Reports emerging from Afikpo in Ebonyi State indicate that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has deregistered Ohabuike Secondary School, Ndibe-Afikpo, over its deteriorating infrastructure and lack of functional science laboratory facilities required for effective teaching and examination standards.
According to accounts from the area, the decision follows concerns that the school’s condition has fallen below the minimum requirements for WAEC accreditation, raising fresh questions about the state of public secondary education in parts of Ebonyi State.
A similar situation has also been reported at Community Secondary School, Nkalagu, in Ishielu Local Government Area, where stakeholders say learning facilities remain in a severely degraded state, limiting effective academic activity and examination readiness.
Observers warn that the condition of several public schools across Ebonyi State reflects a broader systemic challenge in the education sector. Many institutions are reportedly struggling with inadequate infrastructure, lack of laboratories, and poor learning environments, leaving students with limited options for quality secondary education.
Education stakeholders argue that this situation is contributing to rising levels of out-of-school children and teenagers in some communities. They note that affected youths are increasingly exposed to social risks, including street hawking, early marriage, and other vulnerabilities linked to lack of access to quality education and guidance.
Critics of the state government have also raised concerns over what they describe as misplaced spending priorities, alleging that significant public funds are allocated to political events and celebrations rather than the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure such as schools and healthcare facilities.
They further argue that the decline in public education could have long-term consequences for human capital development and social stability in Ebonyi State, stressing that education quality is a key indicator of governance performance globally.
While government officials have yet to issue a detailed response to the specific WAEC deregistration reports, calls are growing from residents and education advocates for urgent intervention to restore functional learning environments across affected schools.
The situation has intensified debates over the future of public education in Ebonyi State, with stakeholders urging both state and local authorities to prioritize rebuilding decaying school infrastructure to safeguard the education of future generations.
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