My First Day In School In The Upper East Region

Lack of furniture, teachers, text books and congestion were some major challenges confronting some schools in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

These were observed as the Acting Regional Coordinating Director Alhaji Mahamadu A Azonko on behalf of the Regional Minister, accompanied by the Regional Director of Education and the District Director of Education Tongo, a representative of Afrikids, an NGO and the Tong- ran paid a visit to some schools in the area as part of my first day in school initiative.

 My first day in school initiative is embarked upon by educational stakeholders to usher new comers to school from the Kindergarten to Junior High school level. The authorities visited the Sheaga and Gbane, kindergarten, KG, primary and Junior High Schools respectively.

In all the schools visited, most of the pupils could not expressed themselves in the English language including answering question about their names.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Head teacher of the Sheaga primary school, Mr. Konlan Johnson, attributed the situation to lack of text books.

He explained the text books ratio is one text book to three pupils and that problem has been there since 2013 till date.

Mr. Konlan said the school have five hundred and 60 pupils in the primary with only 5 teachers and two hundred and 32 JHS students, making a total of seven hundred and 90 students.

At the KG block, Ms. Ziyaaba Olivia gave enrollment figures as 85 pupils constituting 51 girls and 34 boys.

She added that the figure might increase as the term progresses. Meanwhile, it was shocking to see the pupils seated on the floor. Ms Olivia, however, lamented that parents bring their wards for admission without any accompanying document which makes their academic records keeping very difficult.

The story was not different at the Gbane primary A as the Head Master, Mr. Domon Awafo, disclosed that the few text books used were purchased from the school’s 2015/16 capitation grant which are no more in a very good shape.

According to her, School enrollment as five hundred and 13 and two hundred 32 in JHS, making a total of seven hundred and 45 with 6 teachers each. Responding to the various challenges, the Regional Director of Education, Mrs Jane Sabina Obeng, tasked the teachers to hold Parent Teacher Association meetings and educate parents to come along with the weighing cards of their wards especially the KG level.

Mrs Obeng however said she will collaborate with the District Director of Education, to address the critical problems within the shortest possible time. The pupils were given exercise books, pencils and crayons provided by Afrikids Ghana 

GBC