The Fulani Herdsmen invasion of Sitto Gbethrome Junior and Senior Secondary Schools premises in Badagry has been left a sad tale in the mouths of principals of the respective schools,as they call for immediate intervention of government.
The said principals; Mrs Bola Taiwo and Mrs Folakemi Olaniyi respectively called for the construction of an all encompassing perimeter fencing, for the school’s land spanning over five hectares,to debar the frequent visits of the Fulani Herdsmen.
The Principals, who spoke during a visit to the school on Friday 4th September by the State House of Assembly Committee on Education, in continuation of it’s visits to schools in the state,in an attempt to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols ahead of the schools resumption, said that the invasion was due to the fact that there were no perimeter fence in the school.
The Principal of the junior arm of the school, Mrs. Bola Taiwo told the committee, led by the Chairman, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu that they had all the necessary facilities to prevent COVID-19, but that they needed a perimeter fence because Fulani herdsmen rare their cattle around the area and they sometimes disturb the students, while learning.
“We have 22 teachers to 1039 students. The Lagos State government have given us furniture, and we have teachers for all the subjects. Our students are very good, and they are potential leaders,” she said.
Mrs. Olaniyi, who heads the senior secondary school, said that they ensured the use of face masks in the school and that they had problems with security as the school is not fenced.
“We also have nine wash hand basins. Our population is 674 students with seven classrooms. We have an average of 80 students in each classroom and we have 19 teachers.
“We still need teachers for history, CRK, Computer, Animal Husbandry and Fishery. We are disturbed by flood during rainy season because the water level is high,” she said.
Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, in his response, called on the state Ministry of Education to visit the school urgently and construct a fence to secure the school.
“The challenges in the senior secondary school is not different from that of junior secondary school.
“They need a perimeter fence, and there should be demarcation between the schools.
“We are calling on the State Ministry of Education to construct fences in the school because of security of lives.
“The school requires drainage construction because of its typography, and the school’s toilet is not in good condition.
“They also need more classrooms as they allocate a classroom for 80 students, but the classes cannot accommodate more than 40 students,” he said.
Ogundimu added that having four toilets for 1,000 students in the junior secondary school was not good enough and that the furniture there are inadequate.