The Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Anthony Adaji, has expressed concern over the deplorable state of public primary and secondary schools, particularly in the rural areas of Kogi East Senatorial District.
Mr Adaji expressed his feelings on Sunday during the Chrism Mass at Saint Boniface Cathedral under the Catholic Diocese of Idah.
The cleric lamented the decay and deterioration of educational infrastructure and called on Governor Ahmed Ododo to address the challenges faced by public schools in Kogi East.
According to Mr Adaji, his concerns highlight the stark reality of the state’s education sector, where students are forced to receive lessons and write examinations on the floor.
He lamented that despite the significant funds allocated to education by the government, the efforts have yielded little results.
The bishop noted that less than 10 per cent of public schools were functional in Kogi State, with Kogi East being the worst affected.
“On a very serious note, you can not get five per cent functional public schools in Kogi East, yet billions of naira are being budgeted for education year in and year out.
“In the last eight or nine years, it has been a total shambles in the area of education in rural communities in Kogi state.
“Kogi state government should stop deceiving itself by using the public schools in the state capital to judge the condition of schools in the local government areas,” the cleric said.
Mr Adaji said it was sad that the larger population dwelt in rural areas, where secondary schools were in a “precarious situation.”
“If you visit some government schools, both secondary and primary schools in Kogi East, if you are a lover of education and you know what education can do to humanity, you will weep; therefore, Governor Ododo should do the needful before it is too late,” Mr Adaji said.
He urged the governor to look beyond the state capital and address the deplorable conditions of schools in rural areas, where most of the population resides.
While commending the state government for prioritising regular salary payments, Mr Adaji emphasised the need to include education and infrastructure development in its mandate.
“However, we are also appealing to him to also include education and infrastructure as part of the mandate of his responsibility as both are necessary for the development of Kogi state,” Mr Adaji said.
(NAN)
