Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, on Wednesday, express sadness over the dilapidated state of secondary schools in the state.
He ordered the immediate closure of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Jalingo, over the dilapidated condition of the school structures.
Kefas, who paid an unscheduled visit to the school at about express shocked at the condition in which the students were learning, accommodation, feeding system and poor infrastructure in the school.
The governor, who was accompanied on the visit by his Deputy, Aminu Alkali, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gibon Timothy Kataps, Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Kizito Bonzina and Members and other government functionaries, whom all frowned at the situation of the school and pledged to remodel the school to an enviable level.
He directed the closure of the school with immediate effect to enable the state government to have space for remodeling the structures for better and conducive learning environment and wellbeing of both the students and their teachers.
“What I have seen here in the school premises is an eyesore. As a parent, I cannot bet that any student schooling here will comfortable study competitively, the management must make urgent arrangements to close down activities here so that the government can have time to remodel this school.
“For you the students, I urge you to be of good behaviour, as you will be resuming after renovations, I will give your teachers iPad to give to you, you must prepare yourselves for learning because you are the future we have for now,” the governor stated.
Our Correspondent reports that Government Comprehensive Secondary School is a public school in Jalingo and is use for exchange program where students are brought from Nineteen states of the North to study.
It would be recalled that the governor during his inaugural speech over two weeks ago declare state of emergency in the Educational sector saying that,
“It is disheartening to see Taraba State at the bottom of the national education ratings especially in public primary and secondary school examination performances.”
The Principal of the school Mrs. Happiness Indiyaka Emmanuel, express happiness for the Governor’s visit.
“I want to first of appreciate the Governor for coming to the school to see the condition of the school.
“The challenge that I am facing in this school, the day I was posted to this school, when I saw the school I decided that I will not stay because this is not the school that I will principal the students and staff. So went back home, I talk to my husband and my husband say if I will not be here correcting those students, then who do I expect to come and correction them?. Assuming that this person come and go, the other person come and go, then who will correct it?. So I took it upon me and went round looking for money, because when I came to the school, there was no doors, so I call one of my Vice Principal to look for those to repair the doors, so some of the doors have been replaced. I even do the staff room where my staff would stay and I also arrange for some seats for the students. The major challenge that I am facing is where the students are sleeping, is not proper for human being to sleep. There are no beds, some of them use cartoons on the floor and sleep, some of them brought mats from their homes and put them on top of springs and sleep on them – she said.
The principal use the forum to appeal to the Governor to look at the situation of the school with the aim of remodeling the school.
“This is a Unity school and students come from Nineteen states of the North – she added.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Idris Goje, also express concerned on the situation of the school.
” When I came, I saw the situation of the school, hath it been I have the power, I could have close the school then. In my handing over note, I summited this issue, their kitchen and every where is bad, the hostels are flooding, they don’t have chairs and desks, but by the grace of God, things would be Ok – he said.
Governor Kefas also paid surprise visit to Government Science Secondary School, Jalingo where he assured the students that his administration would give them good education, adding that they are the leaders of tomorrow.
