Parents decry poor condition of Osun primary school

Parents of pupils and wards at St. Andrew Primary School, located behind the Anglican Church in Eko-Ende, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, have decried the deplorable condition of the school building, describing it as a disaster waiting to happen.

The parents called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to rehabilitate the school and provide furniture for both pupils and teachers.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that a major part of the four-classroom building, constructed by the State Universal Basic Education Board, is without a roof.

According to one of the parents, Pastor Kayode Orisadare, only one classroom has a roof, while the ceilings of the other three have fallen off.

Orisadare revealed that the roof of the building was blown off by a rainstorm three years ago during the administration of former governor Gboyega Oyetola.

“If the Oyetola administration had acted immediately and fixed the roof, the building wouldn’t be in such a terrible condition, and the government would have spent less to repair it. But now, the walls and ceilings have been severely damaged because rain has been falling on them,” Orisadare said.

He noted that the remaining classroom, which still had a roof, was being managed as an office by the teachers.

Orisadare also stated that several government officials had visited the school but no action had been taken so far.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the poor condition of the supposed new classrooms had forced teachers to relocate some pupils to an abandoned building, which itself lacks ceilings, doors, and windows.

“The school buildings are a disaster waiting to happen. The collapsed ceilings could fall on the pupils during heavy winds, and classrooms without windows or doors pose additional risks. The government must consider the safety of both the pupils and their teachers,” Orisadare added.

Another parent, Adeola Adeagbo, commended the teachers for their perseverance, noting that the poor state of the building was enough to discourage them from continuing their work.

According to Adeagbo, the school is an eyesore and reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to public education.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Education in the state, Eluwole Adedipo, said the government was taking steps to renovate the school building.

“The government is going to renovate all schools, and it can’t take place at the same time. It’s going to be in phases.  Many schools have decelerated, not only Ekoende, and we are working on their renovation. So, when it comes to St Andrews’s turn, we will do it,” he said