The dreams of 10-year-old Murtala Yayaha, who is an orphan, now a primary two pupil of Special Primary School, Lanzai in Darazo Local Government of Bauchi State, of getting a good education is gradually coming to fruition.
Yahaya lost his father to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, forcing his displaced family to migrate to Bauchi State where they settled in Lanzai village, a border community between Bauchi and Yobe State where his mother is battling to cater for him and his siblings.
Yahaya said, “I learnt how to read in this school and I have also made friends. Although my father died some years back, coming to school has made me happy.
His classmate, Salamatu Dani, said that within the two years of the existence of the school, “I can now write my name in English and I am happy and pray to God to protect our school.
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The member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Hon Mansur Manu Soro, constructed the school and furnished it with learning equipment. There are eight of such schools – four Special Primary and four Gifted Secondary Schools, with one in each of the four districts.
He provided them with free tuition, uniform, shoes, books, bags and pocket money in his quest to provide free education for orphans and vulnerable children within his constituency.
Headmaster of Special Primary School in Lanzai, Dazaro LGA, Samaila Alhaji, disclosed that the school was established in 2022.
“We have 141 pupils and eight teachers teaching them eight subjects including English language, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Basic Science, Hausa language, Islamic studies and Arabic.”
The headmaster explained that the pupils were selected from among children without parents, the poor and vulnerable, adding, “The pupils were selected from four villages of Dorawa, Dutsen Bugwai, Rigar Gwaigwai and Lanzai village sharing boundary with Yobe State, where dozens of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living. Every Friday, they are fed.
“Our lawmaker also presented 171 school kits, 56 teaching tablets, 20 laptops, and 700 Quranic books in his resolve to sustain the educational legacy intervention projects he started.
“Manu Soro provides uniforms, text and exercise books, school bags, sandals (shoes) and shocks (free of charge) for the eligible children. He also provides electronic tag for staff which is used for attendance, reports, lesson plans and so on, to monitor the progress and performance of the teachers and pupils,” Samaila said.
Speaking on challenges, the headmaster said, “Our major challenge is lack of water in the school. Another major challenge we are facing is that some well-to-do people believe the special school is a private school and so they are attempting to bribe management to enrol their children.
A parent and resident of Lanzai, Tasiu Saleh Abbas, said “We are proud of the establishment of the school because it has impacted positively on our children. We have seen positive changes in our children. We thank Hon Manu Soro for his doggedness and resilience in establishing the school. We are also calling on the Bauchi State Government to support the school with teachers or take the responsibility of paying the teachers to sustain the scheme.”
A SS2 student of Darazo Central Gifted Secondary School Darazo, Salisu Idris, described his school as a saving grace to actualise his dream of being educated because his parents had attempted to abandon his educational pursuit at a point, saying, “My new school does everything to prove our eagerness to nurture our talent.
Idris said, “I love the teachers in my school because of their dedication and willingness to impact us with the knowledge that will help us. They are putting us in the right path not only by impacting knowledge but also with the discipline that will make us great and help our country.”
Salihu, who is also the head boy of the school, said they have been exposed to a lot of new things.
The head boy, whose ambition is to become an engineer, expressed confidence that with what the teachers are doing, the future is very bright for the students of the school.
Another SS2 student of the Gifted school in Darazo, Rukayyatu M Lawal, who also applauded the efforts of the teachers, said they have succeeded in building her confidence.
Acting Principal of the Gifted Secondary School Darazo, Kashim Muhammad Gambo, revealed that they usually conduct examinations to know those that are capable and then guide them towards making right choices and decisions concerning their education.
Commenting on the performance of the students, Gambo explained that while there is room for improvement, the performance of the students so far has been amazing.
A community leader and the Sarkin Gabas of Soro, Alhaji Auwalu Sarki Shehu, said the community has greatly benefited from the Gifted School because the school has offered opportunities for the students to demonstrate their natural gift of learning.
According to him, “The school started with 50 students, and it was very difficult to get the students because people did not believe it would work. But now, people are lobbying to get their children admitted into the school.”
Shehu explained that as a community, they are doing everything possible to contribute to the sustainability of the school by seeking avenues to support the running through meagre contributions by parents who are members of the Parents Teachers Association PTA.
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