The Dufia of Abutia-Kpota,Togbe Tsali, elders and management of Kpota EP Basic School are appealing to not only government, but philanthropists, churches and public spirited organizations to help rebuild the abandoned quarterses constructed in the early 70s for teachers serving the Kpota enclave.
Togbe Tsali said lack of accommodation for teachers posted to the only Basic school at Abutia-Kpota make teachers fail to report. Teachers who accept postings commute to and from far distance to teach, which does not augur well for effective teaching and learning.
These quarterses according to the Dufia of Abutia-Kpota were constructed by the Gen. I K Acheampong-led military government to cater for refugees from Togo who escaped from a coup by Eyadema Nyansigbe in the late 60s to settle and engage in vigorous farming activities.
Togbe Tsali who engaged the media at Abutia-Kpota to brief them on development of the school said the abandoned quarterses were for teachers of the then refugees Basic school now EP Basic school. The idea of farming failed, and the refugees were relocated to Accra, thereby abandoning the quarterses which have since never seen any refurbishment.
Togbe noted that following the continuous plea by chiefs and elders of the Kpota community, under the European Union 5th Micro Project Programme, two bungalows were also constructed for their country staff, but was also abandoned without handing them over to the school, thereby allowing the bungalows to get dilapidated.
The Abutia-Kpota community, Togbe Tsali, stressed never relented in its quest to find accommodation for the suffering teachers Through the community’s self-help initiative projects with support from the Ho-west MP Emmanuel Bedzra under the MP’s Development Common Fund, a 6-unit chamber and hall self-contained house with 4 single rooms and bathrooms, toilet and kitchen attached was constructed and handed over to the school.
Meanwhile, the Dufia revealed that the Kindergarten of the Kpota Basic School was prematurely closed down following withdrawal of all teachers at the kindergarten level by authorities of Ho-West District Directorate of Education without any reason.
In view of this, Tv3 reports on the plight of these unfortunate children prompted quick response from the education directorate as three teachers were posted to the school to take care of the innocent children who were denied teaching and learning for more than nine months.
To show commitment in the up bringing of early childhood education, Togbe said a new kindergarten block was constructed, furnished and handed over to the school and teaching and learning began.
Mercy Esinam Anyigba is one of the 3 new kindergarten teachers posted to the school; she expressed delight to be part of moves towards the up bringing of these future leaders. She pledged on behalf of teachers at the school to be committed in putting up their best to accelerate the growth of the school.
The headmaster of the school, I-know Nutepe Abotsi commended authorities of Ho-West District Directorate of Education for their quick response to their plight and posted 3 teachers to the school.
Nutepe Abotsi said following the premature closure of the kindergarten coupled with TV3 stories on the plight of the children which attracted condemnation is yielding the needed results.
He said the kindergarten was selected among 5 other schools in 3 regions in Ghana to benefit from a pilot base new system of early childhood teaching and learning dubbed “Right to Play” under what is called Leadership Community of Practice (LCOP).
A team of early childhood education officers from Rwanda led by officers from the Ghana Education Services visited the school’s kindergarten to observe how teaching and learning is done and classroom layout.
An Education Specialist, Kwabena Gao working with an education oriented organization in Ghana, Right to Play explained to 3news that education is the bedrock of every successful country and that the good beginning of early childhood learners should be teachers focus.
The Abutia-Kpota community who are noted for their self-help initiative projects have through levies from members both home and abroad are enjoying mechanized water system which is currently serving over 5,000 people in and around the Kpota enclave. The system pumps about 120,000 litres of water daily to the community.
Godwin Ndewu is an opinion leader and a Water Coordinating Committee member said they are committed to ensuring that the only Basic school there grow to become one of the best schools in the country.
The Chairman of Abutia-Kpota Development Committee, David Segbe disclosed to 3news that with support from friends in the Republic of Korea, construction of a clinic facility is on-going and expected to be completed in 6 months.
The project, the Development Committee Chairman noted, is at the window level and when completed would have a consulting room, male and female wards, dispensary, X’ray dept. and OPD.
Chairman Segbe said the community has come-up with an amount of GHC65,000.00 to support development of the Abutia-Kpota E.P Basic School.
Report by Robert Abilba
