An underserved nomadic school in Nasarawa State has cried out, saying about 159 pupils sleep in a single-room hostel.
The director of the Gudindi, Sabon Gida Nomadic Boarding Primary School in Kokona Local Government Area, Isah Turajo, spoke with our reporter during a visit to the school on Saturday.
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Mr Turajo said the school needs to provide alternative accommodation for the pupils to avert a disease outbreak.
According to him, the 159 male pupils sleep on the floor and share about 100 mattresses.
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He said the mattresses were donated by Nasarawa state Governor Abdullahi Sule last year.
Mr Turajo explained that inadequate hostel accommodation forced the management to convert the only school hall into a one-room hostel for the male pupils.
He said that the concern is heightened by an outbreak-like incident last term, when about 20 pupils were treated for rashes suspected to be chickenpox.
“We have 229 pupils in the school, out of which 159 are boys and 70 are girls. The boys sleep in a one-room hostel, while 34 girls out of the 70 sleep in the staff quarters with our female staff.”
According to him, 36 of the 70 females are day students from neighbouring communities.
Mr Turajo further stated that overcrowding becomes more challenging during periods of intense heat, as some pupils are forced to carry mats into classrooms at night in search of more comfortable sleeping conditions.
The director appealed to the Nasarawa State Government, individuals, philanthropists, and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the school by providing hostels and other essential facilities for the pupils.
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