Pupils of Abaji South Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory have reportedly resorted to carrying stones from their community to school for use as makeshift seats amid a shortage of basic learning facilities.
Pupils of Abaji South Primary School in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have reportedly been forced to carry stones to school and use them as makeshift seats due to the absence of adequate desks and chairs.
The development has raised concerns over the state of basic education infrastructure in parts of the FCT, particularly in communities outside the city centre.
According to a resident who drew attention to the situation, pupils were seen carrying stones on their heads to the school in the morning. Some pupils were also reportedly seen sitting or lying on the bare classroom floor.
The resident expressed concern over the conditions under which the children are expected to learn, alleging that the school also lacks adequate desks and chairs, reliable access to water and a functional toilet facility.
He further alleged that the school’s toilet has remained in a dilapidated condition for more than 10 years.
Concerns were also raised over erosion around the school and the possible environmental impact of pupils repeatedly removing stones and soil from the surrounding community to use as seats.
The situation has attracted attention from civic monitoring platform MonITNG, which shared photographs of the school and called for urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
The platform appealed to the FCT Administration, the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Abaji Area Council and other relevant agencies to visit the school, assess its condition and provide the necessary facilities.
The reported situation highlights the need for urgent attention to basic facilities, including desks, chairs, clean water, functional toilets and safe classrooms, to ensure that pupils have a conducive environment for learning.
