Established in 1976, Tikobo DA Basic School has long served communities far and near, providing education to generations of people.
However, the school now faces critical challenges due to inadequate infrastructure and severe shortage of teachers, raising serious concerns among community members.
With a pupil population exceeding 250, the school struggles to accommodate learners in a safe and conducive environment.
The existing classroom structure, which has been in use for over two decades, serves Classes 3 to 6, while Classes 1 and 2 lack dedicated classrooms.
As a result, the pupils are forced to combine with Classes 3 and 4, creating overcrowded and unconducive learning conditions. This situation worsens during the rainy season when classes are frequently disrupted for the safety of pupils.
Additionally, the deteriorating school building has become a habitat for dangerous reptiles, including snakes, scorpions, and lizards, putting both students and teachers at risk.
Despite these challenges, the resilient pupils of Tikobo DA Basic School continue to excel academically. The school emerged as the best in the USAID Early Grade Reading Programme for the Patakro Circuit and won the 2023 Inter-School Quiz Competition twice before representing the circuit in the district finals at Bodi.
The lack of proper infrastructure has forced some parents to transfer their wards to nearby Amoaya, located 3km away. However, many families cannot afford this option, leaving their children to endure the harsh conditions at Tikobo DA Basic School.
The situation is further worsened by an acute shortage of teachers. Currently, only three teachers handle all students from Kindergarten to Junior High School 3. The absence of an assigned teacher since 2021 has even led to a boycott by Kindergarten pupils, further highlighting the urgency of the matter.
Speaking to OnuaOnline, the School Management Committee (SMC) Chairman, Kwame Dakpo, passionately appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the government to take immediate action.
He emphasized the urgent need for proper infrastructure and additional teaching staff to ensure a safer and more conducive learning environment for the children.
Without swift intervention, the future of Tikobo DA Basic School remains uncertain, and the education of countless children in the community hangs in the balance.
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