By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The people of Umuoba Anam in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra have expressed fear over the deteriorating condition of a two-storey building harbouring the Community Secondary School warning that it poses a threat to the safety of teachers and students.

The community raised the alarm following an inspection of the school by the Education Committee of the Umuoba Anam Town Union.

It noted that the building could collapse if urgent rehabilitation work was not carried out before the next flood season.

The Inspection team led by the President-General of the Town Union, Mr Uchenna Anizor, alongside the President of the Umuoba Anam Youth Forum, Mr Onyebuchi Mmeh inspected classrooms and other facilities and interacted with the school’s management, teachers and students.

Speaking after the inspection, Anizor pointed out that the ageing two-storey structure which had developed extensive cracks is raising fears over the safety of its occupants.

He said: “We are appealing to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, through the Commissioner for Education, to urgently intervene.

“The condition of this building is frightening and we fear it may not survive the coming flood season.

“We are also calling on Sen. Tony Nwoye, Mr Peter Aniekwe, Mr Obi Nweke and the LG Chairman of Anambra East, Mr Ifeanyi Chinweze, to support the rehabilitation of the school.”

Describing the rehabilitation of the school as a collective responsibility, the president of Umuoba Anam Youth Forum. Onyebuchi Mmeh urged indigenes, alumni, age grades, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations to contribute to the project.

He said: “Anyone can adopt a classroom, replace doors and windows, provide whiteboards or repair damaged roofs.

“Our priority is to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for our children.”

Mmeh regretted that the school had one of the poorest educational infrastructures in Anambra East and further urged stakeholders to act before tragedy struck.

On his part, a pioneer student of the school, Mr Elias Anizor, appealed to members of the institution’s Old Students Association to mobilise resources for structural reinforcement and renovation of the buildings.

A teacher of the school, Mr Jude Onuorah, further identified inadequate science labs, poor computer facilities and lack of teachers’ accommodation as major challenges facing the institution.

He explained that the school lacks laptops required for computer-based examinations after the previously supplied devices were lost during the 2012 flood disaster.

He added: "Our students are disadvantaged because we lack the digital tools needed for external examinations and STEM competitions.

“We also need decent accommodation to attract National Youth Service Corps members.”

In his remarks, the Principal of the school, Mrs Esther Emma-Nwakaeze, commended the Town Union for drawing attention to the condition of the school.

While appealing to government, philanthropists and development partners to support its rehabilitation, she expressed optimism that timely intervention would avert a possible structural failure, saying that it will restore the school to a safe and conducive learning environment.