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Economic Hardship: President Tinubu Gives Ministers 1,200 Bags Of Rice Each For Distribution As Palliatives

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News_Naija

School Without Walls: Gombe Children Learn Under Trees, Mosques Corpers Knock FG Over Unpaid N77k Allowance

CHIMA AZUBUIKE highlights the urgent need for a proper school in Galdimari in Gombe State, where children are forced to learn under trees and inside mosques due to a lack of classrooms In Galdimari, a community within the Gombe metropolis, children continue to receive their education under trees, in a mosque, and at the village head’s palace, years after the government approved the establishment of a primary school. Despite an official letter from the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board in 2018 approving the school, no classrooms have been built, leaving students to learn in deplorable conditions. A visit by The PUNCH revealed the harsh realities faced by the children and their teachers. Dozens of pupils sat on the bare ground, struggling to concentrate in the scorching sun, while others crowded inside makeshift learning spaces. Community leaders lamented the neglect, noting that Galdimari lacks not only a proper school but also essential amenities like healthcare facilities, roads, and clean water. Galdimari, a community under the Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, is a stark reminder of the neglect and deprivation that plague many rural communities in the country. Tucked in the Tabra District of Akko Local Government Area and yet within the Gombe metropolis lies the Galdimari Primary School. The school is, however, not ordinary, as students are forced to learn in deplorable conditions, with no proper classrooms. “We are not asking for much,” says the chairman of Galdimari Community Development Association, Alhaji Hamisu Abdullahi. “We just want a properly built primary school where our children can learn in a conducive environment. Is that too much to ask?” Abdullahi lamented that the government had neglected the area. “At a time when the government speaks of meaningful development, it is truly disheartening that the Galdimari community has no properly built primary school, no healthcare facility, no roads, and no clean drinking water,” he added. Despite the challenges, the community has demonstrated remarkable resilience and self-reliance. The people acquired a piece of land for the construction of a primary school but lacked the resources to begin building the classrooms. “We are committed to the education and welfare of our children,” Abdullahi said. “But we need support. We need the government and well-meaning individuals to intervene and help us build a school that our children can be proud of,” he added. The Chairman of the Galdimari Youth Development Forum, Hamza Danladi, appealed to the government and stakeholders. “Right now, as we speak, children are learning in inhumane conditions. Imagine the future doctors, engineers, and leaders of tomorrow sitting on the ground, struggling to concentrate in the scorching sun. How can they compete with their peers in well-equipped schools? We are not asking for favours. We are asking for our rights. Education is not a privilege, it is a right of every child,” he said. Our correspondent observed during the visit that despite the challenges, the people showed determination to provide a better future for their children, though they need the government’s support. As Hamisu put it, “Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our children. We must do everything in our power to ensure that they receive the education they deserve.” A community leader, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan, said “It’s deeply saddening and frustrating. The Gombe State government claims to be improving education and reducing the number of out-of-school children, but these young students are left to learn in such deplorable conditions.” Speaking on the will of the people to ensure a turnaround in their fortune, Hassan said, “We are determined to change this. We urgently appeal to the local government, Gombe State government and our representatives at both the state assembly and National Assembly to intervene and bring the dividends of democracy to our community. “The community’s cry for help is not just about building a school, it’s about providing a better future for the children. Education is a fundamental right, and no child should be left behind simply because of neglect.” The people lamented the lack of social amenities, stating that every visible development was solely the efforts of the people. Hassan said, “Not a single social amenity has been provided by the government. Every visible development in the area is solely the effort of the people. We are calling on philanthropists, well-meaning individuals, non-governmental organisations, and international donors to join us in our quest for a better future. Ignorance is a poison that kills a nation slowly. Galdimari’s children deserve better. Their future is in our hands.” Findings by The PUNCH showed that a letter, dated August 8, 2018, with Gombe State Government’s letterhead, signed by the Director of Quality Assurance, Abubakar Dong, on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education, approved the siting of a primary school in Galdimari/Tabra. “I am directed to convey the board’s approval for the establishment of Galdimari Primary School in Tabra District. This is a sequel to the assessment report by a team of Quality Assurance officers that went to your community and had an interactive session with the members of the community. “By this approval, you are requested to ensure the viability and sustainability of the new school through the establishment of a functional School Based-Management Committee that will support the school governance, provide school record books and instructional materials as well as engage voluntary teachers (NCE), to complement government effort to enable the takeoff of the school in September 2018,” the letter read. When contacted on the state of the school approved by the government, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Aisha Maigari, promised that the school would be given priority by the current administration. “We are looking into all these issues but we will address this along with the others. We have identified and captured it in our present plan. Thank you for being worthy partners in progress,” Maigari stated in a terse message to The PUNCH.

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Investopedia

5 Things To Know Before The Stock Market Opens

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News_Naija

Kwara Promises Restoration For School Damaged By Rainstorm

The Kwara State Government has asked the management of Ansar-Ud Deen College, Ijagbo in the Oyun local government area of the state to forward the list of property damaged during the Monday rainstorm disaster in the community. Educational institutions, residential buildings and market stalls were among the properties destroyed as a result of the rainstorm. The Ansar Deen College, Ijagbo was one of the educational institutions affected as more than 10 classrooms had their roofs blown off apart from damage to other teaching and learning structures. The State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe who visited the school on Wednesday conveyed the message of Governor Abdulrazaq, reassuring the school and the broader community of the government’s swift response to restore the affected facilities. He emphasised the administration’s commitment to ensuring a conducive learning environment for students and teachers alike. Olohungbebe said, “The school principal should make available, to the Ministry of Education, the list of property damaged by the rainstorm to make urgent repairs, so that students will not be learning in a dilapidated and unfriendly environment. “I want to assure the school management that their concerns, particularly regarding staff shortages, would be addressed promptly to ensure uninterrupted academic activities.” The inspection included a thorough assessment of the damaged classrooms and other facilities within the school. The commissioner also had an interaction with the school leadership to understand their immediate needs, particularly the pressing issue of staff shortage. The school principals, Mr Olaniyi Musbaudeen and Mrs Saheed A.M. appealed for the immediate intervention of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to restore the damaged infrastructure. “We are deeply saddened by this disaster. The destruction of these classrooms poses a serious threat to our students’ education. “We urgently need the government’s support to rebuild,” Musbaudeen said. Saheed echoed the call for help, stressing that a delay in reconstruction could have long-term consequences on students’ academic progress.