Pupils Struggle Amidst Leaking Roofs and Reptiles in Neglected Ogun Public School
In the Ayetoro Makun community, situated in the Sagamu West Local Government Area of Ogun State, concerned parents have voiced their distress over the dire state of the sole public primary school in the vicinity. St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, established back in 1916, paints a grim picture of neglect and inadequate facilities.
A recent visit by PUNCH Metro to the school revealed a disheartening sight. One of its buildings, comprising three classrooms, stands abandoned due to its deteriorated condition. Wind damage has stripped a significant portion of its roof, and overgrown grass has encroached upon the premises, exposing students to potential dangers from reptiles.
The situation is scarcely better in the adjacent building, which accommodates approximately 150 pupils across its two classrooms. The Chairman of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association, Olasunkanmi Sodimu, expressed his dismay during an interview with PUNCH Metro, remarking, “The primary school has been there even before I was born. There are no adequate classrooms or a conducive learning environment for these children.”
He further detailed efforts to bolster the school’s quality of education, including hiring extra teachers funded by the community. However, all these measures have fallen by the wayside as the teachers have now left, and the school remains ill-equipped.
A concerned parent, who identified herself as Odewale, echoed the sentiment, saying, “The current condition of this school is not acceptable. These children are facing hardships in their learning environment. We implore the government to assist in rehabilitating this school.”
In response to the situation, PUNCH Metro sought to contact the state Commissioner for Education, Ayobami Arigbabu, but as of the time of reporting, no response had been received to the message sent to him. The plight of St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School and its students continues to be a matter of grave concern for the community, raising questions about the accessibility and quality of education in the region.
