Pupils of the Local Government Education Authority Primary School in the Gudige Sabo community of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have been sacked from their classrooms as a result of a heavy windstorm which wreaked havoc on the school.

The windstorm, which occurred last Thursday, destroyed the classrooms, examination hall, and other facilities inside the public school where the Government Secondary School, Gudige Sabo, also operates a temporary site.

This situation has thrown many residents of the community into panic as the rainy season commences in the area.

When visited the Gudige Sabo community on Tuesday, it was observed that many parents had instructed their children and wards to stay back at home for fear of the unknown.

One of the residents who simply identified himself as Mr. Musa Dangida told our correspondent that since the incident occurred, he had been worried because some of his relatives and  children attend the school.

He lamented that the primary school pupils were left with no other choice but to study under a tree shade within the school premises because of the havock wreaked by the windstorm.

As a result, Dangida, who is a peasant farmer called on the Nasarawa State Government and good-spirited individuals to assist the community in rebuilding the collapsed school in order to encourage the pupils to continue with their studies without any hitches.

He said, “The LGEA Primary School, Gudige Sabo, has been established for many years now. The school has been of great help to this community because many of the residents who could not attend private schools and other expensive schools, gained admission into the school (LGEA primary school Gudige Sabo) and they received excellent teachings from the teachers.

“So, the school has been of a great blessing to our community. But since the day the windstorm occurred and collapsed the building, we have been worried because we are now in the rainy season. This issue could hinder parents and guardians from releasing their children to attend school, especially during this rainy season, and such development could affect their education negatively.

“As I speak, my brother’s children attend the school, and it has been giving me a lot of concern because of the dilapidated state of the school.

“Anytime the weather changes as if the rains will fall, I get scared because I remember them and other children who are now studying under a tree shade within the school premises.

“I am appealing to the Nasarawa State government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule to urgently look into this matter so that the school can be rebuilt for the benefit of the community and the state at large,” Dangida pleaded.

Another resident of the Gudige Sabo community, Noami Yahuza, also told Arewa PUNCH that the situation was bound to discourage the pupils from going to school if not immediately addressed.

Therefore, she appealed to the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board to collaborate with the State Ministry of Education in order to swiftly rebuild the school.

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“Why I am seriously worried about this sad development is that; in the past, most of the residents of the community were not too interested in getting educated but with concerted efforts, they started going to school. So, we really do not want anything that will discourage our young ones from getting good and sound education.’’

“I am urging the Nasarawa SUBEB to collaborate with the State Ministry of Education so that this matter can get all the attention it deserves and the collapsed school should be rebuilt to ensure the continuous growth and development of the community,” she said.

Reacting, the Councillor representing Ara II ward in the Nasarawa LGA Legislative Arm, Richard Gupada, described the incident as unfortunate and appealed to the state government and other relevant authorities for swift intervention.

He sympathised with the staff and students of the school and urged them to exercise patience as he “makes efforts to find a remedy to the unfortunate situation.”

The Councilor lamented that the public school is currently without an examination hall, stressing that the final-year studénts of the Government Secondary School, Gudige, who use it as its temporary site will soon commence their senior secondary certificate examination.

“Government and other relevant authorities at all levels should kindly come to our aid as our children are now without classrooms and examination hall.

“We are already in the rainy season. The education of our children is now at risk as they are without classrooms,” the councillor bemoaned.