Over 200 Pupils Withdraw After Fire Guts Anambra School—Community Demands Urgent Action

 

The once-thriving Practicing School Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State now stands as a shadow of its former self. A devastating fire that broke out in December 2024 gutted multiple classroom blocks, displacing an estimated 400 pupils and creating a ripple effect that has deeply shaken the community.

Enrollment numbers, once a source of pride for the institution, have dropped sharply. More than 200 pupils have since left, as the remaining infrastructure fails to provide even the barest of comforts for learning. Today, what is left of the school echoes with the cries of concerned parents, overwhelmed teachers, and vulnerable children learning under makeshift arrangements exposed to the elements.

Mrs. Aisha Edward Maduagwu, Director of the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu, has become the most vocal advocate for the school’s revival. Her tone mixes desperation with indignation as she paints a grim picture of the post-fire learning environment.

“This school used to have more than 400 pupils,” she recounted. “Since the fire, half of them have left. The ones who remain are battling not just with academics, but with conditions that no child should be subjected to—no roofs, no walls, no safety.”

Her concern runs deeper than academics. As a caregiver to ten children living with sickle cell disorder—all enrolled in Practicing School Agulu—she has been on high alert.

“I live with the constant fear of health crises. These children are highly sensitive to extreme weather. Sitting through heatwaves and getting drenched in the rain isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s life-threatening for them,” she warned.

Repeated appeals have been made to Governor Charles Soludo to address the situation. Yet the silence from government quarters has only fueled more frustration. Community members say they feel abandoned, even as political figures occasionally visit to make empty gestures.

A particularly stinging memory for Mrs. Maduagwu involved a high-profile visit by a current member of the Anambra State House of Assembly.

“He came with a convoy, media aides, and photographers,” she recalled. “He promised to rebuild one of the blocks. We clapped. We hoped. And then—nothing. No materials delivered, no workers sent, not even a follow-up call.”

The emotional fallout from such visits, she said, adds insult to injury. “These politicians need to stop using our pain as a photo opportunity. If they won’t help, they should stay away and let us grieve and rebuild in peace.”

Parents echoed similar sentiments during a recent Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting. One father described the situation as “a betrayal of the right to education,” stating that his children now dread schooldays.

Another mother added, “My daughter asked me, ‘Why do we still go to school if there are no walls?’ How do you even begin to answer that as a parent?”

For many in the community, the school was more than just an educational facility—it was a symbol of hope, particularly for underprivileged families. Its downfall, then, has become symbolic of deeper issues: political neglect, systemic failure, and a growing disconnect between leadership and the people they are meant to serve.

The school’s management, too, has been under pressure to do more, but with limited resources and no governmental support, they appear overwhelmed. Teachers now conduct lessons under trees or beneath leaking roofs, improvising as best they can with chalkboards propped against charred walls.

As the rainy season intensifies, so does the urgency. The current state of the school poses clear physical risks—not only to the children but also to staff members who must work in dangerous, unprotected conditions.

Community leaders are now calling on Governor Soludo, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropic individuals to intervene swiftly and decisively.

“This is no longer just a school issue—it is a humanitarian emergency,” Mrs. Maduagwu stressed. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing an entire generation of students and the promise they represent.”

Without swift and meaningful intervention, the once-vibrant halls of Practicing School Agulu may continue to crumble, dragging down the hopes of hundreds of children with them.