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Author: Nwaorgu Faustinus
Posted to the web: 5/31/2011 8:33:28 AM

Imo State Government: SaveAmala/Ntu Secondary School from Total Rot

 

Written By Nwaorgu Faustinus.

 

Amala/Ntu Secondary School, once the glory of secondaryschool education in Ngor/Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State is terribly ingreat state of dilapidation and will closely march towards the brink ofextinction if nothing expedient and urgent is done to rescue it from totaldecadence.

 

Founded in 1976, Amala/Ntu Secondary School was regard asone of the best citadels of knowledge, where discipline, punctuality, educationalexcellence, cleanness, morality, academic competitiveness, sports among otherpositive virtues were the order of the good old days. However, some of theabove commendable traits seem to have eluded the school. Lateness, indisciplineand nonchalant attitude to work are now the order of day.

 

Amala/Ntu Secondary School one of largest schools in theCouncil Area, covering about two and half hectares of land, unfortunatelylocated at the outskirts of two prominent communities Amala and Ntu from whichthe name of the school is derived. The school sandwiched in the middle of theforest and land belonging to the two communities was aimed at giving the communitiesa sense of belonging to avoid community bickering which is often associated withlocating projects in one community.

 

Many today though belatedly are regretting why the schoolshould be sited in such a place that is far from the two communities givenunforeseen situation that has bedeviled the school which were not envisagedprior to its establishment.

 

Security for the school has been left in the hands of fate.The school which is about 10 kilometers from both communities has witnessed sadand disturbing decadence because of its location which has led to thevandalization of some prominent section of the school structure such as theintroductory technology workshop, the auditorium or school hall, the library,Physics and Chemistry labouratory etc.

 

According to the Principal of Special Class and Dean ofStudies of the school, Sir Godwin Chidi Amadi said, “The school is not welllocated, in fact it is isolated. Most of the science apparatus and spacemen forpracticals have been vandalized because of lack of security. The introductorytechnology which was well equipped has been vandalized. The library andauditorium are not spared in this criminal act of vandalization. From late 80â'still now security in and around Amala/Ntu Secondary School has been dreadfully permeableas there is no fence or barricade or security guard to monitor and protectschool property or keep at bay vandals who access the school from many entranceand exit points”.

 

At present, the school has lost its former attraction,appeal and cynosure. During its formative years – 1976 to 1985, Amala/Ntu SecondarySchool was a reference point in stellar academic and sports competitions as itsstudents made nice grades and bagged many laurels. This performance was hingedon dedication to work and training and retraining of teachers who worth theirsalt in various endeavours. But today the reverse is the case. This isevidenced in poor performance in sports competitions, interschool debates andSenior School Certificate Examination.

 

Formerly, the footpaths in the school were well maintainedby regular sweeping and periodic weeding and cutting of grass on these paths.Today, these footpaths have been encroached on by elephant grass. In addition,the football pitch and entire school premises have been overtaken by grass,shrubs, weeds, herbs and trees. The atmosphere being that of a school locatedinside forest. Because of the challenges of poor results recorded in pastSenior School Certificate Examinations, nonchalant attitude to work andacademic on the part of teachers and students, limited classroom seats, poorenvironment for learning, delay payment of salary of teachers which gives riseto strike, inadequate teaching materials and personnel, long distance trek bystudents, vandalized library, labouratory and introductory technology workshopamong others, have led to the exodus of students from Amala/Ntu SecondarySchool to mostly nearby private schools.

 

The above situation has occasioned a drastic depletion ofstudents’ population in the school who should have helped to keep the bushycompound clean by periodic weeding and cutting of elephant grass. As of thetime this writer visited the school, the total number of students from JuniorSecondary School (JSS) to Senior Secondary School (SS) was put at 137 with theexception of SS2 that has no student. A break down of the figure is here.

 

Total Student Population in Amala/Ntu SecondarySchool: May 2011

Previously run as a boarding and day school, today theschool operates as a day school no thanks to insecurity that pervades the place.From 1976 to mid 80â's , the now dilapidated girls’ hostel has the capacity ofaccommodating one hundred and fifty students while the abandoned, uncompletedand  ramshackle boys hostel is estimatedto house three hundred students. Male students at the time made use ofalternative hostel referred to as calakuta. Apart from the male and femalehostels, there are also teachers quarters that have four separate 3bedroombungalows, principal quarters and kitchen section, all have falling apart. Theonly structure that is worth looking at is the Jss block that was renovated by UniversalBasic Education in 2007.

 

For those who know Amala/Ntu Secondary School before and afirst time visitor, the general atmosphere that pervades the area is that of melancholyand desolation of a school, by previous administration in the state.

 

With various degrees of challenges staring Amala/NtuSecondary School in the face, it is now the responsibility of the newlyinaugurated government of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who is education friendlyto save the school which is on its last legs from total collapse.

 

An urgent affirmative action should be taken by well-meaningold boys and girls of Amala/Ntu Secondary School as the Imo state governmentcannot do it all alone.

No contribution towards rebuilding and restoring the lostglory of the school is too little.

 

The time to act is now.  

 

Nwaorgu Faustinus Chilee, writes from Igboetche, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.Mobile:+2348035601312. Email: fausteness@yahoo.com