Pupils of Junior Secondary School Dobi in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, are attending classes in dangerous conditions — under partially collapsed ceilings, cracked walls, and damaged floors — even as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike claims that 60 schools have been renovated across the territory.
According to a civic technology platform, MonITNG, the dire state of the school suggests that it has not benefitted from any renovation efforts.
The reality on the ground tells a starkly different story from the minister’s statements, with many students forced to sit on bare floors due to broken or missing desks and chairs.
“The ceiling has partially collapsed during teaching sessions, leaving students fearful that the wooden planks supporting the ceiling boards could fall on them at any moment,” the report said.
“The classrooms have become unsafe and completely unconducive to learning, putting the safety and well-being of pupils at serious risk.
“The walls of the school are visibly cracked, and the floors are damaged and in a deplorable state.
“Many of the desks and chairs are broken or missing, forcing students to sit on the bare floor during lessons.”
MonITNG’s findings have raised serious questions about the transparency and equity of government spending on public education in the FCT. While schools in urban areas may reflect signs of renovation, those in rural and peri-urban communities like Dobi remain in a state of collapse.
“The visible neglect of the school raises serious questions about where the billions of naira budgeted for education have been spent and whether these funds have reached the schools that need them most,” it said.
“The neglect of rural and peri-urban schools like this one shows a worrying disparity in the allocation of resources.
“This neglect is unacceptable, especially given the crucial role education plays in the development of these communities.
“We call on Wike to urgently prioritise the renovation of all public schools, including those in rural and underserved areas.
“Good governance means ensuring equitable access to safe, supportive, and quality learning environments for every child in the Federal Capital Territory, not just those in the city centres.”
