18-12, Nishiochiai 2-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8575, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5906-0211
FAX: +81-3-5906-0112

Architecture

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF PROJECT

The level of deterioration of primary school facilities in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is advancing, while many schools also experience a lack of facilities. It is said that the number of classrooms lacking in primary schools total approx. 540,000 classrooms. Furthermore, there has been a rapid increase in the number of pupils in relation to the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) plan and it has become difficult to accommodate these new pupils using the existing education infrastructure. Therefore, the development of classrooms and other infrastructure related to education is required nationwide. In spite of this, most of the budget related to education in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is used for teachers' wages and on the maintenance cost of educational facilities, making it difficult to raise money to meet the demand for facilities made necessary through the implementation of UBE. Many schools are not equipped with a toilet, forcing many pupils, including girls, to relieve themselves in a nearby bush or in a toilet in a nearby private house. This is yet another reason for the low school attendance rate. Some schools are not equipped with water supply facilities and pupils are facing hygiene problems because of the difficulties they face in obtaining water.
In order to address the classroom shortage, this program aims to improve the school environment in the Federal Republic of Nigeria by implementing 490 classrooms and other educational facilities in 70 schools where the maximum number of students is 1,440 per school in accordance with the standards in the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding school sizes. The facilities will be implemented so as to not infringe with standards laid out in the minutes of meetings that state that schools shall be selected on the basis of whether they have an urgent requirement for extra classrooms, require an additional 3 or more classrooms, can secure the required number of teachers and staff, and whether community support is available for the operation and management of the school.

CHARACTERISTICS, CONCEPT, STANCE & SKILLS OF PROJECT

This project aims to supply funds for the construction of 490 classrooms and related facilities in the 3 states targeted to facilitate the implementation of the UBE program.
This program was defined on the basis of the following policy:
(1) Scale of the developed facilities
The schools (121) in the 3 states in question that were the target of research for this project were found to be too crowded, averaging 90 students per classroom, which is 225% of the standard specified in the UBE plan (40 pupils per classroom). This project aims to reduce this number by half (112.5%) to improve the study environment for as many students as possible. Therefore classroom space was designed to accommodate 45 students. The floor space of a single classroom will be 56㎡, in accordance with UBE standards. This floor area is sufficient enough for 45 students.
 Implement essential facilities
・ Principal's room & depository
To improve school management, a principal's room and a depository will be constructed in schools lacking these facilities.
・ Toilet
To improve hygiene, 1 booth for every 2 classrooms (90 students) will be equipped. Considering the gender balance, the number of booths for each gender will be the same.
・ Water supply facilities
To improve hygiene, a deep well will be bored in schools that face difficulties in accessing safe water.
(2) Development policy
To ensure the durability of the facilities' structure and finishing, the building will be roofed with long-length aluminum sheet on roof boards (plywood) and its wall will be built with bricks.
・ To reduce construction costs, as a general rule, efforts will be made to make use of local materials. Also, local construction methods will be adopted to facilitate maintenance and management.
・ According to results from the basic design study, it was found that there was a lack of consciousness towards the need to respect public property and the need to consistently maintain and manage them. Furthermore, the basic design study found that it is necessary to transfer knowledge and skills in relation to the maintenance and management such as sludge disposal relating to toilet bowls and the replacement of consumable items in the well pump. In relation to this, this project will introduce “Soft Components” to teach maintenance and management skills in relation to the facilities planned in the project, and to enhance the operation, maintenance and management framework for concerned parties such as the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and communities.

EFFECT OF PROJECT

(1) Direct Effects
・ A decrease in the number of the pupils per classroom from 121 to 45 in the 70 schools that are object of this project (the total number of students in these schools equal approx. 40,000). This will mitigate classroom shortages in the 3 states that were targeted.
・ Schools without a principal's room and/or a depository will be equipped with these facilities to aid basic school operations.
・ Toilets for both genders will be constructed in all of the targeted schools to ensure improvements in hygiene, school conditions and the working conditions of teachers (the total number of the students in these schools equal approx. 40,000).
・ Safe water will be supplied to schools that face difficulties in accessing safe water. (The total number of students attending schools where a deep well will be bored equals approx. 8,300. Approx. 150,000 people reside in these areas.)
・ The preparation of a maintenance and management manual along with other activities will be implemented by local Nigerian authorities through the participation in OJT (On the Job Training) by concerned parties including the SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board). Improvements are expected to be made to maintenance and management frameworks once these activities are applied in the targeted schools in the 3 states in question.
(2) Indirect Effects
・ School attendance rates will increase due to improvements in the education environment.
・ Equipping toilet booths for both genders will eliminate a reason that female pupils feel unwary of attending school, increasing their school attendance rates.
・ Maintenance and management expenses will be reduced as classrooms will be constructed so that they are durable and easy to maintain.