By Musa Idris Panshekara
I am an ex-student of the Government Secondary School (GSS) Panshekara.
Sir, words have been spreading like wildfire all over the town that you are planning to sell out some parts of GSS Panshekara or build quarters on the land in the name of “rehabilitating” the school. This has become a nightmare not only for the ex-students and students, but for the entire people of Panshekara.
I would want to remind you that the school only bears the name “GSS Panshekara” because it is located there, in Kumbotso Local Government Area (LGA), but the people from Panshekara and Kumbotso LGA aren’t the only ones using it: the school also houses students from parts of Madobi and Gwale LGAs as well.
As you plan on selling out or building staff quarters on the land, do you know the school has two sections—one in the morning, and the other in the evening, for senior and junior classes, respectively? This isn’t for nothing, but the fact that there aren’t enough classes to accommodate all students at the same time.
Even though there were too many students in the school’s classes, the atmosphere was not conducive to learning. Because the school is so old, it only has four classes without enough seats for the students, not to mention the worn-out ceilings and floors, which means you can’t even rear your animals inside one of them.
The problems are numerous. There are some devastated classes that were previously used, but they are no longer in use now due to the lack of funds for upkeep. Nonetheless, there are about 8 uncompleted classes that have spent more than a decade without cementing a single block in either of them.
The school has a lot of problems with things like the science lab, the biological garden, and so on. If the local government doesn’t have enough money, you can ask the state government for help. But nobody forces you to intervene in so-called rehabilitation.
Selling this land to fix up the school is not only a bad idea, but it’s also against the law. If priority, if you think of building staff quarters on the land. The previous chairman has departed. So you are not the first and will not be the last. If you are unable or unwilling to contribute, you may leave and leave it alone.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, do not be deceived by all these people parading behind you like bees. They are parasites who would only suck your blood and throw you away. They will not accompany you when you leave your position, or, worse when you die.
I, therefore, urge you, sir, to please not consider just yourself or those of your social class, but to consider the vulnerable children of the poor mass who are coming in the next 20, 30, and 40 years. Those whose parents are unable to send their children to private schools.
Mr. Chairman, remember that Boko Haram uses weapons to kill students and teachers and destroy schools in a brutal way. Please don’t use your power to destroy our mother school in the name of reviving the school.
Musa Idris Panshekara writes from Kano and can be reached via pmusaidris@gmail.com
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