Niger Community Cries Out as Pupils Learn Under Trees for Over a Decade
Residents of Wasagi village in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State have raised concerns over the dilapidated state of their only primary school, which has been in ruins for more than 10 years, forcing children to learn under trees. Community leaders, parents, and teachers are now appealing to the government and well-meaning individuals to step in and rebuild the school, providing a safe and conducive learning environment for the pupils.
Speaking with Journalists, the Dagaci of Wasagi, Alhassan Mohammed Wasagi, lamented the neglect despite multiple appeals to government officials.
“We went to the member representing us, and he came here to take pictures of the collapsing building but did nothing. Even the Commissioner for Works came and discussed with us, yet no action has been taken. We are now begging anyone who can help rebuild the school so our children can be educated.”
A visit to the village revealed that the two-classroom block was on the verge of collapse—the floors were broken, windows were missing, the roof was shattered, and visible cracks covered the walls. The shortage of classrooms has forced pupils to study outside, with Primary 5 and 6 pupils taking lessons under trees.
“When the building was still in good condition, we divided one class for Primary 1 and 2, and for Class 3 and 4, we divided another class for them in the two classrooms we had. Five and six take their lessons outside,” said Mohammed Aliyu Abubakar, a teacher at the school.
He further explained the challenges of outdoor learning, stating:
“When children learn outside, anything that passes by distracts them, whether it is a machine or even a bird.”
Many parents have stopped sending their children to school, worried about their safety and the poor learning conditions.
The Headmaster, Alhaji Mammam Jiya, said the situation had severely impacted education in the community, as students are unwilling to attend school due to the risk of the building collapsing.
“I can’t run the school properly. The children are afraid to come to school because of the risk of the building collapsing. We sit on the ground as there are no chairs or tables. Examination students have to go to Kateregi to write their exams.”
Efforts by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to raise funds for reconstruction have been unsuccessful. According to PTA Chairman, Audu Mohammed, the community once raised ₦500,000 for the school’s rebuilding but had to return the money when they realized it was insufficient.
“We have written applications and met with officials, but no help has come. It is painful because I was not educated, but I want my children to be educated. I have five children in this school,” he said.
A former pupil, Ibrahim, now a junior secondary school student, described his struggles in the school and expressed concern for his younger siblings still studying there.
“We managed it like that, but I feel bad that my younger siblings in the community have no proper school. I want the government to build a better one for them,” he appealed.
Similar challenges exist in other schools across Katcha Local Government Area, with many structures in severe disrepair and lacking adequate teachers.
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A voluntary teacher, Abdulkadir Mohammed, shared his experience, saying:
“In my school, only three out of nine structures are standing. During the rainy season, the children get wet because the roofs leak. We have complained to local authorities, but nothing has changed.”
The residents of Wasagi village and surrounding communities are calling on the Niger State Government, education authorities, and charitable organizations to take urgent action in rebuilding the school and addressing the educational crisis in the area.
