In a stark illustration of the persistent neglect of rural education, hundreds of pupils at LEA Primary School in Guye Doko, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, are now attending classes under trees following the complete collapse of the school’s only building.
A field investigation by the accountability-focused organisation, Monitoring Initiative for Transparency in Governance (MonITNG), revealed that the school, originally constructed through community effort, has deteriorated entirely due to prolonged government inattention.
MonITNG described the situation as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” noting that the children are forced to learn in unsafe and unconducive conditions, exposed to sun, dust, and rain. Lessons are frequently disrupted by adverse weather, undermining both the quality of education and the children’s long-term prospects.
“The people of Guye Doko did their part. They built this school with limited resources, trusting the government would eventually provide support. Instead, they have been met with silence,” MonITNG reported.
Despite significant allocations in the state’s education budget, appeals from the community for the construction of proper classrooms have largely gone unanswered. The organisation highlighted this as a systemic failure of governance, asserting that rural communities continue to bear the brunt of administrative neglect.
“No child should have to learn on bare ground, exposed to harsh weather, without basic facilities like desks and chairs. This is not merely an infrastructure failure—it is a failure of responsibility,” MonITNG emphasized.
The organisation has formally called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to urgently intervene. “Rebuilding LEA Primary School is not an option—it is a moral and legal obligation. Education is a fundamental right, and every child, regardless of location, deserves access to safe and conducive learning environments,” MonITNG stated.
The report concludes by asserting that the neglect of rural education not only infringes upon the children’s rights but also undermines the broader development and future of the state. Kwara State is urged to demonstrate tangible commitment to education equity and accountability.
