…Collapsed fence exposes students to molestation

When contacted, the school Principal, Malam Sa’idu Jijji Gadam, said the school has its challenges but that students graduated from the centre are excelling in their academic activities in higher institutions across the country.

He said the students sat for both WAEC and NECO examinations, being sponsored by the state government.

When this reporter visited the school, about 63 students were sitting for the ongoing WAEC examinations.

According to him, almost 80 per cent of their students that sat for the examination in 2020 scored five credits and above, including in English and Mathematics.

The principal added that about 30 of their ex-students have graduated from universities and some have joined them as academic staff.

He called on the government to provide them with sporting facilities, “because games are an important part of the curriculum, for the students to exercise and present their talent.”

He said, “For now, the only sport we have is football. But we need table tennis, volleyball and other games that will assist critical thinking and help learning.”

Gadam listed ecological problems as another challenge bedevilling the school. It has created a huge valley in the central area and other parts of the school making movement extremely difficult, especially for blind students.

The free movement of people with disabilities is one of the important things that one has to pay attention to. But due to the erosion which is encroaching most parts of the school, our visually impaired students hardly go out after school hours. They remain indoors and it is affecting their rehabilitation,” Jijji complained.

He revealed that the Gombe State office of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the Gombe Goes Green (3Gs) have planted trees in the school premises to curtail the erosion.

The principal added that Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya recently ordered for the renovation of one of the hostels destroyed by a fire, and also constructed a block of classrooms.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Education, Mr Dauda Batari Zambuk, said the government has made several interventions in the school within just two years of the administration.

He added that he has summoned directors in the ministry for a meeting on how to tackle the issues raised.