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Disease at FGGC, Bwari
THE
Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, Abuja has been in the news in the past
three weeks on account of a mystery disease which made many parents to hurriedly
withdraw their children leaving the school nearly deserted.
Media reports on the ailment have it that
it affects the joints leading to what appears like near paralysis. The victim
virtually crawls hence the coinage "Go Slow" disease for want of a better name
for the baffling disease.
Naturally, news of the rapidly spreading
illness led to widespread anxiety and panic withdrawal of wards. A medical team
from the National Hospital, Abuja, was despatched to the school immediately news
of the ailment broke. The minister of health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo and the
minister of state for education, Hajia Ibrahim Binta Zukai, have also been to
the school to get first hand information on the problem.
The brief these officials reportedly got
from the FGGC, Bwari authorities coupled with further media reports on the
conditions existing in the school may be a pointer to why the illness broke as
they and expose grievous lapses in the educational system. Unconfirmed reports
that the ailment was nothing new and has been known to break out often mostly in
public boarding schools, gives even more cause for worry.
First, the school authorities complained
bitterly about over-crowding and blamed that on incessant orders and pressures
from people at the corridors of power who insist on getting their children
admitted into the unity college. In fact, if media reports that students are
sleeping two to a bed and that about 60 girls share a room are to be believed
then, there is a crisis situation in the school.
The second complaint was that facilities
were not expanded even as pressure piled to admit more of the young girls. Even
something as basic as the school clinic was reportedly inadequate and incapable
of much use.
Education Minister Professor Fabian Osuji
was quoted as saying that the entire matter was a case of "mass hysteria"
probably triggered off by the prospect of facing examinations. He was reported
to have wondered aloud why the illness disappeared once the girls left the
college which led him to the conclusion that it was some sort of hysterical
reaction.
While the minister might have meant well
and may be helping to calm panicky parents, it seems strange indeed that his
conclusions did not tally with those of other relevant officials who visited the
school. It is very simplistic to dismiss the matter that way since it is
something to do with life. Even if it was just mass hysteria, it deserves
investigation since medical science does not classify mass hysteria among
entirely harmless occurrences. It will still be useful to find out what sent the
over 2,000 student into hysteria.
It is therefore appropriate to find out
exactly what happened or is still happening at FGGC, Bwari. The minister will
permanently douse the rumours and fears if a proper medical and other inquiry
reveal that absolutely nothing untoward happened to cause the level of panic in
the school.
While the inquiry is on, the minister and
other education authorities should investigate the reports of acute congestion
in the school.
It is also pertinent to point out that the
quest for excellence that propelled parents into frantic efforts to get their
children into the school cannot be attained in crowded classes, dormitories and
laboratories. The aim of establishing the school and indeed other unity schools
will be defeated if there is no control on students’ intake.
This brings up the issue of lack of
planning and projection by the government. If there are projected figures on
education requirements of the populace then it will be easier to plan ahead,
expand existing facilities or build new ones.
The scramble for places in the unity
colleges is because of the belief that quality and affordable education can be
acquired there. That cannot be said for the other public schools. It is logical
to conclude that the mad scramble and consequent over-crowding will stop if the
same quality of facilities and instruction are obtainable in all public schools.
The Bwari incident should instruct our
education authorities that there are certain minimum conditions under which
normal teaching and learning can thrive. It behoves on them to seek to
approximate them.
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