was once the pride of the community being the only Basic school there, had over the years become a site of shame, tears and agony owing to the terrible atmosphere pupils learn in.

Aside the above, the school   which used to have over 300 pupils, now has less than 100 pupils, thereby increasing the number of out-of-school children in the community.

We carry our children on our shoulders to nearest school – 5.5km away daily — Community leader

Earlier this year when Vanguard visited the school, pupils were found sweating and panting due to heat from the scorching sun bearing down directly on them through the open roof.

Again, what is most pitiable is that these children who ought not to be experiencing such if the promise by the contractor, S.A.B Tika-Tore & Sons Limited to complete the  six-block classroom started in 2017 and was to be completed in four months, was fulfilled.

The said building whose space was provided by the community already approved by Lagos State, has the state’s  Universal Basic Education, SUBEB as supervisor. In the last two years, the project has been delayed and pupils and teachers have been suffering.

However, on Monday when Vanguard visited the community to confirm reports that work had begun in the school,  it was found that work has truly started but neither the contractor nor his workers were on site.

Everytime it rains, huddle in a corner – Teacher

During the first visit, the headmistress of the school, Mrs Adejimi Adeleye was not around as she was said to be recuperating from an accident on her way to the school from Epe where she lives.

However, Mrs Toyin Emupeme,   a community teacher who handles four classes, Nursery one to Primary Two, all in one classroom said, it has been hell teaching the children as most of them feel disoriented because opf cold or heat.

According to her, the school’s challenge is the dilapidated state it has been in. This is despite several pleas made to government to speed up the completion of the new school building, she added.

File: Broken classes

“The big challenge is the dilapidated state of the school. We are here because the new school started in 2017 has not been completed. We have over 80 plus pupils here, but they were about 300 before. Parents have withdrawn their children fearing the collapse of the school building while others have totally stopped coming to school.

“We have four classes in one classroom. I handle Nursery one to Primary Two. The other teacher handles the rest.”

In a sad voice the volunteer teacher said: “We are pleading with the government to come to rescue us from this suffering as many of our children have left.”

When asked what the government bas done over the issue, she said:

“ Government officers come here once in a while from Amuwo-Odofin. However, they built another school, but have denied us access. They said government never approved our movement , and this has been over two years now, “ she lamented.

Govt should remove political sentiments and stop our children from suffering unduly – Baale, Igbo- Alejo

For Baale of Igbo-Alejo, the completion of the new site was being delayed  by the contractor, noting that rather than complete the contract, the contractor gave   the excuse that community members stole his materials for the work.

His words: “ When the contractor came from the Deputy Governor’s office, we all stood up to assist and gave him a place where they can build the school. We showed him the piece of land and he appointed the place he wanted to build the school. He set up the building and in the long run, the contractor, Mr S .B Balogun from Epe and  his company named Tikatori & Sons Company Limited worked up to a certain level and stopped.

“However, we were shocked when the HM, Mrs Adeleye came and told me that they wanted to see me and some community elders at SUBEB.

Allegations of theft of materials

“The first day we were asked to come, they cancelled the visit . This cancellation went on four times. So we said if they do not respond to our us, we will not go there again. Luckily, we met the chairman of SUBEB and some other personnel. There, we were told that a petition has been written against the community by the contractor alleging that   community members stole his  materials. I told them that was a false accusation because I personally as the head of the community, stood by the contractor watching the materials, a move that earned me commendation from the contractor, that he even bought me a big torchlight.

“So the chairman of SUBEB said we have to sign a memorandum of understanding, MoU   for the work to go on. I argued that I will not sign as I have a very clean heart for this project. After much appeal we signed the MoU. And since then, the contractor has continued to play hanky-panky with us. He will come, work for two days and go, only for his boys to ask us for transport money.”

Asked when the MoU was signed the Baale said : “ That was a long time ago, getting to two years. I observed something, when we went for the signing of MoU, there was a statement that came out from one of the Directors, the woman said even if we stand or do not stand by the contractor, that government will still pay him. I saw that they were playing game   with us. That is why  he abandoned this project and went ahead to build another school in Satellite Town while this one was still on-going. He went on and built another one in Epe.

“It is like they are using political sense on us being that we do not have people at the top to help us out. When we get to SUBEB, they will tell us that the chairman is not around. So that is our problem, the school is being abandoned.

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Seeking Amuwo-Odofin intervention

“Again, when we informed the chairman of Amuwo, Dr Valentine Braimoh, he sent his Vice Chairman to see the state of the school. He came and just went round the school, and before I could come see him, he said he had another project to inspect and left. This happened in 2018. “   Igbo-Alejo Baale said.

When asked what he wanted the government to do, the Chief answered: “ We want government to help us out to quicken the work on this new building so that we can move the pupils there. We discussed with them to an extent that if this new school is completed, we are going to renovate this old one and make it   teachers’ lodge.”

We know about the state of the school, government is working towards its completion – SUBEB PRO

When Vanguard sought the reaction of SUBEB, Mr Seyi Akitoye, the public relations officer, PRO, said that government was aware of the deplorable state of the school. However, he added that plans were underway to complete the new building.

His words: “ We are aware of the school in Igbo-Alejo. However, we are doing all we can to complete the building.”

When Vanguard paid Mr Valentine Braimoh, Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin LGA a visit, he was not   available and all efforts to get his reaction proved abortive as he neither responded to calls made to him nor text messages sent to him.

Respite for Igbo-Alejo pupils as construction work begins

In a recent visit to the community, although the children are still in the dilapidated old school building, it seems respite may soon come their way as a tour to the new site indicated that work has truly commenced.

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However, the question is how long would it take again  for the classrooms to be fitted so that pupils of C & S Nursery and Primary School, Igbo-Alejo will move in before the rainy season comes.

Speaking on the new development, Mrs Adeleye said that construction work has actually begun.

According to her: “ Work has started at the new site, but we can not say when it will be finally completed.

On his part, the Baale said he wants to believe that this time the work will not stop. “As you can see, the classrooms are being put in shape. But I cannot tell you when they will finish it. My only plea is that it should be completed before Governor Akinwunmi Ambode hands over as it was under his administration the project was commissioned.”

Pupils’ plea

Pupils who spoke to Vanguard called on the government to hasten the work as their studies were being affected.

“We want the government to come to our rescue and complete the new building, as we feel uncomfortable everytime sun shines and whenever it rains  and this is affecting us very much,  “ they said.