Severe flooding in Dambam, the headquarters of Dambam Local Government Area of Bauchi State, has submerged the Model Central Primary School, forcing pupils to remain indoors.
NewsNow reports that the pupils have been forced to temporarily stop attending school until the area dries out, which is likely to result in the loss of an entire term.
A resident who spoke anonymously with NewsNow over the telephone said that the problem has persisted for years, with the government failing to take effective action.
According to him, “This is a recurring incident every rainy season,” adding that when such occurs, the children must stop attending school for three months until the rains cease.
He added: “During the peak of the rainy season, classrooms are flooded up to the window level, forcing the school to close entirely. ”
He expressed regret that the government has neglected the school, denying children access to foundational education.
He also urged local and state governments to address the situation to ensure children can access education, which is their fundamental right.
Reacting to the development in a phone interview with NewsNow, the State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Jamila Dahiru, said the government is on top of the situation.
“For now, the students have been evacuated to a safe place; their safety is the most important thing to the government. We are trying to see that the problem is solved,” she stated.
Dr Dahiru assured that to prevent students from losing the ongoing term, they would be relocated to other schools not prone to flooding to continue their academic activities.
She added that a contract would soon be awarded to control rainwater by constructing drainage systems and completely landscaping the school environment.
She stressed that the government is committed to upgrading the standard of education in the state as well as ensuring the best practices in the sector.