UNICEF Frowns, Level of Dilapidation of Class Infrastructure in Toro LGA
By Adamu IMAM, Bauchi
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country representative Cristian Munduate tasked Bauchi government to commit more on basic schools infrustracture to compliment UNICEF supported Nigeria e-learning passport initiatives at the primary level.
She stated this to journalists while on the spot visit to Gyemzo Central Primary School in Toro local government area of the state, as one of the centers for digital literacy using enhanced technological devices
Munduate Interacting with Pupils, Class Teachers in Toro LGA Bauchi Munduate showed dissatisfaction on the dilapidation of some classes set for the children's learning urging the authority to invest heavily, in order to accommodate more pupils aspiring to be come ambassadors of their own country in the near future.
She also visited Tudun wada primary school, at Miya Barkate within the local government area to assess water sanitation and hygiene WASH services at the basic schools level for healthy and conducive atmosphere for learning.
The UNICEF Representative expressed confidence that with more investment in the basic education sector, the growing number of out-of-school children will be drastically reduced while encouraging more for enrollment in to basic schools
She maintained that, “Okay. So, in total, in Toro LGA, what I found and I have learned today, is that the entire LG, for example, have more than 138,000 children at school age Primaries, there is around 380 schools, this gives an idea of how to do planning about it.”
Munduate continue that, ”How many children are able to go to school? So we see that, here, we have children attending school, but there are some classrooms that are empty and they are entirely empty, because there is lack of teachers and chairs"
Pupils Navigating e-learning Passport Devices in Class "there are empty because the classrooms needs a lot of investment, they are empty as well at times because of insecurity issues.” she noted.
She that, "in this case, we are making a very urgent, and a serious call, we’re making a call to this state authorities. First to come and visit the conditions of schools at the different LGAs levels.so they can see, from her side, this situation of children and why they cannot be educated.”
According to her,”That need to be on board. So you need to have supports, but we have to understand that the primary responsibility of government is to be accountable and comfortable to provide education to the children at state solely. by the state government.”
Munduate Group Photographs with e-Learning PupilsMunduate categorically stated, that UNICEF is not here to take over other responsibilities, we are here to complement and support the efforts that we have seen and we see on ground.
And that is why it is important for people to know, people to ask the government to allocate more resources, to educate their children as well.”
“We have the plans to give the tablets for the NLP and boss the programme. But like this is not enough, if you don’t have the rest of the components. So, it is not about how many tablets, it is about how we can make an acquired investment for education and quality education for children as a whole
”So we have 138,000 children covered only by 386 schools, you make the numbers, this doesn’t match. And then you have a lot of of classroom unoccupied because the roofs are falling apart, because there are no boards too, there are nowhere you can sit. There are no teachers. So I said, we cannot provide everything, but it won’t work if the other pieces are not there.
UNICEF Country Reps. Team in Toro LGA The UNICEF assured that they would not relent and continue with support and intervention where necessary because its main mandate is for the welfare and wellbeing of women and children for better future of their lives.
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