Labaka Residents Raise Alarm Over Crumbling Primary School, Demand Immediate Government Action

Residents of Labaka-Eku Apa Community in Ajase-Ipo Ward II, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have renewed calls for urgent government intervention over the worsening condition of the Community Primary School, Labaka, saying the state of the school has become a threat to the safety and education of its pupils.

‎ ‎The community members, who described the situation as unacceptable, appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to prioritise the rehabilitation of the school, noting that years of neglect have left the learning facility in a deplorable state.

‎ ‎ ‎During a visit by journalists to the school, several classrooms were observed to be in poor condition, with damaged roofs, cracked walls and sections of the buildings either partially collapsed or exposed to harsh weather.

‎ ‎The deteriorating infrastructure has reportedly made teaching and learning increasingly difficult for both pupils and teachers.

‎ ‎The Chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association, Simon Kure, said pupils are now compelled to learn under conditions that fall far below acceptable standards.

‎ ‎According to him, many of the children sit on sacks during lessons due to the shortage of furniture, while rainfall often brings classroom activities to an abrupt halt as leaking roofs force them to seek shelter elsewhere.

‎ ‎He appealed to the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, to facilitate the immediate renovation of the school, stressing that access to a safe and conducive learning environment is essential to quality basic education.

‎ ‎The PTA chairman further called on the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Shehu Adaramaja; the Secretary for School Matters, Omu-Aran, AbdulRazaq Ojewoye; the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, AbdulAzeez Yakub; the Senator representing Kwara South, Lola Ashiru; the member representing Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Abdulraheem Olawuyi and the member representing Irepodun State Constituency, Olushola Odetundun, to work together to restore the school to a habitable condition.

‎ ‎Parents in the community also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating infrastructure, warning that continued neglect could have far-reaching consequences for the children's education and wellbeing.

‎ ‎Speaking on behalf of other parents, Firdaus Muhammad and Ramontalai Akanji described the school as the only affordable public primary school accessible to many families in the community.

‎ ‎They urged the state government and other stakeholders not to allow the future of the pupils to be sacrificed because of failing infrastructure.

‎ ‎They maintained that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a secure, healthy and inspiring environment, irrespective of where they live. ‎

‎Meanwhile, attempts to obtain the reaction of the Baale of Labaka, Alhaji Taofeek Adeyemi, were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable when journalists visited the community. ‎