Pupils of the Basiengo KG, Primary and Junior High School in Bolgatanga Municipality are enduring harsh and humiliating learning conditions, with many forced to sit on the bare floor or lie on their bellies during lessons due to the lack of basic furniture and classrooms.
The school was established in 2016 after the government constructed a three-unit classroom block intended to serve only kindergarten pupils. However, nearly a decade on, no additional infrastructure has been added, even as the school has expanded to accommodate children from KG1 through to Primary 7, also known as JHS 1.
With the limited classroom space overstretched, teachers are compelled to vacate their staff common room to create space for KG1 and KG2 pupils, who now share the same room. The situation has also left teachers without a place to rest during breaks or mark pupils’ exercises, forcing them to sit on their motorbikes under a tree within the school compound.
As enrolment grew, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), acting on its own initiative, mobilized resources to construct a pavilion to serve as classrooms for upper primary pupils in Basic 4, 5 and 6. The makeshift structure, however, offers little protection from the elements. Its open windows, leaking roof and deeply cracked walls create an unconducive environment, yet teaching and learning continue under these difficult conditions.
The most troubling challenge confronting the school is the acute lack of furniture. From KG1 to JHS 1, many pupils have no desks or chairs and must sit on the floor throughout lessons, while others lie on their stomachs to write and read. According to school authorities, the situation is severely affecting effective teaching and learning and has begun to drive pupils away.
Headteacher of the Basiengo KG, Primary and Junior High School, Madam Alosere Elizabeth, described the conditions as deplorable and unsustainable. Speaking to A1 News, she explained that the three-classroom block constructed in 2016 is grossly inadequate for the school’s current population and grade levels, leading to the pairing of classes and pupils sitting on the floor.
“Our enrolment has dropped from 145 in 2023 to 111 this year because some parents have withdrawn their children due to these poor conditions,” Madam Alosere revealed. She added that repeated appeals to authorities for support have yielded no results, worsening the situation year after year.
The headteacher noted that the challenges are also affecting staff welfare, with some teachers refusing postings to the school because of the lack of basic facilities. “We are asking the government and all stakeholders to help us with more classrooms and furniture so our children can learn in dignity,” she appealed.
PTA Chairman, Simon Amoah, described the conditions under which the pupils learn as “unbearable,” especially with another batch of pupils expected to be enrolled next academic year. He warned that without urgent intervention, the school could face further declines in enrolment and learning outcomes.
“The community has tried its best by putting up the pavilion, but this is beyond what parents can handle alone,” Mr. Amoah said, calling on government, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and corporate bodies to support the school with classroom blocks and furniture.
Community members have also expressed frustration over what they describe as years of neglect. The Chief’s representative, James Nbotayamga, questioned why no additional support has been extended to the school despite its growing population and persistent appeals.
A1Radioonline.com | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Basiengo
