Overcrowding Threatens Pupil Health in Katsina Primary School

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Usman Ayuba Masanawa



Public health students have raised concerns over poor learning conditions at Sa’i Na Funtua Primary School in Kwado, where over 370 pupils are crammed into a single classroom. The alarming situation was observed during a health awareness visit by students of Cognate Community College of Health Sciences and Technology, Public Health Department, on February 17, 2025.

The students, who were on an outreach program to educate pupils on personal hygiene, noted several critical issues affecting the school environment. Among their key observations were:

The need for a borehole to ensure adequate water supply.

The construction of additional toilets to improve sanitation.

Regulation of food vendors selling to pupils.

Urgent need for more classrooms to improve ventilation and learning conditions.

They warned that overcrowded classrooms, especially in Primary 4 and 6, could lead to serious health risks, particularly during the ongoing dry season, increasing the likelihood of disease outbreaks.

The school’s project coordinator, Malam Farouq Umar Mahuta, acknowledged the challenges and said several requests for additional classrooms, toilets, and water facilities had been submitted to relevant authorities, but little progress had been made. He expressed hope that Katsina State Governor Dr. Dikko Umar Radda would intervene to address the situation.

As part of their outreach, the health students distributed sweets, biscuits, detergent, and disinfectants to the pupils. The school administration commended their efforts, describing them as the first health team to visit and educate the students on hygiene practices.

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