159 pupils share one-room hostel at nomadic school in Nasarawa

An underfunded nomadic school in Nasarawa State has reported that about 159 pupils sleep in one room.

Isah Turajo, the director of the Gudindi, Sabon Gida Nomadic Boarding Primary School in Kokona Local Government Area, shared this during a visit to the school on Saturday.

Mr Turajo said the school needs to find alternative accommodation for the pupils to prevent a disease outbreak.

He stated that the 159 boys sleep on the floor and share around 100 mattresses. These mattresses were donated by Taraba State Governor Abdullahi Sule last year.

Mr Turajo explained that the lack of hostel space led to the management turning the only school hall into a one-room hostel for the boys.

He mentioned that the situation is more serious after a recent scare last term when about 20 pupils were treated for rashes thought to be chickenpox.

"We have 229 pupils in the school, out of which 159 are boys and 70 are girls. The boys sleep in a one-room hostel, while 34 girls out of the 70 sleep in the staff quarters with our female staff."

According to him, 36 of the 70 girls are day students from nearby communities.

Mr Turajo added that overcrowding becomes harder during hot weather. Some pupils have to bring mats into classrooms at night to find better sleeping conditions.

The director called on the Nasarawa State Government, individuals, philanthropists, and other kind-hearted Nigerians to help the school by providing hostels and other necessary facilities for the pupils.