Government Junior Secondary School Waru, located in Abuja Metropolitan Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory with a student enrollment of close to one thousand, for many years, had to grapple with modern infrastructure and amenities needed to aid learning.
The school, located just within walking distance of the Waru IDP Camp, has a large number of students from the camp and many children whose parents are low-income earners as enrollees. Before the current intervention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the school with close to a thousand student enrollment had just one block of 4 classrooms where all the students learn.
In some cases, students had to learn outside, under trees and other dehumanizing conditions. Similarly, the only junior secondary school at Waru had no water, adequate chairs, and parameter fencing to secure the school and students.
When Housing TV Africa visited the school, there was a remarkable turnaround as the school has been transformed into a modern edifice by the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The administration has provided an additional 3 blocks of 4 classrooms each; a parameter fence, desks, office fittings for the principal’s office and landscaping in the school.
An official of the school who spoke off camera commended the FCT Minister for the huge intervention and called on other government officials to emulate the minister for a better Nigeria. “Before this intervention, our students used to learn in overcrowded classes and some occasions outside the classroom because they were inadequate classes. This intervention has brought renewed hope to the staff and students here.
Our source further pleaded with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to do more for the school. “like Oliver Twist, we always ask for more. We will be grateful if the Minister can provide us with books and other learning materials for a library, a home economics laboratory and some Physical education equipment.
The huge upgrade of the Government Junior Secondary School, in Waru may have, in the short term, provided the solution for basic education within the area. However, the absence of a government senior secondary school within the community may derail the students who stay in the area, educational progression, as not all parents have the resources to send their wards to the Government Senior Secondary School, Apo Resettlement, which is about 7km from Waru, with an estimated transportation cost of N800 to and fro daily.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration Department of Education, must as a matter of priority and urgent public importance, commence plans to establish a senior secondary school at Waru, to absolve the graduates of the revamped Junior Secondary School. This will save parents a lot of costs and increase school enrollment within the area.
