At night, some female students of Esiama Senior High Technical School in the Western Region carry their mattresses into classrooms and the school’s only assembly hall, turning spaces meant for lessons and gatherings into makeshift sleeping quarters.
By morning, the girls must pack away their bedding to make room for classes and other school activities, repeating the difficult routine night after night.
The situation highlights the growing infrastructure challenges at the school, where 641 female students compete for just 240 spaces in the existing dormitory.
The accommodation crisis is compounded by a severe shortage of classroom furniture, with fewer than 700 pieces available for a student population of 1,642.
Headteacher Francis Emmisah says the shortages have left students struggling to find seats in classrooms, the dining hall and during evening preparations.
The school’s growing population has also put pressure on communal facilities. Its only assembly hall cannot accommodate all the students, forcing some to rely on trees for shade and makeshift seating during gatherings. The school’s only bus is also grounded, adding to its challenges.
“The major challenge has been furniture and dormitory space for our female students. As I speak, the total furniture in the school is less than 700, accommodating 1,642 students. We have 641 girls, but the dormitory can accommodate only 240,” Mr Emmisah said.
Despite these difficult conditions, he said the school recorded a pass rate of 73.4 per cent in the previous year’s examinations, demonstrating its efforts to sustain academic performance amid inadequate facilities.
In a move expected to ease some of the pressure, Adamus Resources Chief Executive Officer, Angela Atteh has donated 400 mono desks to Esiama Technical Senior High School and Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School, alongside other educational supplies.
The intervention forms part of the mining company’s education development programme under its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Ms Atteh said the support was intended to improve learning conditions for students from Esiama and surrounding communities.
“In furtherance of our education development programme under our corporate social responsibility, Adamus Resources is donating 400 mono desks to these two schools and other school supplies,” she said.
“This donation is dedicated to improving the learning environment for students from Esiama and all surrounding communities who depend on these schools. We want our children to learn in dignity and in comfort.”
At Esiama Technical Senior High School, the company has also provided 200 tables and chairs, renovated a 20-seater toilet facility and commenced renovation works on the girls’ dormitory.
Ms Atteh further assured the schools that construction of a new dormitory block would begin before the end of the year, a development expected to help address the accommodation shortage.
The intervention offers some relief to a school struggling to provide basic facilities while maintaining academic standards.
However, the scale of the shortages underscores the need for sustained investment in educational infrastructure to keep pace with the growing student population.
For the girls sleeping in makeshift quarters and students struggling to find seats, the hope is that the latest support will mark the beginning of lasting improvements –ensuring that access to education also comes with a safe place to sleep and a proper seat to learn.
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