Kawaji: A 41-yr-old Kano school without functional toilets
Kawaji is a famous public secondary school located in Dakata quarters of Nassarawa local government, Kano state. The school was established in 1977 with a view to catering for the educational needs of the people of Kawaji quarters and neighboring communities. From its establishment to date, the school has produced hundreds of successful bureaucrats, […]
Kawaji is a famous public secondary school located in Dakata quarters of Nassarawa local government, Kano state. The school was established in 1977 with a view to catering for the educational needs of the people of Kawaji quarters and neighboring communities.
From its establishment to date, the school has produced hundreds of successful bureaucrats, technocrats, politicians and businessmen among others.
For many years, Kawaji has been one of the best conventional schools in Nassarawa local government.
The school has been serving various communities including Yankaba, Kawaji, Bridget, Tudun Wada, Gama, Dakata, Sauna, Badawa, Unguwar Gaya, Giginyu, Tarauni, Masama, Hotoro and many other communities in Nassarawa local government.
Regrettably, the school with a population of over 1, 500 students in the morning session and about 1,000 in the afternoon session, has no single functional toilet at present.
Kano Chronicle findings revealed that for over 10 years students of the school have been defecating within the school premises, thereby causing serious health hazards to themselves and the people living around the school.
Our reporters, who visited the school recently, observed that most of the existing toilets in the school are in dilapidated condition, a situation that compelled students to develop the habit of defecating in the open or inside the abandoned classrooms.
Further observations, revealed that the unpleasant odor that was coming from the abandoned structures where the students defecate constitutes serious health threat to the students, teachers and the people living around the area.
It was also discovered that six blocks of toilets in the school have been completely abandoned, while the only two that are functioning were reserved for teachers and guests.
A student in the school, who spoke to Kano Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said due to absence of toilets in the school, students have been defecating in the open for years, noting that “I am in SS II now, but I have never for once used the dilapidated toilets to ease myself due to their unhygienic nature. The only fairly good toilets are always under lock and key because they are reserved for our teachers and guests,” the student said.
Another student, who also craved for anonymity, told our reporters that, lack of toilets and water in the school had been the measure sources of concern to the students and their teachers, saying “We have to make use of the open space whenever the need arises. You will pity us especially during the rainy season as defecating in the open becomes almost impossible,” he lamented.
Malam Ahmed Musa, who graduated from the school in 1983, recalled the good days when the school facilities were far better than the ones most students have at their respective homes, saying, “During our time, the school’s toilets were as clean as new ones every day. It is unfortunate that most of the toilets are not functioning now.
“In those days, as students of Kawaji secondary school, we were regarded as the fortunate because the school has virtually all the necessary facilities needed. Our laboratories are up to date, we have good and clean toilets, good disciplinary structure and the teachers were so skilled.
“Despite our population, our basic needs are always provided with no compromise especially our toilets, furniture, laboratory equipments and teaching materials,” Musa said.
A teacher in the school, who craved for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to press, said the two functioning toilets were renovated by the school’s old boys associations.
“The association has been helpful to the school for several years. It has rendered some services to the school including renovation of classrooms and toilets as well as provision of furniture. Prior to the renovation of the two toilets by the association, nobody can use them due to their bad condition. So, whether the school authority has officially complained to the relevant authorities about the condition of the school or not, I hope this will serve as a formal complaint to the government,” he said.