Pupils of Uokha Grammar School in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State are reportedly learning on bare floors amid shortages of desks and chairs and deteriorating classroom infrastructure, raising fresh questions about the state of public education in the state.
The situation, documented by civic accountability group MonITNG, exposes a stark contrast between the growing cost of education and the condition of some public schools relied upon by families who cannot afford expensive private institutions.
The report cited about ₦145 billion in gross Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds received by Edo State between January and July 2026 and called for urgent intervention at the school.
The condition of Uokha Grammar School adds another dimension to the ongoing debate over rising school fees and the increasing financial pressure on parents.
Across Nigeria, families are already grappling with escalating education costs, with some parents stretching their finances to keep their children in private schools. Yet for families in rural communities who depend on public education, even basic learning facilities remain out of reach.
At Uokha Grammar School, pupils are reportedly forced to sit on bare floors because of inadequate desks and chairs, while the broader classroom infrastructure is said to be in a state of disrepair.
The implications go beyond comfort.
A learning environment without adequate furniture and basic infrastructure can place additional burdens on both pupils and teachers, potentially undermining effective teaching and learning.
The situation also raises questions about the management of public resources and the government’s priorities in delivering basic education infrastructure.
If education is regarded as a foundation for human capital development, the condition of schools such as Uokha Grammar School demands urgent attention.
The central question is no longer simply how much parents are paying for education.
It is what children are receiving in return — and whether a child’s access to quality education should depend on the ability of their parents to pay expensive private-school fees.
Whether a child attends an elite private school in an urban centre or a public secondary school in a rural community such as Uokha, the standard should be clear: every child deserves a safe, functional and dignified environment in which to learn.
For the pupils of Uokha Grammar School, that basic expectation remains visibly unmet.
