Neglected by govt, community sends SOS to indigenes

There are just two classroom blocks for the about 200 pupils in the school. But even space constraint is not their only problem.
There is also no potable water for teachers and pupils to drink. Apart from that, the only road that links the school to neighbouring villages is in a bad shape.
Welcome to L.A. Primary School Wasinmin situated in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Although it has been in existence before the nation’s independence and has produced some of the leading lights in the society today, a recent visit by Vanguard Metro to this school  revealed that the pupils need help urgently on account of the  environment that is far from being conducive for learning.
Even the building of two blocks of classrooms some years back has not done much to relieve it of its dilapidated look. Worse still, the school is a place of teaching and learning in tears.
For instance, as at the time of Vanguard Metro’s visit only two teachers were seen attending to about 200 pupils in the school. This is beside the fact that teachers and pupils usually trek a long distance to a river from which they fetch water for drinking and other uses.
When Vanguard Metro visited Wasinmi, the only borehole in the area located at the back of Baale’s house has stopped functioning. Residents informed that before the borehole packed up, about 1500 of them usually would make do with only one small container of water from it.
Some residents who spoke with this reporter said it usually takes them several hours to trek to the only river in this community in order to get water. As a result, motorcycle and car owners travel as far as Iseyin to buy sachet water, or pure water, to take care of their house hold needs as the only well water in the community has also fallen into disrepair.
Some community leaders told Vanguard Metro they have written several letters to both Iseyin local and Oyo State governments without a response.  ‘’We have to employ two teachers to support the vision so that our children will not stay at home. In most cases, we cannot meet with the demands of these teachers as we all know what it takes to employ a qualified and competent one,”  said Kelani Omokunle.
Residents said they cannot stand the plight of these school children, a reason for which they have sent an Save Our Soul appeal to some illustrious sons and daughters of this ancient community. Apart from this, some of them have taken it upon themselves to fund the employment of two more teachers for the school.
The SOS is already engendering the desired response as a prominent son of the community and Managing Director of AA Consulting Limited, Yomi Akande, has promised to bail the people out  of their plight. He said he was touched  by the passionate plea of his people to do something about their situation.
‘’Each time I phoned my parents and they complained about the sorry state of this community, I felt like coming down immediately to alleviate their suffering.  I came all the way from Lagos because the visit was overdue,’‘ he noted.
Akande said his company will repair the damaged borehole and sink a new one before the year runs out. ‘’Not only this, I shall come back to discuss with the school authorities to make life easy for these pupils. I cannot imagine a situation where only two teachers will attend to about 200 pupils. Although I schooled in Iseyin but my elder brother who schooled here said he is always troubled each time he hears about the state of this school,’‘ said Yomi.
Apart from Wasinmi, Akande said he had decided to extend his philanthropy to Iseyin community, saying about five boreholes will be constructed before the end of this year. ‘’I have employed the services of a construction company to provide boreholes for my people,’‘ he informed.
Traditional leader of the community, Pa Kasali Olagoke who expressed appreciation at Yomi’s kind gesture said the community has lived without basic infrastructure for a long time. ‘’Today is symbolic in the history of this town.
At a time, some of my people thought our community does not receive enough attention from government because our sons and daughters are not in the cabinet but we thank God that somebody like Yomi has gone the extra mile to prove to us that there is hope for this land,’‘ said Pa Olagoke.
SOURCE:www.vanguardngr.com