CCC Raises Alarm Over Oyorokoto Primary School’s Unsafe Condition — Pupils Still Attend Classes Despite Partial Collapse

The Catalyst for Change Coalition (CCC) has expressed worry over the poor state of learning conditions in Oyorokoto community, Andoni LGA, after reports of a partially collapsed primary school building.

The Catalyst for Change Coalition (CCC), a grassroots citizens’ movement advocating for equal opportunity and community development in Rivers State, has raised serious concern about the condition of Oyorokoto Primary School in Andoni Local Government Area.

Information reaching BigChiefVibes indicates that, despite the school’s partially collapsed structure, pupils and teachers are still attending classes — a situation that has drawn public attention due to the potential risk it poses to their safety.

CCC said it was first alerted to the issue by a concerned citizen, Mr. Ogwuafi Lucky Monday, who reported that parts of the school building had weakened after heavy rainfall earlier this year in month of march 2025. According to him, some sections of the structure are no longer safe for learning, yet academic activities continue because no alternative arrangement has been made for the children.

While BigChiefVibes did not conduct any direct interviews with community leaders or teachers working in the school, the coalition confirmed through citizen feedback that the facility is in dire need of urgent renovation and government intervention.

In a public awareness message shared with BigChiefVibes, CCC described the situation as “a silent education crisis” and appealed to relevant authorities at all levels to treat the matter as a priority.

 “No child should be forced to study under unsafe conditions. The pupils of Oyorokoto deserve the same level of safety and dignity as every other child in Rivers State,” the coalition noted.

CCC’s coordinators, Comrade Geoffrey Ekpu and Comrade Elliot Awajiokiche Johnson, expressed concern that years of neglect have left many rural schools across Andoni in a state of disrepair. They stressed that Oyorokoto’s case is not isolated but represents a deeper pattern of underdevelopment in riverine areas.

The coalition appealed directly to key public figures — including Senator Barinada Mpigi, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante, Hon. Ofiks Kagbang Christopher, Hon. Promise Lucky Otuo, and Hon. Festus Geoffrey — urging them to visit Oyorokoto and witness the condition firsthand.

According to CCC, community reports suggest that the school has not received proper maintenance for years. Wooden structures have deteriorated, walls are cracked, and parts of the roof have caved in — yet lessons continue daily. Parents are said to be deeply worried about the safety of their children but have no alternative schools nearby.

“We cannot continue to look away while rural children learn under conditions that endanger their lives. Government must take this as a call to duty,” CCC added.

The group further appealed to the Rivers State Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to immediately assess the school’s structural condition and provide a temporary learning solution until full reconstruction can begin.

They also called on private sector actors and multinational oil companies operating in and around Andoni to assist with short-term interventions such as mobile classrooms or temporary learning shelters.

CCC emphasized that the goal is not to assign blame but to encourage swift, coordinated action that ensures no child’s education is interrupted due to infrastructural neglect.

 “Grassroots change starts with citizens raising their voices. What we’re doing is simply reminding those in authority that the lives and future of children matter more than political talk,” the group said.

Community sources confirmed that local appeals for repairs had been made in the past, but there has been little follow-up or visible response from government agencies. Some parents expressed frustration, saying the lack of attention to the school’s decay makes them fear for their children’s future.

A resident who spoke anonymously told BigChiefVibes that the situation has become “an accident waiting to happen.” According to him, “We thank the teachers who are still trying to keep the school running, but the environment is no longer safe. We are only praying nothing bad happens before help comes.”

The Catalyst for Change Coalition stated that it would continue to use peaceful civic advocacy to draw attention to the plight of the Oyorokoto pupils and ensure that government bodies take visible steps toward restoring the school. The group added that it plans to send a formal awareness letter to the Andoni Local Government Council and relevant state authorities in the coming days.

CCC also commended Mr. Ogwuafi Lucky Monday for bringing the matter to light, describing his act as a reminder that true development begins when citizens speak up about the realities around them.

> “Mr. Ogwuafi’s concern represents the spirit of community responsibility that our movement stands for. We can only build better communities when people refuse to stay silent,” CCC noted.

As things stand, the pupils of Oyorokoto continue to attend classes daily in a partially collapsed building — a situation that highlights the widening educational gap between urban and rural areas in Rivers State.

BigChiefVibes will continue to follow up on this story and provide verified updates as events unfold.

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Ekpu Code: “Change begins when one voice dares to rise in defense of the forgotten.”