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| Pupils of Matogun |
As this correspondent watched Bisi
Soremekun(not real name), a pupil of Matogun Community High School, Ifo,
Ogun State, carry a six-inch cement block on her head, she could see
pain on her face. A discomfort no parent could wish for her child.
But for her and others in her school, it
is better to go through the pain of carrying two blocks with the hope
of enjoying the comfort of a roofed classroom than sitting under the
tree to attend classes.
Each pupil of the community school is
expected to bring two blocks and N500 to construct a fence for the
school and for other projects.
Matogun Community in Ifo Local
Government Area of Ogun State is more or less a neglected community. The
first time this community had formal education was in 1925 when the
British built a primary school in the area. Then in 2007, the community
decided to construct a secondary school (Matogun Community High School)
within the school premises.
This school is said to be the only
government secondary school in the community. But it has been struggling
to have solid structures since then. With so little coming from the
Ogun State Government, which took over the school from the community in
2008, parents and guardians have kept on devising different ways of
making the school comfortable for their children and wards.
The latest decision to bring blocks and
money was taken by the parent-teacher association after obtaining
permission from the state government.
Soremekun was with her friend, Remi
Olawale (not real name). The blocks are meant for building the school
fence. To these pupils, there seems to be nothing wrong with the fact
that they were contributing blocks to their school; after all, it’s
their school.
When our correspondent met with the
school management to inquire why pupils were made to carry cement blocks
on their heads down to the school premises, a teacher who pleaded
anonymity said that the decision was taken by their parents.
He said, “Parents were the ones that
decided that they would bring two 6-inch blocks and N500. The school did
not impose this on them. What spurred this decision by the
parent-teachers association was because the West African Examinations
Council had refused our demands to make our school a WAEC centre.
“Officials from WAEC said that we must
have our school fenced, set up a laboratory room and a hall. When the
P.T.A heard about these requirements, they decided to take action. The
two 6-inch blocks that were brought is now being used to fence the
school,” he said.
The teacher said the uncompleted fence had provided some form of security for the pupils.
He said, “Cyclists and commercial bus
drivers used to make this school their garage. On several occasions, we
have had to lock the pupils in their classrooms so as not to get injured
when area boys were fighting. There was a time these hoodlums came into
our school fighting one another with cutlasses and guns. If we are not
battling with hoodlums, then we are battling with mad fellows strolling
into the school premises. It’s been one incident after the other.
“This school is being supported by
parents. Parents constructed a laboratory and hall for the school. These
parents are so concerned about the welfare and education of their
children. They realise that if they wait for the government to get
things done in the school, their children will be the ones to lose.”
The PTA chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Bamgboye,
in a chat with our correspondent said parents were dissatisfied with
the state of the school, hence their decision to carry out projects in
the school.
He said, “We were very concerned with the
level of education our children were receiving. This dissatisfaction
spurred us to build a laboratory, school and fence the school. All these
projects were made possible by the pledges parents make.
“During our meetings, we would discuss
issues that need to be cleared and the cost to clear these issues. That
was how we came up with the decision to bring two 6 inch blocks and
N500.
“Most parents also didn’t like the fact
that their children would have to travel from Matogun to Agabado to
write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. The road
is terrible. On several occasions, these children get injured. Some
children have even been killed.”
Some residents who spoke with our
correspondent said Matogun Community was one community that relied
solely on self-help and that they received little or no governmental
assistance.
On your way to this community, the
untarred road which was constructed by the community is so dusty and
bumpy. One could barely have a breath of fresh air without inhaling
dust.
Our correspondent was informed that the
school which actually belonged to the community was later taken over by
the government in 2008. Children from 16 villages, which include Oye,
Legun, Oluyole, Maidun, Osere and Orudun all attend the school.
A classroom in this school which is meant
to have about 25 pupils has about 100 pupils, our correspondent
observed. The total school population is about 5,000 pupils with 30
teachers.
Aside this, the school also has just one small office for about 30 teachers.
When you walk into the school compound,
you would see mud classrooms that were constructed in 1925. These
classrooms with no proper ventilation look archaic. Though the school,
which should have received a complete overhaul by the government has yet
to attain good standard.
Some residents that spoke to our correspondent commended parents for the little achievement by the school.
Speaking with our correspondent, a source
in the school who pleaded anonymity, said that government was doing
its bit and that the State Basic Education Board had recently
constructed three classrooms.
“When we made a complaint about the
accommodation issue we were facing, the government responded. That is
why we now have three additional classrooms. Government has also
promised to construct a mega structure on the school premises. The
government is trying its best. It has so much to deal with.”
When our correspondent contacted the
official –in-charge of Schools, Ifo LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Osho, he said
Matogun School had been receiving support from the government.
He said, “The government has about 256
schools to handle. We can’t just focus on one school and ignore the
others. Our intention is to touch every school. Education in Ogun State
is even free. Government provides exercise books, stationery and text
books for all its pupils.’’
Osho continued, “We did not want the PTA
in schools to handle any project, but they kept pressuring us to grant
them permission and we had no choice but to succumb. We are capable of
taking care of our schools but this would be at our pace.
We have just recently renovated some schools and we plan to establish special schools. We have a lot to do.”
He, however, refuted claims that pupils’
admission in Matogun School was based on their ability to provide two
6-inch blocks. He said, “This isn’t true. Pupils’ admission is not
based on them bringing in blocks. No principal can do that.”
But a pupil who refused to disclose his
name attested to allegations that pupils had to bring in 6-inch blocks
before they were allowed into school.
PUNCH
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