Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) under the chairmanship of Hon Wahab Alawiye King, has stated that plans are underway to construct a new block of classrooms and provide necessary infrastructure for the pupils of UPE Primary School, Cole Village, Ajagunro, Ikorodu.
This was coming on the heels of a picture showing pupils of UPE Primary School, Ikorodu, sitting on the floor and tyres during classes which went viral on social media about a week ago.
The controversial picture has since generated lots of reactions from people, most of whom condemned the situation.
Former Minister for Works, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, had, on Friday, February 21, 2020, sent a report he received from a concerned resident with the picture to THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform and requested that members of the platform should confirm if what was sent to him as the state of the school is true.
Senator Ogunlewe, who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after he recently decamped to the party and a former Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, also sent same report to some other individuals in position of authority.
The report received and being circulated by Sen. Ogunlewe read thus:
“A Government School in Ikorodu, Lagos, where we have leaders earning Federal allocations monthly. The U.P.E. Primary school, Cole Village, Ajaguro, Ikorodu, happens to be the only existing primary school in the entire Ward/locality and has no water, toilet nor school library.
“The pupils sit on scavenged automobile tyres and write on bare floors in this same year 2020….., yet, local councils draw billions of naira year in year out from the federal coffers while compulsory Universal Basic Education (UBE) attracts funding from UNESCO, FGN, etc…”
The report dded that:
“It’s a pity that Mr. Pity cannot pity himself under a pitiable Condition… “
“Pics…Courtesy of CACOL-GATE Unit…Ikorodu.
“In the State of Excellence? What manner of excellence?
“This is not acceptable”, the concerned resident protested.
Many of those that have reacted to the report on the state of the school condemned the Lagos State Government for neglecting public education system and this, according to them, has caused decadence in many schools in Ikorodu division.
In a response titled, ‘UPDATE ON PUPILS SITTING ON TYRES’, the LSUBEB chairman, Hon. Wahab Alawiye King, stated that the board has received report on the said school and that a member of the board, Dr Saheed Ibikunle, has been directed to look into it.
Hon. Obasa,a former Lagos State Assembly member, stated that after the report by Dr Ibikunle confirmed the inadequacy of furniture in UPE Primary school, the school has been captured in the SUBEB’s intervention project.
“A report was received by the Board on this issue sometime in January”, stated Hon. Alawiye in his response to Sen Ogunlewe’s report on the state of UPE Primary School.
“The Board directed Dr. Ibikunle Saheed to visit the school to ascertain the situation. He visited the School on the 27th of January and identified the school as U.P.E Primary School, Cole Village, Ajaguro, Ikorodu. He equally confirmed the inadequacy of furniture in the school. The school has been captured in the recently awarded Y2018 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Project.
“The contractors are currently producing the furniture for immediate distribution.
“Also, the Basic Education Quality Assurance Officers of SUBEB have visited the school and a palliative measures would be carried out soon to ameliorate the furniture deficit pending the completion of those that are currently being produced”.
He also announced another intervention for the construction of new block of classrooms in the school.
“A 20+1 Classroom is also to be built in the school under the Y2019 UBEC/ SUBEB intervention project”, Hon. Alawiye added.
Meanwhile, the Representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon. Babajimi Benson, has also reacted to the state of U.P.E primary school and condition in which the pupils are taking lessons.
The two-term lawmaker stated that he has facilitated a block of 3 classrooms with chairs and desks for the school through Constituency projects.
“We found out about the above school early this year via the above”, Hon. Benson stated.
“We have been able to facilitate a block of 3 classroom complex with chairs and desks for the school and we’ve communicated it to them (the school management) .
“We are waiting for the contract to be awarded to a contractor by the agency”.
Also, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, we also gathered, is currently working with the representative of Ikorodu division in LASUBEB and the School Management Committee in ensuring that U.P.E Primary school is given a facelift and furniture provided for the pupils.
Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, former Council Leader, Ikorodu Local Government, and the Director-General of Hon. Agunbiade’s political machinery, stated this on behalf of the lawmaker while contributing to the discussion on the issue on THE IMPACT platform.
