RCM Primary School Ikpayongo is a primary school located in Gwer East Local Government of Benue state. The school has a total population of 456 students studying in 9 classrooms with 6 teachers. The primary school have a student to class ratio of 50 to 1 which surpasses the UNESCO recommended 40 to 1.

Also, a ground truthing investigation by our community reporter in the state revealed to us that some students were seen studying without chairs and tables under deteriorated classrooms condition. Our Follow the Money team will be advocating for the provision of serene learning environment and furnishing of the school as part of our quarterly education campaign.

Read more about the townhall meeting here

BENUE STATE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CALLED

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/311691197″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

SCHOOL HEAD TEACHER HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD COME TO THEIR AID AFTER THE TOWN HALL MEETING

Opening address by the school’s headteacher, Lanem Richard  He welcomed all participants to the first town hall meeting on the state of the school. He praised the Follow the Money team for conveying this meeting and advocating for the rehabilitation of the school.  And he also hopes that at the end of the event,  Government will work to alleviate the plights of the school.

THE SUPERVISOR OF EDUCATION ASSURES COMMUNITY OF GOVERNMENT EFFORT IN REHABILITATING THE SCHOOL

The Unit Supervisor of Education  Mr. Tarhemba Christopher expresses satisfaction with the content of the meeting, as town hall meeting is a contemporary tool to tackle development as it ensures participatory approach between government and the people.  He also said he was in the school to supervise the new teachers that were posted to the school. He assures the community of government effort to provide a conducive learning environment for pupils in its’s schools.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EDUCATION SECRETARY PROMISED THE SCHOOL WILL BE CHOSEN FOR NEXT REHABILITATION PHASE

Mr. Stephen Yongo from the office of the Education  Secretary, Gwer-East Local Government says that Government intends to return all Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) schools back to their owners,  and concentrate on repairing its own schools.He expressed optimism that the school will be chosen for the next phase of schools rehabilitation due to its size and successes at inter-school competitions.

STUDENT HEAD CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON THE REHABILITATION OF THE SCHOOL

The head boy and girl  Shima Zachariah and Iember Ahembe said that the few sitting desk are meant for the strong pupils, hence teachers can’t teach nor pupils learn in a noisy, congested classrooms. They call on the government to intervention to the rehabilitation of their school.

TOWNHALL MEETING WAS HELD IN IKPAYONGO

28th Febrary, the follow the money team had a townhall meeting in Ikpayongo to discuss the state of the school and likely government intervention. We have stakeholders from the ministries and the communities in attendance.

 

ADVOCACY LETTERS SENT TO THE STAKEHOLDERS IN BENUE STATE

2nd February: Following the stakeholder’s engagement in Mbasombor, we saw a need to approach the government as we sent an FOI to the major stakeholders to advocate for the rehabilitation of Ikpayongo.

MBASOMBO COMMUNITY IKPAYONGO CALL ON BENUE STATE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE

Zaki Power Ikyoive –  Ortar of Mbasombor (Chief of Mbasombor community) decry the deplorable status of the school as he calls on the government to act on rehabilitation of the school, in his own word – he said he is not happy to watch the pupils as they sit on the floor to study. Mrs. Elizabeth Dim who is the women leader lauds Connected Development Follow The Money initiative as they come to their aid.


The Head Teacher – Lanem Richard encourage Follow The Money to help amplify their voices and also said he witnessed slow renovation of one of the dilapidated blocks of classrooms by the government contractor. Dugeri Felix who is the youth leader of the community said he will be happy to see positive development in the school through the Follow The Money Team efforts.