Agbogidi pry school, Edo State
Education is probably the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world. The world is expending enormous funds on building World class facilities and research institutions, sadly Nigeria has placed this as least priority as seen in its annual budgets.
For the month of February, we decided to track all the State-owned projects in the 2015 Edo State Budget, which totalled to the sum of N1.5 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of all primary schools and Junior Secondary Schools in the State.
So far, we have visited 29 schools in Edo communities, and the process shows the Government of Edo State is tasked with the responsibility of providing Standard learning facilities. It will be a tremendous boost to the efforts of the present administration to improve the quality of education before the tenure runs out. Most of the schools had dilapidated buildings, poor laboratories, inadequate desks, chairs and absent of perimeter fences for the surroundings.
Learning is almost impossible in an unconducive environment, and it clearly explains why pupils in this state lag behind in Federal examinations. The situation of these schools has negatively impacted on the development and productivity of the State students.
For example, Adolor, Iguodola, and Agbogidi primary schools, all in the Benin metropolis are few of the worst schools in Edo State. The situations of these schools are beyond abysmal, leaking roofs and lack staff facilities for the teachers. In Agbogidi especially, pupils are subjected to gathering condemned tyres to serve as chairs in the classrooms.
Also in Orovie Primary School, most of the classrooms are unsafe and bound to collapse anytime, Pupils make do with one class where about 120 students receive lessons five days a week, to further worsen their predicaments, often exposed to harms of snakes and scorpions in the premises.
Our next steps are to hold town hall meetings to engage the members of these communities, to sensitize them on the budgetary provisions and allocations and the importance of tracking the implementation of these projects. BudgIT will guide the Community Leaders on practical steps to effectively engage their Representatives in the House of Assembly to ensure project execution.
BudgIT is determined to bring about change in these societies, starting with one community at a time. We will continue to provide budget access and encourage citizens awareness of governance issues; especially on public finances. Taxpayers should not be in obscurity about the management of their funds
