PTA urges FCTA to complete school hostel project in Kuje

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the Government Girls Science Senior Secondary School (GGSSSS), Kuje, has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to complete the abandoned hostel project in the school.

Mr. Linus Ugwunwa, the PTA Chairman, GGSSSS, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kuje.

He said the congestion in the school hostel had been a source of worry to the PTA, adding that the completion of the project by the government would address some challenges in the school.

“When we resumed as PTA executives two years ago and saw the congestion in the hostel, the principal brought us to see the project.

“At that time, they were working on the floor of the three block project and we were assured that urgent steps were being taken to complete the project.

“Several sets of students have since come and gone yet, nothing has been done to complete the project.

“So, I appeal to the relevant authorities to expedite action toward completing the project to ease the congestion in the hostel,” he said.

Ugwunwa said the second problem discovered by the association was that the already congested hostels were also in a deplorable state and needed urgent renovation.

“The mosquito nets were bad, some of the ceilings were broken and so, we decided to take the renovation of the hostels one after the other.

“We replaced the ceilings, scraped the floors that were already bad, put mosquito nets, rewired the hostels and changed the fans to allow for ventilation,” he added.

Some students of the school who spoke with NAN expressed dissatisfaction over the state of toilets and other facilities in the school.

An SS3 student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NAN that the toilets were dirty and difficult to flush because of blockages.

She said the situation had resulted to frequent toilet infections among students of the school.

She, therefore, called on relevant authorities to intervene in the interest of the students by fixing the toilet facilities to boost hygiene in the school.

Another SS2 student, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the dirty nature of the hostel environment that had resulted to frequent malaria cases among the students.

She said the problem was because the drainage system was not regularly cleared and so, it allows mosquitos to breed in it.

However, all efforts to speak with the management staff of the school proved abortive, according to them, they are not permitted to speak with the press.

At the Federal Government College (FGC) Kwali and Abaji, NAN gathered that the schools have poor feeding condition, inadequate teachers among others.

A teacher of FGC Kwali, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the school clinic and the security security guards were not well equipped.

According to the source, teachers are no longer motivated due to non-payment of allowances, and this is affecting the education system of the school.

“Recently, the approved text books by the ministry of education were rejected by the school due to disagreement on percentage between the contractor and the school management.

“During examination, we normally have inadequate question papers and materials for lack of funds to print them.

“The parameter fencing was erected through the effort of the Parents Teachers Association of the school.

“The school has been attacked more than seven times by armed robbers because the security guards are not well equipped, some of them buy torch light with their salary.

“The management will not come out and tell you the truth, but we are the ones feeling the pain,’’ the teacher said.

A Jss 2 student told NAN that they now eat only breakfast and dinner as against the three-square meal they normally eat before.

The student attributed the regular illness among the students to the poor feeding and malnutrition.

Attempt to speak with the principal and other management staff of the school proved abortive as they declined interview.

At Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Abaji, investigations also revealed that the school was understaffed with a population of 1, 500 students.

A teacher told NAN on condition of anonymity that the school had inadequate teachers in the various subjects, and the work load was much.

The teacher said he usually go to the class room 27 times in a week, as a result of lack of teachers to handle some of the subjects.

“The work load on the teachers in this school is much. We have to teach 27 times or more because of the issue, compared to other federal schools, that has the large number of teachers.

“Though, we have been doing our best, but we need more capable hands to help reduce the work load.

NAN Correspondents were also denied access to some facilities in the school like the clinic, and also not allowed to speak with students and staff of the school.

However, the school environment including the perimeter fencing and buildings are in good condition and the school has adequate supply of water and electricity.

Mrs. Felicia Ayomide, a parent, at FGGC, Abaji, said she was comfortable with the discipline in the school and that her child has not complained of inadequate facilities or poor feeding.

Idu Jude, Abuja