Community Secondary School in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, is in severe disrepair, with multiple classroom blocks suffering from leaking roofs and damaged floors. The school, which has produced notable professionals including engineers and technocrats, has remained neglected for years, sources said. During a visit just before the Easter break, it was observed that many structures were on the verge of collapse, with no visible efforts at rehabilitation. A teacher who spoke anonymously described the situation as "hell," noting that each rainy season brings renewed fear of further damage. "Every year, as rainy season approaches, we become apprehensive because we don't know what will happen," the teacher said, adding that this year's conditions are worse due to lack of interest from both the community and state government. Michael Ugwuona, an alumnus, expressed dismay over the decay, citing the school's contributions to society and warning of potential collapse before the end of the rainy season. He appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's administration for urgent intervention. Attempts to reach Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, were unsuccessful.
The image of students learning beneath crumbling roofs in a school that once produced engineers speaks louder than any official statistic. Michael Ugwuona's appeal exposes a deeper issue: even where alumni are willing to advocate, state inaction remains total. When a commissioner cannot be reached over a school on the brink of collapse, it signals not just neglect, but a system operating in complete disconnection from its people. For Nigerian students in public schools like Ede-Oballa, education is not a priority—it's a gamble with safety.
