NUT condemns overpopulation in state schools, lambast govs
There is anger over the condition of public primary and secondary schools, many of which are over-populated due to the failure of state governors to expand basic education facilities in their states.
Several schools visited by our correspondents were bearing the brunt of the neglect by the state authorities to make the necessary investments needed to upgrade and boost the aging amenities despite the increasing number of pupils.
In its reaction, the National Union of Teachers insisted political class should be held accountable for the poor state of basic education in the country.
The Secretary General of the NUT, Dr Mike Ene, decried the failure of some states to access the fund set aside by the Universal Basic Education Commission.
Ene, who spoke in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said, “When you want to fix a problem, you do not start from the middle but you go to the root. Now we understand that the Senate is probably looking at the issue of out-of-school children but even if you want to bring those children back to the classroom where do you want to fix them?
“The statistics available will shock you. We have congested classrooms, dilapidated buildings, teachers who are not well-paid, and the like.
“When I was a board member of UBEC, you would see the funds set apart by the Federal Government and then states would not pay their counterpart funds to access this intervention fund. How will classrooms be fixed? Some states don’t even care and they feel that nothing will happen.’’
“In Nigeria, the statistics on out-of-school children are very scary. Even when you go to war-torn countries, I doubt you will have such figures. We can no longer afford to neglect education, particularly at the basic level.’’
Overcrowded classes
Investigations by our correspondents showed that many public schools were battling with overcrowded classrooms.
In several schools in Delta State, many students in Osadenis High School, Zappa Basic School, Government Model School, Asagba Mixed Secondary School, Westerns Secondary School, Okwe Primary School, and others sit on the bare floor during lessons due to inadequate furniture and over-population.
Students, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said some of them brought chairs and desks from their homes.’’
A junior secondary student at Zappa Basic School said, “I’m in JSS 2, we have four classes; A to D. I’m in class A and we are 100 in the class. Class B, C, and D also have almost the same number. I go to school on time so that I could get a seat.
“Three students share a seat. Some sit on the window (sill) or the ground.
A student at Osadenis High School said some of them went to school with their chairs and desks.
She said, “Some of us go to school with our chairs and desks or alternatively, you buy from the school but those who did not buy or bring them from their home sit at the window (ledge) during lessons. We have five classes from A to E. We are 86 in my class, some classes have up to 100 students.’’
Speaking on the grounds of anonymity, a teacher decried the shortage of manpower in Delta public schools.
He noted, “In Ogwashi-Uku Comprehensive School, we have a population of 70 students per class but in a town like Asaba, you talk about 100 to 150 per class.
“Most of the problems facing the students are inadequate infrastructure like chairs; so most of them sit in the corridors while learning. The population is more than the available infrastructure.
“There is a shortage of manpower in the school. A teacher marks the scripts of over 100 (students) in a term and has just less than one week to mark the scripts, submit, and enter the marks. It affects effectiveness and efficiency, especially when the teacher is handling more than one subject”
Another teacher stated, “For me, I teach Government, Literature, and English. I teach JSS1 to 3 and when the corps members pass out, I will also teach SS1 to 3.
