Ikenna Obianeri
The deplorable condition of the Community Primary School, Iyiowa Odekpe, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, the only government primary school serving the community, has triggered widespread concerns among landlords and other residents.
South-East PUNCH findings showed that pupils and teachers of the school are facing potential dangers from snakes, other harmful reptiles, and disease-carrying mosquitoes as the school premises have become overgrown with grass.
Parents and residents also expressed severe concerns over the daily risks pupils and teachers face in the bushy, waterlogged school environment, lamenting that the deplorable condition has rendered the school environment unsuitable for teaching and learning.
They called on the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to urgently intervene and make the school a safe environment for the children.
During an on-the-spot assessment visit on Monday by the community landlords led by the chairman, Sunday Obinze, and other executive members, the extent of the deterioration was evident with the pupils being surrounded by overgrown grasses in a swampy environment.
Findings showed that the school, which comprises several classroom blocks constructed in 2010 under the UBE/PN/2010 intervention project, had fallen into a state of severe disrepair and damage.
Obinze described the situation as unbearable, stressing that the community lacked the financial capacity to undertake the reconstruction of the school.
He said the overgrown vegetation and stagnant water have also heightened concerns about the possible presence of snakes and other harmful reptiles, as well as mosquitoes that could expose pupils and teachers to diseases.
Obinze expressed appreciation to the state governor for fulfilling his promise regarding the community road, where construction work is ongoing, but appealed to him to extend the same intervention to the school.
He said, “We are thankful to the state governor for fulfilling his promise on our road. Work is ongoing on the major road as we speak. But the challenge the community is facing now is the deplorable conditions of our only primary school.
“We are reminding him that the challenge of the deplorable condition in our primary school is still pending. The condition there is too terrible for our children in this modern age.
“We expressed particular concern about the safety of young pupils. Our children should not be compelled to learn in an environment where their health and safety could be endangered.”
He disclosed that Soludo had promised during his campaign for a second term in office to reconstruct both the community’s access road and the primary school.
He recalled that the community had demonstrated its appreciation for the governor’s administration by voting massively for his re-election, adding that Iyiowa Odekpe remained committed to supporting the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the forthcoming general elections.
Obinze’s appeal was reinforced by the community’s Secretary-General, Dr Chukwunonso Okoli, who presented a letter recently written to Governor Soludo, formally drawing his attention to the deteriorating condition of the school.
The letter, dated September 18, 2026, and officially acknowledged on September 30, 2026, was signed by the community’s executive and stakeholders.
Copies were sent to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, the member representing Ogbaru II Constituency, Commissioner for Education, Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area and the Igwe of Odekpe, among other relevant authorities.
Okoli said the continued deterioration of the school was unfair to the children, who deserved a safe and conducive environment in which to acquire an education.
“It is unfair to subject pupils to this kind of danger. These children do not deserve this treatment in this present age,” he lamented.
Also speaking, a community resident, Chief Christopher Mgbike, appealed to the governor to fulfil his promise to reconstruct the school, just as he had commenced work on the access road.
Other residents, including Loveday Awa and Esther Igwe, expressed concerns over the daily risks pupils and teachers could face in the bushy, waterlogged school.
They warned that the conditions could expose the children and their teachers to snake bites and diseases associated with the unsafe environment if urgent steps were not taken to rehabilitate the facility.
The residents appealed to Soludo to intervene in what they described as a pressing educational and humanitarian concern, urging him to consider the plight of the children and ensure that Community Primary School, Iyiowa Odekpe, is reconstructed without further delay.
They stressed that restoring the school would not only improve access to basic education in the community but also protect pupils and teachers from the dangers posed by the neglected premises.
When contacted over the development on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Ekene Ogugua, who assumed office on May 19, 2026, said the government was working on the concern of the community.
He said. “The government and this ministry are aware of the concerns of the community over the school. Attention is being given to the school to address the concerns.”
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