Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) has expressed concern about the lack of teachers, and poor learning environment, among other challenges, as a major setback in some federal ‘unity schools’ across the country.

Nnenna Akajemeli, the SERVICOM national coordinator, disclosed this when she presented the second phase of SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation (SCE) reports of 15 selected ‘unity schools’ to the education minister in Abuja.

“Today, we are here to give feedback on the evaluation carried out in 15 additional unity schools, and in all, we have evaluated 49 schools out of 104 unity schools. And these evaluations are done to measure and find out the quality and status of service delivery in the unity schools in line with the mandates in which they have been established,” stated Ms Akajemeli.

The SERVICOM national coordinator stressed that the evaluation was to determine if the set objectives and mandates of establishing ‘unity schools’ are being achieved.”

The findings, she said, revealed that in some areas, some schools are doing well, winning awards such as best in some subjects and WAEC and NECO.

However, she identified other weaknesses, including the overcrowding of classes, lack of laboratories, insufficient equipment, and some hostels in disrepair with broken ceilings, cracked walls, and broken windows. Others are the deplorable state of toilet facilities and outdated books in some libraries.

The situation, the SERVICOM boss explained, could impede effective teaching and learning, affecting students` performance during examinations.

The SERVICOM boss recommended immediate quick fixes of some of the observed weaknesses and alternative means of power supply, deployment of teachers in key subjects identified, and training and re-training of teachers, among others.

Responding, education minister Adamu Adamu lauded the SERVICOM assessment initiative, adding that MDAs imbibed its principles as an organisational culture for improved service delivery in public service.

(NAN)