Medile: Kano primary school where pupils take lessons on bare floor

Medile community of Kumbotso local government area is one of the fast growing settlements in Kano metropolis. However, the community lacks basic aminities such as schools, hospitals, good roads and modern markets among others. A visit to the densely populated area revealed that one of the only two primary schools serving the community has been in terrible condition for […]

Medile community of Kumbotso local government area is one of the fast growing settlements in Kano metropolis.

However, the community lacks basic aminities such as schools, hospitals, good roads and modern markets among others.

A visit to the densely populated area revealed that one of the only two primary schools serving the community has been in terrible condition for many years. 

A check in Medile primary school showed how pupils were taking lesson on bare floor as no single furniture was provided in the classes.

A source at the school told Kano Chronicle that the primary school was renovated in 2012 and presently there were averagely 280 to 300 pupils per class managing without seating materials.

Our reporters gathered that the school has 16 male teachers who share a small office accommodation with the head teacher while the female teachers were squating with pupils as they have nowhere to stay.

“Due to inadequate classrooms, we have to merged two classes and as you can see, we have been about 600 in the class who are sitting on bare floor. Again, the ceiling had to be removed because of bats’ dropping that has been making the classroom not conducive for learning,” the source said.

 

Some teachers of the school who do not want their names in print for fear of victimization, expressed concern over the development, saying the school had been neglected for years. One of the teachers said the situation of the school gets worse during the rainy season.

“Now everything has gone bad in the school, the roofing is leaking you can imagine what would happen anytime the rain falls. Sometimes we have to ask the pupils to go home when a heavy down pour is being anticipated,” the teacher said.

A resident of the area, Malam, Usman Shehu Medile told our reporters that the awful odour emanating from the bats’ droppings was the major concern of the residents.

“Chairs are not our major concern but the awful smell emanating from bats’ droppings. Teachers would have to change their clothes whenever they have class. I am afraid that our children may face serious health hazard,” Shehu said.

The Village Head of Medile, Alhaji Idris Hamza appealed to the government to establish more schools in the area.

He said the over population of the classes of Medile primary school was dangerous to the health of the pupils.

“Over 300 pupils in a class, there may likely be a serious health implication especially in this time coupled with the nature of the
classrooms.

Some of the classrooms are having leaking roofs, while others are housing bats. I think it is important that the government
come to our aid because this is not only an educational issue but also has greater implication on the health of our children.

“Ofcourse we need more schools in Medile, at present we have two primary schools and two secondary schools one for boys and the other for girls, but with the current rate of population growth in the community, it is important to plea with the government to establish new schools or expand the existing ones.