Severe flooding in Dambam, the headquarters of Dambam Local Government Area in Bauchi State, has inundated the Model Central Primary School, causing pupils to stay home.
The students have been compelled to halt their schooling temporarily until the floodwaters recede, likely resulting in the loss of an entire academic term.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that this issue has been recurring for years without effective government intervention.
“This is a recurring incident every rainy season,” he said, noting that each occurrence forces children to stay out of school for three months until the rains stop.
He elaborated, “During the peak of the rainy season, classrooms are flooded up to the window level, necessitating the complete closure of the school.”
He lamented the government’s neglect, which has deprived children of access to essential primary education.
He called on local and state authorities to address the situation to ensure children can exercise their fundamental right to education.
Responding to the situation, State Commissioner of Education Dr. Jamila Dahiru stated that the government is actively addressing the issue.
“For now, the students have been evacuated to a safe place; their safety is the most important thing to the government. We are trying to see that the problem is solved,” she said.
Dahiru assured that to prevent students from losing the current term, they would be relocated to other schools not prone to flooding to continue their education.
She also mentioned that a contract would soon be awarded for constructing drainage systems and completely landscaping the school environment to control rainwater.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to improving educational standards in the state and ensuring best practices in the sector.
