Concerns Rise Among Parents and Teachers Over Leaking Classrooms in Abuja School Ahead of Rainy Season

Parents with children attending the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School located in the Gwagwa community within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have voiced their worries regarding the leaking classrooms. They are appealing to the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) for swift repairs to the structures before the rainy season is fully underway.

During a recent visit by Abuja Metro to the community, several parents highlighted the alarming state of multiple classrooms within the school.

Many reported that strong winds had blown off classroom roofs, significantly disrupting the learning experience for students.

Mrs. Asmau Abdullahi, one of the concerned parents, shared that the ongoing deterioration of the classrooms has severely impacted both teaching and learning activities.

She explained that due to leaking roofs, teachers are compelled to combine students into one room, which she believes has negative consequences for the children's education. According to her, some roofs have remained unrepaired for over two years, and several ceilings have collapsed.

"You can observe that some classrooms, whose roofs were damaged, have remained in that state for more than two years. Teachers now merge classes as the rains approach, and this situation is disheartening," she said. Another parent, Ibrahim Alhassan, echoed her concerns, particularly about the ongoing leakages in the roofs.

He noted that despite an increase in student enrollment, there is a significant shortage of classrooms conducive for effective learning.

A teacher at the school, wishing to remain anonymous, mentioned that the overcrowding in classrooms makes instruction challenging.

"Most of the classroom roofs are leaking, and as the rainy season nears, it's critical for the government to enhance efforts to repair the classrooms before the new academic session begins," he said.

Additionally, the teacher pointed out that many of the affected classrooms have been in poor condition for over a year, and although the school's administration has communicated with the FCT UBEB, there has yet to be a satisfactory response.

Garba Samaila, the Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), also expressed distress regarding the fallen ceilings and leaking roofs in classrooms. He stated that the PTA has made multiple requests via the LEA office to the FCT UBEB for intervention, but no actions have been initiated.

Samaila guided our reporter around the premises and lamented the lack of action on the urgent repairs required for several classrooms.

"The PTA has repeatedly reached out through the LEA office to request repairs, especially for those classrooms that had their roofs blown off, yet no actions have been taken to date. We call on the FCT UBEB to promptly address these issues before the rain intensifies, and we urge them to utilize the current school holidays for repairs ahead of the new session," he said.

Meanwhile, an anonymous official from the LEA office in AMAC informed our reporter that a formal request for the school's rehabilitation has already been submitted to UBEB.

"There are arrangements made regarding the rehabilitation of LEA Primary School in Gwagwa, and I assure you that work is expected to commence shortly before the full onset of the rainy season," the official stated.

Attempts to reach Lawal Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT UBEB, for comments were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.

However, a senior official of the FCT UBEB, who requested anonymity due to their position, assured our reporter that the renovation of the school, along with other primary schools across the FCT, has been included in the 2026 budget.