Ikenna Obianeri
The students of Basden Memorial Special Education Centre, a school for the hearing impaired and visually impaired in Isulo, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State have appealed to the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to provide the school with potable water and electricity.
According to the students, lack of the basic amenities is causing them discomfort and pain every day.
The students, while appealing to the state government for succour, complained that the school had suffered neglect and abandonment over the years.
They made the appeal when some concerned indigenes of the community paid a visit to the school and took a tour.
A student, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues on condition of anonymity said, “We live at the mercy of snakes and other dangerous animals that usually creep into the school environment and places of habitat mostly at night. This exposes us to the risk of snake bites and other harm.
“But with constant light in the premises, those dangerous animals won’t creep in anymore, while those that had already crept in would be easily seen and killed.
“We are calling on the state government, led by the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to urgently come to our aid by providing the school with those necessities, which would also help to improve our comfort and guarantee our safety.
“This is a school for children with special needs. We also need teaching aids, so as to enhance and facilitate our learning process.”
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, said the state government was already working on repositioning the various “Special needs” schools in Anambra State.
Chuma-Udeh noted that her ministry had written a memo to the governor for the repair of the school’s solar system.
According to her, the present administration is currently undertaking lots of projects in different Special schools in the State, and is, therefore, not ignorant of the challenges facing the schools.
The commissioner further revealed that the challenges faced by the schools had been recurrent, while also assuring that they will all be gradually addressed.
She said, “We have written a memo to the governor so that we can repair their solar system for them. We just reconstructed their toilets and all whatnot. We are working there. All the special schools are under reconstruction now.
“This is a perennial problem; it did not start with this administration. So, we are taking these things gradually; it is not something that will just vanish with the wave of a hand.
“Basden (the school) told us they had problems with their sumo (pumping machine), and we had gone there to rectify their sumo and they have water. And now, you are talking about light. Gradually, these things will be rectified.
“We have other special schools; it is not only Basden. And the governor is so much interested in their affairs.”
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