Education
PHOTOS: New Abuja school turns ghost site as Teachers show up once a week, pupils hopeless
A newly completed public primary school in Abuja’s Abaji Area Council has been deserted, leaving over a hundred children without access to education.
This was revealed in a report released on Wednesday by the Monitoring and Implementation Team Nigeria (MonITNG), which described the situation as “heartbreaking” and a clear failure of governance.
Pupils Left Idle as Teachers Abandon School
During a recent field visit to LEA Primary School, Dumi, in Gawu Ward, MonITNG discovered that teaching activities had completely collapsed despite the school being fully completed and once populated by over 113 pupils.
The organisation reported that teachers hardly attend classes, often showing up “once a week, staying for barely an hour, and then disappearing again for weeks or even months.”
As a result, pupils no longer attend lessons, the classrooms remain locked, and the premises have been overtaken by weeds. Parts of the school building are also beginning to deteriorate.
“What should have been a centre of learning and hope now stands as a symbol of neglect and government failure,” MonITNG stated.
Parents Seek Alternatives Amid Neglect
According to the report, several parents have withdrawn their children and enrolled them in schools in neighbouring communities.
Those who can afford it have opted for private schools, while others, unable to pay fees, have kept their children at home.
MonITNG described the abandonment of the school as a waste of public funds and a violation of children’s right to education.
The organisation also linked the situation to wider issues affecting rural education, including poor supervision, teacher absenteeism, and lack of accountability.
New Abuja school turns ghost site as Teachers show up once a week, pupils hopeless
Calls for Urgent Action from Authorities
The monitoring group appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Ireti Kingibe to ensure the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) intervenes immediately.
“We are calling on the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Ireti Kingibe, to urgently ensure UBEB acts swiftly to restore education in Dumi,” the group stated.
They urged that teachers return to their posts, the school environment be rehabilitated, and stronger monitoring systems be established to prevent similar neglect.
“The children of Dumi deserve better. Education is not a privilege; it is their right. Government must act now to restore learning and hope to this forgotten community,” MonITNG added.
Symbol of a Wider Rural Education Crisis
LEA Primary School, Dumi, was built under the FCT Universal Basic Education Board to provide quality education for children in Gawu Ward and nearby settlements. It was designed to save pupils from walking long distances to school.
However, despite completion and an initial enrolment of over 113 pupils, lack of supervision and absentee teachers have left the school inactive.
Education observers say the Dumi case highlights a broader problem across Nigeria’s rural communities, where many public schools remain abandoned due to weak management and oversight.
Advocates have called on authorities to strengthen accountability within the Universal Basic Education framework to ensure public schools fulfil their purpose.
Source: GISTREEL
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