In this computer age when many students are learning in conducive environment and under air-conditioned classrooms with necessary facilities, students in public schools in Borno State are still learning in thatched structures using stones as chairs.

National Mirror’s investigations revealed that in some instances, those studying under thatched structures are even subjects of envy by their counterparts who study under trees.

The schools in the latter category include Pakilama Primary School, Hizhi Primary School, Gwanzang Primary School, Wida Primary School among others, all in the Southern Senatorial District of the state.

The district is known to produce the highest number of pupils’ enrolment in the state over the years. It was further gathered that the schools in this condition close for the day immediately it begins to rain even if it is before noon time. But sadly, this is the same Borno State where activities of Boko Haram, an Islamic sect, said to be fighting against western education, killing innocent people almost on daily basis which have forced many schools to close down for about three years.

Yawulari Primary and Islamiyya Stalk School, Yawulari in Biu Local Government area are typical example of schools with thatched structures in the state. Investigations revealed that the school, which is few metres away from the everbusy Maiduguri-Biu Expressway, was established over 25 years ago by the state government.

It was gathered that pupils and teachers of the school who want to defecate or drink water during the school hours including lesson periods would have to rush back home or stay back till the school closes for the day.

It was gathered that the situation was due to neglect by successive administrations in the state that the people of the community with about 4,000 inhabitants even built the structures and provided other items in a bid to educate their children.

Expectedly like others in similar condition, Yawulari Primary and Islamiyya Stalk School has no toilet facility, water supply, electricity or any other basic amenity. Besides, virtually all the schools are also suffering from dearth of teachers and instructional materials even as the state government is claiming to be operating free education policy.

The Yawulari Primary and Islamiyya Stalk School for example parades only three regular teachers and one volunteered Islamic scholar to teach about 600 pupils in the school.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha even discovered this situation when he paid unscheduled visit to the school penultimate week while returning to Biu Township from Mandaragirau village where he had gone to register as a party member. There the visitor who was fumed at the condition promised to construct modern structures and provided necessary basic facilities that would make it academic friendly.

A drama ensued during the visit as pupils in the school had to take to their heels when they sighted the deputy governor’s convoy mistaking them for Boko Haram members on a mission to attack them. And they were not reassembled until they were ascertained that there was nothing to fear about.

The headmaster, Mallam Mohammed Ibrahim who told the visitor that both the pupils and teachers were always in fear of possible attack by the insurgents asked the deputy not to feel embarrassed by the students’ action. He also appealed to him to employ more teachers for the school, especially those who would teach some of the core subjects including English language and mathematics.

Responding, while the deputy governor assured them of safety, he directed the head teacher to follow him immediately to Biu to collect some money and bags of cement as part of his personal donations to start giving the school a new face lift as a temporary intervention.

He equally directed the Caretaker Chairman of the council under jurisdiction the school is located, Alhaji Bukar Mapi to immediately mobilise resources for the construction of befitting classrooms and toilet facility as well as provision of borehole.

Mustapha used the medium to explain to journalists that the current administration in the state had taken education as one of its major priorities and would therefore not do contrary.(National Mirror)