The Zarumai Model School, situated in Minna, the capital of Niger State, is in ruins despite its proximity to the state’s government house, a civil society organisation (CSO) has revealed.

The CSO, MonitNG, in a statement, described the pitiful condition of the citadel of learning as a shocking reflection of the level of neglect that public education has suffered across the state.

“Walking through the premises tells a heartbreaking story. Almost all the classrooms have had their roofs blown off by windstorms. The few structures still standing are now death traps, with ceilings on the verge of collapsing on students during lessons,” the statement read in part.

Rainy seasons are terrible periods for the students of the school, owing to the school’s lack of roofs to shield the students from heavy downpours. On rainy days, the students abandon their classrooms.

The CSO further noted that solar streetlights were installed on the school’s premises. Describing this as misplaced priorities, MonITNG noted that the funds utilised for the streetlight installation could have been diverted into renovating the school.

“This is how corruption and lack of need assessment continue to undermine education in Niger State. If the school management had been consulted, their priority would have been the renovation of dilapidated classrooms, not solar streetlights.

“But sadly, this is the story of our budget system projects facilitated to score political points, not to solve real problems,” it added.

MonITNG also slammed the Niger State Government for neglecting rural and underserved communities in the state.

The CSO had earlier revealed that over 90% of the schools and primary health centres it has monitored in the state are in deplorable conditions.

“Now, under Governor Bago, who claims to have allocated 70% of the state budget to health and education, over 90% of public schools across Niger’s 25 LGAs are still in deplorable condition. How long will residents continue to wait for promises to translate into impact?

“This is not about witch-hunting, it’s about the future of our children. The number of out-of-school children in Niger State keeps rising because parents who can afford it have withdrawn their kids to private schools, leaving the poor and vulnerable to suffer the consequences of government neglect.”