Over three months ago, Adenike, a junior secondary school one student of Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive Junior Secondary School in Ikoyi, Lagos used to sit on the floor during classes, until she had to get herself a chair and a locker.
A NEXT report on October 30, 2009 showed that a large percentage of pupils of Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive Junior Secondary School receive classes on the floor.
Adenike new acquisition, made by the school carpenter, cost her parents N2 500. It is only because of those like her though, that students no longer sit on the floor. With those like Adenike now acquiring their own furniture, their class mates can now share with them. Roughly 80 per cent of the student now have their own furniture.
"It is better now; nobody sits on the floor again. There are many chairs now, so some of our friends who have not made their own still manage with us (those that have)," said Adenike.
On their own
One of the students, Aminat Yunus, explained that they were required to bring chairs and lockers for class use to school as these were not provided by the state government.
"It's not convenient to write on the floor at all, but that is where those of us without chairs and lockers write. I am still waiting for my own; my parents have not made them for me yet," she said.
However, the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, recently awarded contracts to 33 contractors to provide furniture to public primary and secondary schools in the state.
According to the chairperson of the state's procurement committee, Paul Kalejaiye, 99,047 of the furniture would be supplied to the public senior secondary school, while 66,752 would be for the junior schools in the state.
During a visit to St. Saviour's Schools, Ebute Metta last Thursday, Mr. Fashola had stressed that, "by the end of 2010, no child in any public school in Lagos State will have to sit on the floor without a desk and chair."
"We have done it before. All my education was in this country. I believe that the resources, the skills and the energy that is necessary to produce first class education in this country is within this country," he said.
Getting to work
According to him, the production of the furniture has started, and the first batch has already been delivered, while an additional 60 000 benches and desks are expected to be delivered in subsequent weeks.
With the information, pupils of Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive Junior Secondary School, Ikoyi can only hope for brighter days ahead.
"It would be very good if they (Lagos State government) can supply will chairs and lockers to schools now; it is very good," Adenike said, with a smile.
