Give us these libraries

Elizabeth Adelufusi, a class three student of Ojodu Junior Secondary School, is confused about the quality of education she is getting; and would have loved to adopt some measure of self-teaching but cannot because her school does not have a library.

"We don't have a library in school," she said. "I wish the state government to give us a library so that we can have access to so many books. A library will help us to prepare more for our studies."

Chibuike Umeh, of Birrel Avenue High School Yaba, echoes Ms Adelufusi's sentiments. He is appalled by the overall conditions of learning in his school, and also emphasizes the need for a library. "No school library for students to read, and our classrooms are too crowded," he said. "I think that a school is supposed to have a library; it is important. [We need] a library that will have so many books for students to read."

Both students capture the feelings of a substantial number of Lagos public schools who have no access to libraries.

Exodus from public schools

Continuous complaints by some of these students that lack access to school libraries are gradually getting to their parents, resulting in an increasing depopulation of public schools as parents switch their children to the more expensive, but better equipped private schools.

"One cannot, because of the free education (policy adopted by the state government for students of state-run schools), mortgage his child's future," said George Obilor, who recently switched his son from a public school to a private one upon discovering that the former school did not have a library."

Statistics from the Lagos Ministry of Education revealed an estimated 43 percent decline in the enrolment figure of public primary and secondary schools for the year 2009. The report, available on www.supportourschoolsng.org, also indicates that there is a 31 percent drop in the enrolment figures of primary school pupils who are expected to transmit to junior secondary schools.

Government's intervention

During the Lagos Book Fair/Exhibition that held last week, Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan told students that the state government was geared to remedy the situation, and reiterated government's commitment to continually improve the quality of Lagos public schools.

"We have started renovating public schools and putting libraries in them; we embarked on the supply of free textbooks to students; and we introduced reading time and free extra lesson time in schools," said the permanent-secretary of the Ministry of Education, Omolara Erogbogbo, who represented Mrs Sosan at the event.

Spokesperson for the ministry, Tunji Bakare, went a step further by saying, "the state government is working towards the provision of libraries in all state public schools."

S.O.S.

During the launch of Support our School Initiative, in 2008, Governor Babatunde Fashola appealed to citizens to partner with the state government in the rehabilitation of schools.

"In spite of all that government has done to restore the glory of public schools in Lagos State, there is still so much more to be done to permanently reverse the neglect and decay of the past," he said. "It is obvious that government alone does not have sufficient resources to shoulder this responsibility."

"We are appealing to individuals whom God has blessed, as well as corporate citizens, to please support one of our 1030 public primary schools; 311 public junior secondary schools; and 303 public senior secondary schools in Lagos State. I can assure you that our widow's mite can make a world of difference in these schools. For example, we can contribute to providing school facilities like libraries, classrooms, furniture, toilets, laboratories, ICT rooms, sports equipment, school buses and other such facilities in these schools."

An educationist and founder of Foundation for Skills Development, Omowale Ogunrinde, echoes Mr. Fashola's sentiments, and has contributed, through her Non Governmental Organisation, towards addressing this trend. An initiative of her organisation, The Smart Kids Project, has donated over 5,000 books to Lagos public schools.

"Government cannot do it all alone," she said. "There is a need for corporate organisations to begin to establish mini libraries in these schools. And even individuals can donate old books, and old educational materials that they no longer need. Nothing is too small; these things can be very useful to these students."

For students like Ms. Adelufusi and Mr. Umeh, whose parents might not have the resources to switch to better equipped schools, no educational gift can be useless indeed.