As the world strives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on education — ensuring inclusive and quality learning opportunities by 2030 — pupils of Akilka M/A Basic School in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region are facing dire challenges that threaten their future.
The school is battling unsafe classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and a severe shortage of teachers, leaving both learners and parents in distress.
Headteacher Richard Arkom explained that harsh living conditions in the community discourage teachers from accepting postings. As a result, only four teachers remain to handle the entire school population, from kindergarten to junior high.
He said, “we walk from Adeiyie to this place because there are no teachers’ quarters here. When teachers are posted to this area, they don’t accept the postings. Even water to drink is a problem, and where to sleep is a problem. So we have to stay at Mile 8 and then walk from there every day.
“As I am talking now, the whole JHS has no teacher from Form 1 to Form 3. When you come to the KG, for instance, KG1 and 2, only one madam is taking care of them. Class 1 and Class 2 are combined under one teacher, and Class 3 and Class 4 are also combined under one teacher. As I’m speaking now, Classes 4 and 5 have no teachers at all. These are some of the challenges.”
The PTA Chairman described the school’s struggles, noting that repeated appeals to duty bearers have gone unanswered, leaving the community to depend on its own meager contributions.
He stated, “we are facing significant challenges with our school building, which was constructed by the community. Despite our efforts, the structure isn’t functioning well. The KG building is particularly dusty, and the lack of resources is affecting both teachers and students.
With only four teachers, it’s difficult to maintain punctuality and effectiveness. Teachers often struggle with inadequate facilities, including unreliable access to water and electricity, which hampers their ability to teach.”
A pupil also shared a plea for urgent support, highlighting the poor state of the classrooms.
“I’ve attended this school for years, and the building’s condition is concerning. The primary classrooms have many pits and cracks, and no repairs have been made. Now, as a JHS student, I’m facing another issue — the roofing sheets have holes, causing rainwater to leak into the classrooms during lessons. We urgently need new roofing sheets, cement to repair the walls, and fresh paint for the school. This would greatly improve our learning environment.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
