Kaduna pupils forced to sit on the floor due to government’s failure to supply furniture

More than 100 students at L.G.E.A. Primary School Maje in Danmahawayi Ward, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, are forced to learn while sitting on bare floors, as the classrooms are not furnished with any chairs.

The challenging learning conditions faced by these pupils were brought to light by a civil society group, MonITNG, after their recent visit to the school.

“This is the reality for over 100 pupils at L.G.E.A. Primary School Maje in Danmahawayi Ward, Giwa LGA, Kaduna State. These children sit on bare floors to learn every day because the school does not have a single desk or chair,” a statement by the CSO read in part.

Since the school lacks proper desks and chairs, some of the students come with stools or small benches from home, which they take back again at the end of each school day.

The organisation expressed concern over the troubling conditions faced by the children and said the situation reflects the extent of neglect that public education has suffered.

“Young children, eager to learn, are forced to endure discomfort and indignity in classrooms that lack the most basic furniture. They sit on dusty floors, lean on cracked walls, and do their best to focus despite the odds,” the CSO said.

Commenting on the government’s openness in budgetary allocations for education, MonITNG pointed out that despite the Kaduna State Government budgeting billions for the education sector in recent years, schools such as L.G.E.A. Primary School Maje remain severely lacking.

The CSO appealed to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to intervene by equipping the school with the necessary learning facilities.

“No child should have to suffer just to get an education. We call on the @GovKaduna to immediately provide desks, chairs, and renovate the classrooms.

“These pupils deserve a dignified, safe, and conducive learning environment. The time to act is now,” the CSO said.

The struggles of these pupils reflect a much larger issue across the country’s public schools. A research conducted in 2014 on infrastructure conditions in public secondary schools in Ogun State found similar problems, suggesting a widespread issue of poor maintenance and inadequate resources.

Although there are continuing policy efforts and educational reforms meant to fix such problems, the present situation at L.G.E.A. Primary School Maje is a strong indication that urgent and concrete action is still needed.