Recently, Access to Humanitarian Assistance & Development Initiative (AHDI) visited some LEA primary schools in Dutse, a fast growing town within Bwari LGA, Abuja. The visit further established the same challenges seen during its recent visit to some public primary schools in Kubwa, within the same Local Government Area (LGA). Infrastructures ranging from roofs, windows, doors, fence, toilets, borehole, class rooms etcetera in the public primary schools were fast deteriorating and in a poor state. Despite the poor state of these infrastructural facilities, pupils were being enrolled beyond the capacity of these structures thereby exposing the students to overpopulated classes and potential health hazards that hinders access to quality education within conducive learning environment.
AHDI observed that school fees of pupils in the public primary schools within Dutse varies. Some schools pay as high as N 6200 for new pupils which covers the basic needs such as uniforms, sportswear and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy and returning pupils pay N 500. In some other schools, new pupils pay N 3500 and returning pupils pay same N 500. Despite the rate of fees in these schools, many students still struggle to pay and when their parents cannot eventually afford the fees, the children have no other option but to drop out of school.
There is no doubt that conducive learning environments, good sanitation, upgraded classrooms with adequate facilities, functional accessories, usable furniture and other educational facilities are crucial elements that promotes access to quality education in schools and they play vital roles in the social and mental development of a child. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), high-quality infrastructure facilitates better instruction, improves student outcomes, and reduces dropout rates, among other benefits.
Nigeria no doubt have to key into revamping its educational systems and structures in order to catch up, be at par and remain competitive within the global educational system. The urgent need for developing actionable steps and activating policies to save our educational systems and structures cannot be overemphasized. Nigeria has to take the necessary steps to support every child get into school and remain in school, this will enable the nation align with other developed countries that have built sustainable and prosperous future for all their young generation.
Education is the foundation for growth and development of any nation and its economy. Thus, it is time that we come together to provide the conducive learning environment for the children of today so they can become the great leaders of tomorrow and contribute to making the country and the world a better place. There is need to explore innovative initiatives that will help solve these challenges and enable boys and girls in public primary schools have sustainable and conducive learning environments that promote access to quality education.
As advocate of quality education for every child, AHDI is unveiling programmes that will help these beliefs become reality within its immediate communities. Its “Stay In School Initiative” (SISI) programme will help keep children in school and reduce the number of children who drop out due to inability to pay the fees for their education and other educational materials such as books, uniforms etcetera. Also, AHDI’s “School Infrastructure Improvement Programme” (SIIP) focuses on improving the infrastructural facilities of public primary schools by enhancing and renovating broken down physical and essential infrastructures. The objective of these programmes is to support in providing good and conducive learning environment for boys and girls across public primary schools in Abuja.
For more enquiries about AHDI’s Stay In School Initiative (SISI) and School Infrastructural Improvement Programme (SIIP) visit; www.ahdinigeria.org/grants