The rainy season has brought more than just floods and the rise in malaria cases.
There is also disrupted academic activities in several schools, including the Presbyterian Senior High Technical school in Aburi.
The heavy down pour left a trail of destruction for some students and staff to confront the harsh reality of unsafe learning spaces and inadequate learning facilities.
Students devasted, greatly affected by the conditions around them, the very environment meant to nurture learning now lies in ruins.
At the Presbyterian Senior High Technical School in Aburi, a violent rainstorm turned classrooms and dormitories into hazards. The headmistress of school recounted the incident.
*Yesterday, around 2:00pm, there was a heavy rainstorm, and a lot of things have been destroyed in the school. The roof of the dining hall has ripped off, about 3 of the classrooms for the Form 3 students has also been damaged and can’t be used for learning. The old girls dormitory has also been affected,” she said.
In a show of community solidarity, the KisidowNsas of Aburi, Nana Naua Opare Kwafo has stepped in with personal support, promising to assist the school with emergency repairs.
“I saw it, and I had to rush here. My coming here saved a lot and as we went round, we started some repairs sponsored by myself. Per what has happened, the school door is very much opened for help,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Lawrencia Dziwonu also addressed the issue.
“As a Member of Parliament for this Constituency, I hold education in high esteem so I will do my best to solicit for support for them, but I can’t do it alone. I am really excited that the committee on education has taken it upon themselves to have been here to witness the situation firsthand. Going forward, the Education Minister would see to us and come to our aid,” she appealed.
During a scheduled tour by Parliament’s Select Committee on Education, the Chairman of the Committee, Peter Norstu-Kotoe, described the level of devastation as alarming and called for urgent support.
“We want to urge the contractor who is working on a 12-unit classroom block, to as quickly as possible complete the work so that the students can move in and use that as classrooms. We also want to appeal to the Education Minister to make provision for a dining hall complex for that school because what we saw did not befit a senior high school,” he noted.
“As part of the tour, the Committee visited approximately four schools in the Aluanim District of the Eastern Region to engage with the authorities and understand their specific challenges.
“You will be surprised that children are sitting on jute bags in which they have packed their textbooks and students sitting on chop boxes to write their examination, I don’t think it’s the best. If I can say anything. I am happy that the minister for education has instructed GETFund to as much as possible provide enough furniture this year to reduce the burden on school authorities in managing furniture in their various institutions,” he said.
With the Ghana Meteorological Agency pointing to even heavier rains ahead, the question remains, what becomes of schools like Presbyterian Senior High Technical School?
