Parents of about 98 pupils of the School for Children with Special Needs, formerly known as the School for the Handicapped in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have lamented the government abandonment of the school.
The school, which was established in 1999 during the administration of the former FCT Minister, Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni (Rtd.), was created to provide free education, boarding, rehabilitation and vocational training for children with physical and intellectual disabilities. It was established under the Family Support Programme.
Management of the school was transferred to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) which has been in charge all the while.
Many parents who have their children in the school spoke to our reporter today, Saturday July 10, narrating how the school has degenerated from bad to worse in terms of physical structure and general outlook.
They said that funding has been insufficient to meet the school’s growing needs, and that it has affected the maintenance of buildings, purchase of equipment and provision of quality services. They said that for sometime, they, the parents, were the ones that have been supporting with financial assistances to keep the school running.
The parents also complained of poor infrastructure, highlighting deteriorating classrooms, hostels, toilets most of which are leaking when it rains, and lack of water supply.
According to them, some dormitories have had broken beds, worn-out mattresses and overcrowded living conditions.
There is also the complain about insufficient healthcare and rehabilitation services, saying that many pupils require physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and regular medical attention, but that such services have not always been readily available.
Investigations have shown shortages of beds, inadequate feeding, unreliable water supply and insufficient hostel facilities for boarding students.
Investigation by Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper showed that the number of specialist teachers has not kept pace with the increasing enrolment of children with different disabilities, making individualized instruction difficult.
It was discovered that the school has frequently lacked specialized equipment such as Braille materials, assistive technologies, wheelchairs, therapy equipment, hearing aids and vocational training tools.
It was discovered that being one of the principal government special schools in the FCT, it has continued to receive more students than its facilities were originally designed to accommodate.
It was gathered that in a move to bring about greater government support, in 2024, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities called on the Federal Government to take over the management of the Kuje and Jabi special schools, arguing that stronger support and modern facilities were needed to improve education and welfare for learners with disabilities.
Greenbarge Reporters learnt that adequate provisions for the renovation of the school was provided in the 2025 and 2026 budgets were made, and the contracts awarded but that work is yet to commence.
When contacted, the Head Teacher of the school, who gave his name simply as Isaac, said that as a civil servant, he was not allowed to speak to press, even as a senior management staff of the school confirmed that contract has long been awarded for a complete overhaul of the school.
The Director in the Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) would also not comment on the situation and condition of the school.
