The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben South, Ransford Owusu Boakye, says the government’s directive for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to allocate 10 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to furniture procurement will significantly help address the persistent furniture deficit in schools across the country.
The MCE noted that sustained allocation of the 10 per cent would enable assemblies to replace damaged and obsolete furniture while progressively addressing shortages in schools.
Mr. Owusu Boakye made the remarks when the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly handed over 700 mono desks and other furniture to 11 basic schools in the municipality.
The beneficiary schools are AME Zion Primary A&B, Wesley Methodist Basic B, Bonya King of Glory, Densuano Basic M/A, Good Shepherd Korle Nkwanta, Trom Nyeredee M/A, RHS Presby Basic C, Adweso DA, Nyeredee Agavanya R/C, ADA Kyeremate Basic B and MAHD DEEN JHS.
In addition to the 700 mono desks, the schools received 20 teachers’ tables and chairs, 15 cupboards, 20 hexagonal chairs and 20 hexagonal tables for KG classrooms, as well as chairs for headteachers and swivel chairs for offices.
He said the provision of furniture was essential to creating a conducive teaching and learning environment, particularly in schools that had struggled with inadequate desks and other classroom facilities.
“The directive will help us solve the problem of furniture deficit in our schools, and we are happy that it has come at the right time. School is currently on recess, and by September 8, when schools reopen, the new furniture will be available for use,” he said.
He said the intervention also extended beyond pupils, with teachers and headteachers receiving tables and chairs to improve their working environment.
The New Juaben South Municipal Education Director, Haruna Appiah, also welcomed the government’s directive, saying it would provide a sustainable mechanism for addressing furniture shortages in schools.
“It has also come at the right time because school is on recess and by 8th September school will open and so we are going to begin, use this new furniture to begin the academic year.”
He said the mono desks would further enhance classroom management and facilitate flexible learning arrangements under contemporary teaching approaches.
Mr. Appiah explained that mono desks were easier to rearrange than dual desks, allowing teachers to adopt different classroom configurations to support various learning activities.
He also noted that the single desks would help improve the integrity of examinations by providing adequate spacing between candidates.
“Sometimes when pupils sit two or three to a desk during examinations, they tend to copy. With the single desks, they will be able to work independently, and the assessment will become a true reflection of their individual performance,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the Municipal Assembly for the intervention, saying the furniture had come at a critical time and would contribute to improving teaching and learning outcomes.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
