Lagos Assembly Expresses Concern Over Dysfunctional School Building In Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education has expressed concern over a dysfunctional building at Government Senior College, Epe 

It was observed that the building, which houses the office of the principal and some classrooms, has been partially abandoned as part of the roof has collapsed causing it to be flooded and unsuitable for studies. 

In his comments in the school on Wednesday as part of the Committee's tour of some schools in the state to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols as schools are resuming soon, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu said that the building needed urgent rehabilitation. 

Ogundimu said that having moved round the school they were not pleased with what they saw as it relates to the buildings. 

"The State Ministry of Education should come and repair the building housing the office of the principal and other classes.

"Some of the buildings in the college, which should be a model, needs an urgent repair and we are not happy that a massive building in the school is in bad shape," he said. 

Addressing the SS3 students of the school, Ogundimu said that the Committee was in the school to see how the school's community was faring, and how they were protecting themselves against COVID-19.

"COVID-19 is real, deadly and kills. Try and protect yourself. Using your mask is a way of reducing the spread of the virus. 

"Anything can happen if you don't use your face mask as the virus is not seen, the curve is being flattened, but it can move again. 

"The school authority has made some facilities available in forms of wash hand basins and sanitizers. 

"They are not for decorations, make use of them and don't touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your hands without washing the hands," he said.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Olawoyin Titilayo had told the committee that the school's population is 692 with 13 classrooms. 

He stated that the number of students per class was 45 with 21 teachers in the school, adding that they had 13 wash hand basins, buckets and sanitizers for the prevention of COVID-19. 

At the junior arm of the school, the Principal, Ikuseyidunmi Pius Bababo told the committee about how he transformed the school, adding that the least the school had recorded in any external examination was 95% and that they had recorded 100% in some years. 

While stating that they had 48 toilets in the school, Ikuseyidunmi said that they needed more teachers in key subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, PHE and Home Economics. 

On the prevention of COVID-19 in the school , the Principal said that they had thermometers, sanitizers, 15 hand washing basins, and posters for the students.

Hon. Ogundimu, who commended the Principal for his  "brilliant performances," promised to get across to the Ministry of Education on the need to provide more teachers for the school. 

The Committee later paid a courtesy call on the Alaketu of Ketu, Oba Adegboyega Adefowora (Oso 2) in his palace.

Also at Epe Girls Junior High School, the Principal, Mrs. Olayinka Beatrice Jonah informed the committee that the school needed more classrooms and that they lacked teachers in subjects such as Agric, PHE, Home Economics, Basic Science, and Basic Technology.

On COVID-19, the Principal said that they had boreholes, soap, basin, thermometer, but that they had inadequate toilets.

At the Senior arm, the Principal, Mrs. Olanike Babatunde said that they had a population of 1024, four functional classrooms and six make shift classrooms on the ground floor of an uncompleted building in the school. 

She said that they had 25 teachers, and that they needed more teachers in Mathematics, English Language,  English Literature, Geography, Yoruba,CRK and others. 

Reacting, Hon. Ogundimu said that the schools were ready to resume, but that they needed more teachers and that the students would be attending the schools alternatively for social distancing.

At the junior school, he said that the recommended number of students in the class should not be more than 25 and that they had a serious task on their hands. 

While saying that they needed more teachers, he said that the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of District 3 should work with the Teaching Service (TESCOM) for more teachers," he said.

He said that the state Ministry Of Education should expedite action on the completion of the building in the senior arm of the school, which was said to have been abandoned since 2014.

"We want the commissioner to visit the school and the contractor should tell us what has happened so that he can go back to site. 

"We also have a building in the school that has collapsed and the perimeter fence of the school needed rehabilitation," he said.