By Ben Duru
Daily Independent Online.
Correspondent, Owerri.
Fate intervened last weekend to avert what would have been a calamity as more than 50 pupils of a primary school at Eziama area of Ikeduru Local Government escaped unhurt when the wall of their classroom collapsed.
It was learnt that the pupils were saying their closing prayers when the dilapidated wall came crashing on them. Teachers and pupils ran for dear life and none of them was injured.
The Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government, Samuel Anyanwu, who visited the scene, has promised to effect the rebuilding of the damaged portion and a rehabilitation of the school.
Addressing journalists at Iho, the chairman said had fate not intervened, it would have been the greatest tragedy to befall the council and the state if the 50 pupils had died.
He said the lack of renovation and rehabilitation of schools has been the major problem facing the local government for sometime now, pledging that he will do everything possible to avert future recurrence.
Anyanwu said he has asked the secretary of the council, the education supervisor and other relevant authorities to go round the council area and compile a list of schools needing to be renovated.
According to him, "Any time it rains, it becomes embarrassing to both the teachers and the pupils in this council area. How would we have explained that 50 pupils met their death because the walls of their school collapsed? It would have been very tragic."
The council chief said it has become embarrassing to note that primary schools these days are in a deplorable state, explaining that, "In those days primary schools used to be the place where solid foundations are laid."
He called on the teachers and pupils of the area to cooperate with his administration, as he is out to right the wrongs of the past and to further restore the glory of past years.