Donation of Books to Public Schools in Karshi Abuja
As part of our contribution to education for all, CURE-Nigeria had on the 28th of September,2017 donated textbooks, dictionaries, exercise books, and packets of pen to three public primary and secondary schools in Karshi, Abuja, FCT. The donation was made at the palace of the Emir of Karshi, who personally received the donated items before distributing them to the schools.
The Emir thanked the CURE-Nigeria team, led by the Executive Director, and prayed to God to continue to strengthen the organisation while urging others to emulate the good gesture. Representatives of the benefitting schools who received the items for their schools took turns to express their gratitude for the donation and noted the materials will further enhance teaching and learning in their various schools.
When we first embarked on our Books Behind Bars Project, – the establishment of libraries and functional education programs in adult and juvenile prisons in Nigeria, little did we know that we would be drawn into establishing libraries in public schools. In fact, we did not know that many of our primary and secondary schools, located right in our cities, like the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had no libraries and basic infrastructure. Perhaps, like many Nigerians, we were unaware of the realities that characterize and deeply set apart the rich and the powerful away from the weak and the poor in Nigeria.
But we received three pallets of primary school books and decided to reach out to schools. Three public primary schools have benefited so far and we are set to expand.
One of the benefiting schools and perhaps the neediest of them all is the LEA Nurudeen Nursery and Primary School, Karu, Abuja. Located opposite St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Karu, along Karshi Road, it was established on the 10th of December 2009 and has a population of about four hundred and ninety-six (496) pupils, all of whom are Muslims. The Head teacher told us that the pupils are from very poor backgrounds and most of them are orphans. The pictures reveal this fact.
In addition, the school has very poor staff strength, just 12 teachers, leading to the merging of some classes. At the time of compiling this report, they were about 150 pupils in a class. The Headteacher and the teachers told our staff that it has been impossible to teach. Our staff who compiled this report confirmed that she could not move around the class because it was too full, with some pupils sitting on the bare floor and many sleeping. Our camera could not capture the whole class in a picture.
The school is in dire need of teachers, about 10, according to the Headteacher to split the classes so that teaching and learning can take place. But it has other needs too including water, computers, and furniture such as tables, and chairs for pupils and teachers, as well as sporting equipment, among others.
CURE-Nigeria has recruited more than 10 graduate interns to teach in the school at the moment, while a permanent solution is being sought with respect to teachers.
