Children of Etsu Dagbma Dobi community in Gwagwalada Area Council of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory are learning under a tree after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) expended the sum of N280.529 billion allocation to fund education.
Data from Education Secretariat shows that the FCTA in nine years, from 2007 to 2016 spent the sum of N280.529 billion allocation on education.
Good as it sounds, despite the huge sum that had been expended on education, Etsu Dagbma Dobi community primary school is despicable while school children are learning under a tree.
It is unclear how the FCTA deployed N280.529 billion to education in nine years, and the Etsu Dagbma Dobi community is this despicable.
Mr. Usman Mohammed, a community champion, who claims to have done extensive community jobs in the areas of education and health across Area Councils in FCT, told MAWA Foundation that the school is in a despicable condition and not conducive for the kids to learn.
Miss Agada, a teacher in one of the schools in Gwagwalada Area Council, while speaking on the current condition of schools and education in FCT, told MAWA that the deplorable condition in many public schools in FCT is so huge and must be addressed if the government wants a better education for the kids.
“Being a teacher for the last 17 years, I have witnessed education decline to this deplorable state, and the government is not bothered, this is bad for the nation’s future and must be immediately addressed.
Some of the teachers and education stakeholders who spoke to MAWA officials accused the FCT authority of mismanaging resources allocated to education under their care.
A primary School teacher who prefers his identity to be concealed, while speaking to MAWA, described public schools in Gwagwalada, as hugely despicable and below standard.
According to him, virtually all the Primary and Secondary Schools located in the rural areas of FCT are in deplorable condition. They do not fit into a conducive environment for decent learning.
The implication is that, if the FCTA and Gwagwalada Area Council continue to allow public schools to be this deplorable, many children in the rural areas, particularly those from poor homes will be denied access to quality education. And, this has a dire consequence on the nation’s development.
Also, read FCT community school kids learn sitting on the ground
If schools in FCT and other communities in Nigeria are allowed to be in this deplorable condition, Nigeria’s chances of achieving SDGs goal 4 (quality education) will be very much impossible.
MAWA-Foundation could not immediately reach out to Gwagwalada Area Council Authority for an official response.
Budgetary Allocation to Education in the FCT from 2007 to 2016
| S/N | Year | Budgetary Allocation to FCT Education | Percentage |
| 1 | 2007 | 13,872,29,289.00 | 21.60% |
| 2 | 2008 | 16,724,393,175.00 | 23.00% |
| 3 | 2009 | 22,478,938,480.00 | 14.00% |
| 4 | 2010 | 46,812,864,898.00 | 12.90% |
| 5 | 2011 | 31,816,962,616.00 | 13.60% |
| 6 | 2012 | 26,231,071,612.00 | 8.60% |
| 7 | 2013 | 36,543,825,759.00 | 14.10% |
| 8 | 2014 | 28,986,336,564.00 | 10.68% |
| 9 | 2015 | 23,637,103,868.00 | 12.19% |
| 10 | 2016 | 33,425,553,886.00 | 13.84% |
Total 280,529,680,147.00
SOURCE: Education Secretariat (2018)