Schools under trees; problem more endermic than previously thought
Since the re-start of multi party democracy in Ghana nearly 20 years ago, various governments continue to boast of huge investments in education.
The current government for instance is working hard to improve the quality of education infrastructure, especially in the rural parts of the Ghana.
However, pupils of Mataheko D/A Basic School (B) on the Tema Afienya road in Accra are yet to benefit from government’s education infrastructure provision.
The pupils, on a daily routine carry their chairs carry their chairs from home to school in order to study under a shed-like structure made from palm fronds.
The pupils live in nearby communities such as Gbetsile, Davikope, Hausakope and community 25 in Tema and walk long distances to school. The Mataheko District Assembly Basic School is the only basic school in the community and therefore serves all children within the proximity of Tema Mataheko.
Classes are held under a shade made of palm fronts with no chairs for the children. The best the school authorities have been able to do is to rent a few benches for the pupils to sit on. Since that is not enough, the rest of the pupils who wish to sit during lessons bring their own chairs from home on a daily basis. As a result, the height of the chairs in many cases, does not match with the tables provided by the school.
At a time when the shift system is gradually being phased out, the school has had to introduce it because it has too many children than the classrooms could take. As many as 80 pupils are enrolled in one class shed. The area is flood-prone, and reptile infested requiring that some urgent action is taken to address their needs.
By: Maame Ekuah, e.tv Ghana
