Parents and pupils at Wantugu Tungteeya primary school in the Tolon District have called on the assembly, individuals and benevolent organizations to support them with adequate and improved classrooms. The only two-mud classroom block built by the community serves kindergarten (KG) up to primary six is now a death trap.
The over 13-years mud-classroom developed deep cracks and looks very weak and dangerous for pupils and teachers. Enrollment level according to parents, at the beginning was high with more children always eager to go to school but the deteriorating nature of the school led to decline of the pupil’s population in the last 3 years.
The dilapidated nature of the school, the parents say, is discouraging children from attending school. The school, current student total stands at 193 as against over 200 in the previous years. The inadequate infrastructure has compelled teachers to combine both class 5 and 6 in one class under a Nim tree with two different learning wooden boards placed in opposition directions under the mercy of harsh weather conditions. Primary 3 and 4 have also combined as one class under another Nim tree.
The 2 mud classrooms serve as both classes for kindergarten class and also as a store room. The school was established in 2009 by the community but later absorbed by the government in 2003.
The self-help school was later supported by an American peace corps volunteer Ann Filcher who was in the community encouraging girl child education.
The Ghana Education Service (GES), according to community members, took over the school in 2013. For over a decade now, the school has been managing 53 dual desks provided by GES despite its high enrollment. The pupils of the school have good dreams and what they want to become in future but fear their current situation could shatter their dreams of becoming teachers and medical doctors.
The aim of Sustainable Development goals , goals, 4 which focuses on free primary and secondary education is to ensure that all boys and girls complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education and effective learning outcomes by 2030. But with barely eight-years to the target, pupils at Wantugu Tungteeya primary will need miracle to catch up their counterparts in towns and cities.
Some of them spoke with Zaa News about their dreams and what they want to do for the school and lamented about harsh weather conditions they learn. One of the students, Alhassan Kande said;’ ’’we closed early before our normal closing time 1:30 pm and it reduces our contact hours; we just have decent classrooms’’.
Another student; Fuseini Abdul Razak said;’’we have no option to run home anytime they see signs of rain because the two-mud classroom is not safe and cannot even contain them.
A volunteer teacher under Nation Builders Corp (NABCO), Mr Alhassan Steven said the school challenges need urgent attention by the authorities. He suggested a new school building for the kids to also have a better and conducive environment to learn.
School Management Committee Chairman, Mr Iddrisu Dawuda told Zaa News teaching and learning under trees always becomes impossible during dry and rainy seasons. According to him, anytime clouds start gathering, teachers have to close for safety of both pupils and their teachers. “Is pathetic when you come here during harmattan season and see the way teachers suffer; where they place their learning materials alone is a problem’’ Mr Dawuda narrated.
Assemblymember for the area, Issahaaaku Abdul Karim says he has written letters to the assembly and even went with some community members to the assembly to complain about the nature of the school but yet to get a positive response.
When I didn’t get a response I went with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Chairman and School Management Committee Chairman to meet the DCE who instructed me to formally request for the support which I did, Mr Abdul Karim stated.