by Christiana Gokyo, Jos 

In continuation of monitoring of some school projects in Plateau State, the Bureau for Public Procedure Processes has revealed that, this project, tagged Project “59.G” of Government Secondary School Shendam,was carried out through “direct labour 2024,” which is Renovation of Dormitory (G) – that’s Green House; and the contractor handling the project was ‘INAPS Global Engineering Company Ltd,’ at the cost of N 21,882,811 only.

Renovated 3 classes and lab at Pilot Science School Heipang,
by UBEC/SUBE/PL/TB/CW 3rd Qtr 2013 /7/2017

Unfortunately, when the project monitoring team (which was trained by Accountability Lab) got to GSS Shendam and met with the Principal of the school, Mrs Dadam Suzana Tongnaan, she explained to the team that “there is no new project or renovation going on right now in the school.”

According to her, “The school was renovated during the administration of Governor Simon Lalong, and the school doesn’t have the dormitory in question that the team is requesting,” she said.

But, she directed the team to go to Government Girls Science Secondary School (GGSSS) Shendam, because, according to her, that is where she knows that it’s being renovated at the moment.

The team left for the GGSS Shendam where it was discovered that ‘Dormitory G’ was there and has been renovated, according to the School Principal, Mrs Victoria Samuel Yusuf, and two other staffs. The team was taken round the school, and shown the hostel that was renovated and other structures that are yet to be renovated.

One of the dilapidated structures at the Pilot Science School Heipang.

In an interview with the Principal of GGSSS Shendam, Mrs Victoria Samuel Yusuf, she said the first-phase that was given to them was by the SBMC (School-Based Management Committee), which did the renovation. “They were the ones that handled the project directly,” she said.

“The project for the third-phase was contracted out by AGILE, and was at the cost of N100,000.000 only, and the second-phase was renovated at the cost of N13.5 million. They renovated the stores, gate, home economics dormitory and fencing,” the Principal stressed.

According to her, SBMC did one of the dormitories with a borehole, thereby providing them with a complete water system; adding that, the committee also built two classrooms – two blocks, and fenced the school with a gatehouse.

“While one dormitory had both facilities, nothing was done for the Principal’s House and the Staff Quarters,” she retorted.

“As you have seen with your own eyes, the school is really in need of government’s assistance; even with the support from the World Bank, we still couldn’t complete everything. 

“The students need proper accommodation, and the staff quarters are in such a bad state that, sometimes, you would not even want to sleep there. I can’t even recall the last time the government intervened regarding the Staff Quarters,” she lamented.

Pilots Science School Heipang structures. 

Mrs Victoria Yusuf stressed that, “So, we desperately need their help. This is one of the staff members; he is part of the SBMC. He is the Compound Master and the Secretary of the SBMC.”

She appreciated the Plateau State Government, especially Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Adolescent Girls Child Initiative Learning for All – that’s AGILE – for their support, and the Universal Basic Education for coming to their aid in the school.

The SBMC Chairman, Dashe Philip, and the Mai-angwa of Pangtum, Samuel Tongyal, said the school is a great benefit to the community because the entire community realized the value of education, which has produced many graduates in the State and the country.

According to them, the school has had a significant impact, saying, “Before, our children used to travel far for their education. Now, students from other states have access to schooling within the community. Because of its significant impact, it has drawn people to our area and given the community recognition.

“Also, at the Pilot Science School Heipang, 3 classrooms were renovated, including Lab, by UBEC/SUBE/PL/TB/CW from 3rd quarter 2013/7/2017.

“The school needs fencing and more renovation on the structures to enable the pupils have good environment for learning. 

“The only structure in the Pilot Science School Heipang is the only 3 classrooms renovated, but other structures are dilapidated, which need urgent government’s attention.

Headmistress of the school commended the UBEC/SUBE for the renovation of the 3 classrooms and lab and called on government to look into their issue – to help in the renovation of the other building structures that are dilapidated so as to enable them have a conducive learning environment for the pupils.

A teacher of Primary 5 at the Plots Science School Heipang noted with delight, that, “The communities are very happy with the renovation of classes and the Lab because they are using it to teach the pupils.

“The Lab the pupils come in and see, because they believe in seeing real things, while in the Basic Science there are subjects that they have some items in the Lab; that we bring in the Lab assistant. And when the child sees the real thing, it keeps it in mind and stay for long,” he said. 

The teacher lamented that, “But unfortunately, there is no electricity in the school to enable the pupils have this computer to function, and a computer cannot work without light.”

They appealed to the government to look into the issues of light and come to their assistance to enable the pupils have the knowledge of learning with the computer, because the equipment are not functioning.

By MbNewss

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