As schools across Nasarawa State resume for the First Term of the 2024/2025 academic session, over 350 students at Government Secondary School Sarkin Noma in Keana Local Government Area find themselves stranded due to a lack of classrooms.
According to the PUNCH, the situation has sparked concerns among parents, teachers, and community members who fear that the poor state of the school may lead to students dropping out.
Established in 2003 during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, GSS Sarkin Noma has yet to receive any direct infrastructural support from the Nasarawa State Government.
The only structures within the school—a few classroom blocks, an examination hall, and a staff office—were constructed by the community, which consists mainly of small-scale farmers and petty traders.
Even the school’s only toilet facility was built years ago by members of the National Youth Service Corps who were posted to the area.
This lack of government intervention has led to a deteriorating situation, with the school’s structures now in a dilapidated state.
Community members like Zubeiru Yakubu have expressed their frustration, calling the government’s neglect of the school “unreasonable.”
He emphasized the importance of the school to the community, which relies on it as an affordable educational option.
“The structure built by the community is already in bad shape, and we are worried because we are now in the rainy season,” Yakubu said.
“This issue could hinder parents and guardians from sending their children to school, especially during the rainy season, and such a development could affect their education negatively.”
Another concerned resident, Yuhana Isah, warned that the dire situation could discourage students from attending school. He urged the Nasarawa State Government to collaborate with the State Ministry of Education to urgently construct new classrooms and provide other necessary facilities.
A teacher at the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the community’s plight. He noted that despite teaching at the school for nearly seven years, he had yet to see any form of support from the state government.
The teacher revealed that the community had repeatedly appealed to government ministries and agencies for assistance, but to no avail.
“As I speak with you now, one part of the school building built by the community has been destroyed by thunderstorms,” the teacher said.
“You can imagine what it means for over 350 students from JSS 1 to SS 3 to use only two small classes for study.”
He also raised concerns about the school’s location near a forest, which poses security risks, and called on the government to build a fence and deploy security personnel to the area.
In response to these concerns, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, John Mamman, promised to look into the matter. He also revealed that the state government has plans to build and renovate 690 schools across the state’s 13 Local Government Areas by the end of the year.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule has a passion for education, and every community should have hope that they will not be left behind,” Mamman said. “Education is the gateway to the development of society, and we are working towards addressing the challenges in this sector.”
As the new academic session begins, the students of GSS Sarkin Noma and their community await urgent government intervention to ensure that their right to education is not further compromised.
