53-year-old Osun secondary school faces neglect

Ebenezer Grammar School in Ijeda-Ijesha area of Osun State was the shining example of  how best  to run a public secondary  schools in the old Oyo State in years past. It is the only public secondary school in Ijeda- Ijesha, a town which share boundary with Ijebu- Ijesha, Iloko- Ijesha and Erinmo- Ijesha in  Oriade […]

Ebenezer Grammar School in Ijeda-Ijesha area of Osun State was the shining example of  how best  to run a public secondary  schools in the old Oyo State in years past. It is the only public secondary school in Ijeda- Ijesha, a town which share boundary with Ijebu- Ijesha, Iloko- Ijesha and Erinmo- Ijesha in  Oriade Local Government Area of the northeastern part of  the present Osun State.
The school boasted of quality edifice, infrastructure, teaching aids and alma mater who are  captains of industries in the country today.
Sadly,the 53-year- old school  has lost its ‘taste’ in terms of physical infrastructure which was one of its hallmarks in the days of yore. The buildings of the school are dilapidated with roofs hanging loosely while some have collapsed.
Little wonder, students  of the school  are lamenting  and wished that its current  state could be reversed  to that of the 70s when it had  well- furnished hostels, equipped laboratories and library  and other learning facilities.
They are worried that the current rainy season  is creating nightmare for them to learn.
 One of the students, Tolu Robert said  during rainy period, students go on recess against their wish.
“As you can see that the roof of this classroom is leaking, so it is not possible for us to receive lecture in this class anytime it rains,” she curtly said.
The senior girl of the school, Faloyo Esther said the school lacks science teacher and modern apparatus for practical lesson.
She said, “Apart from the dilapidated classrooms in this school, we don’t have teachers for major science subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and the practical apparatus in our laboratories are outdated.”
This automatically translates to the fact that science students depend on ‘self-help’ in the affected  subjects. But one of the alma mater of the school, Mr Shina Ajijola, was upbeat about the changing ‘fate ‘of the institution.
“The present state of the school cannot be compared with how it was when we were in the school. Our classrooms were one of the best in this state, including our laboratories and hostels,” he said.
He said he will not allow the state of the school to degenerate as he promised to contribute his quota to enable the institution bounce back to reckoning.
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chairman of the school, Mr Femi  Fajemidagba said parents were not happy with the state of the school and they have been contributing money towards the renovation of the infrastructure in the school.
The PTA chairman said, “The Parent Teacher Association has been contributing money to refurbish a block of four classrooms in the school to make learning environment conducive for the students. We have also appealed to our old students, but we are yet to receive positive response from them.”
The principal of the school, Mr Dimeji Olanipekun, lamented that the roof of all the classrooms in the school are in deplorable state, while appealing  to government , old students and  other well- meaning Nigerians  to  come to the aid of the  school.
“All the classrooms in this school are leaky, so any of the classes that  the government can renovate, we will appreciate it. Old students should also come and contribute their quota to the renovation of the school infrastructure. Those who know the history of this school will tell you that the school is in shamble. We will appreciate support from government, old students and Non Governmental Organization,” the principal stated.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent, the Education Secretary of Oriade Local Government, said the current economic squeeze in the country  was largely responsible for the inability of the state  to fix  infrastructures in the school
“We are all aware of the financial problem in the country, especially Osun state, if not for that, the state government would have given the school a facelift,” Badewa said.