Once hailed as a beacon of education and community pride, the state of Community Primary School in Araran, Ofonbongha/Yala ward of Obubra local government area of Cross River State has raised concerns among parents and advocates in the area over potential health and safety risks to their children due to its current condition.
The community’s concerns drew the attention of MonITNG, a civic technology organisation advocating for improved transparency and governance in public service delivery. During a recent visit to the school, representatives, students and parents decried the deplorable state of the facilities and insisted on an urgent intervention from the State government.
MonITNG is an initiative created by the Forum for Promoting Civic Awareness and Good Leadership to enhance transparency and accountability in governance while encouraging active citizenship.
This civic technology platform empowers citizens by providing them with the tools to monitor public projects, access vital information, and engage in civic advocacy. The tech advocacy organisation joined residents in calling on the Cross River State government to take immediate action. “The current state of the school is not just an eyesore, it’s a serious health risk.
“Dust-filled classrooms make it hard for children to breathe and focus. Constant exposure to such conditions can lead to respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and bronchitis.”
The only primary school serving the community, the institution’s deteriorating infrastructure now poses severe health and safety risks to pupils and staff. With classrooms cloaked in layers of dust and a roof riddled with gaping holes, the building teeters on the edge of total collapse. “No child should be forced to learn in unsafe and unhealthy conditions,” a teacher said. “Education is a right, not a privilege. These children deserve a safe, supportive environment where they can grow and succeed,” said MonITNG.
“Our children struggle to breathe in those dusty classrooms, and the leaking roof puts them at constant risk, especially during the rainy season.” Education stakeholders said the conditions have become so dire that learning was now being compromised.
A local teacher described the impact on students as “devastating,” noting that pupils often fall ill or miss school altogether due to the unfit learning environment. According to medical experts, prolonged exposure to dusty environments can trigger or exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and other ailments that are especially perilous for young children.
As the rains set in, the situation worsens, with water seeping through the roof into already crumbling classrooms. With no alternative educational facility in the area, the Community Primary School in Araran remains the sole access point to basic education for hundreds of children. It serves as a cornerstone of opportunity and development—a role now gravely undermined by years of neglect and infrastructural decay.
