Residents at Atwetwerede Community in the Okere District are calling upon the government to expand the educational infrastructure in the community to expand access in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Currently, only three unit-classroom blocks in the community are serving as Basic School hence classes are merged.
The inadequate classrooms are severely hindering access to quality education.
This situation has led to the merging of classes, causing overcrowding and a decline in educational standards.
To attend classes six and Junior High School, students must endure a daily journey of over 10 kilometers to Sanforo.
Adding to the challenges, Atwetwerede D/A Basic School faces a shortage of furniture and lacks proper toilet facilities, forcing both students and teachers to use an open pit latrine.
George Martey, School Management Committee Chairman told Starr News that, “we have only three classrooms built for us a few years ago that will be continued so we get up to JHS but the situation has remained the same. The classrooms have been combined so we are pleading to the government to intervene so we get classrooms for a full basic school education. Now because of the situation most children here don’t feel encouraged to go to school in far communities.”
In this predominantly peasant farming area, many students at Atwetwerede D/A Basic and Asasekorkor Basic Schools are unable to afford school uniforms due to poverty.
As a result, some children attend school in tattered uniforms and sandals.
Sarfo Ofori Ankomah, the Head teacher of Asasekorkor D/A Basic School, expressed deep concern about the situation.
“These people are peasant farmers and they make little from the work they do so they don’t have money .Many of them are unable to buy uniforms and shoes for their children so you see these children wearing torn uniforms and tattered shoes. It really affects their confidence in class because they become mocking stock by their peers” the Head teacher said
Debrah Bekoe Isaac, the Executive Director of As I Grow (AIG), coordinated the donation of school uniforms to these impoverished communities.
He urges those in more privileged positions in society to support poverty alleviation initiatives in rural areas and help alleviate the suffering experienced by these communities.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
