Pupils Use Tarpaulins Amid Acute Chairs and Desks Shortage in River Gee School

By Ben T.C. Brooks| River Gee Correspondent

River Gee County | Feb. 9, 2026 | Pupils attending the government-run Gee Foundation School, located in the Bassa Community of Fish-Town, River Gee County’s capital are compelled to use plastic tarpaulins as both chair and desk to write notes and listen to their lecturers.

The use of tarpaulins is due to the acute shortage of desks and armchairs, officials of the school have told the Rural Reporters News Network (RRNN).

The school, which serves hundreds of children, currently lacks adequate classroom furniture, compelling dozens of pupils to use tarpaulins during daily lessons. With no desks available for the kids, many rely on their laps to take notes, a situation teachers say has severely disrupted effective teaching and learning.

Educators who requested anonymity said the poor and uncomfortable learning conditions make it extremely difficult for students to stay focused, attentive, and engaged throughout extended instructional hours. Hence, maintaining classroom discipline and ensuring meaningful engagement has become increasingly challenging, said the officials.  

School officials attributed the shortage of furniture to limited investment in educational infrastructure, a problem that disproportionately affects rural communities such as Fish-Town. Authorities disclosed that several appeals have been made to relevant institutions for assistance, but these requests have yielded little or no response.

However, at the start of the 2025/26 academic year, the Ministry of Education provided over 150 modern armchairs intended to support Early Childhood Development – ECD sessions.

The furniture were distributed to the Demonstration School and the Gee Foundation School in Fish-Town. But school officials say the donation was insufficient and hence, could not meet the current needs of a school with more than 500 students this academic year.

The situation has been particularly difficult for lower-grade pupils, especially those in grade one to four. Sources within the school revealed that following morning devotion, the strong pupils often rush to secure the limited available seats, leaving many children to spend the entire school day seated on the floor.

Teachers say younger learners struggle to write without desks and frequently complain of body pain, fatigue, and discomfort after prolonged periods of sitting on hard floors. Education advocates have warned that such conditions undermine learning outcomes and pose serious risks to children’s physical well-being.

“Children cannot learn effectively when their basic needs are lacking,” a concerned parent told our reporter. “Desks and chairs are not luxuries; they are essential tools for learning.”

Meanwhile, parents and community members have called on the national government, the Ministry of Education, development partners, and humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene by providing desks, chairs, and other essential learning materials.

Many parents expressed frustration, explaining that while they highly value education, the poor learning environment discourages regular school attendance and negatively affects their children’s motivation and interest in learning.

River Gee County, like many rural regions across the country, continues to face persistent challenges within the education sector, including inadequate infrastructure, limited instructional resources, and chronic underfunding.

Many say addressing these systemic issues is critical to ensuring equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of location. Officials of the school said efforts are reportedly being made to engage county education authorities to seek immediate solutions to the problem.

As the academic year progresses, parents, educators, and community leaders remain hopeful that swift and meaningful action will be taken to restore dignity to the learning environment and provide pupils in Fish-Town with conditions that promote effective learning, healthy development, and future success.