Abandoned school block: SMC chairman urges completion 

By Kingsley Mamore

Udey (O/R) Oct. 15, GNA – The School Management Committee (SMC) of Udey M/A Basic School, has appealed to authorities to ensure the completion of an abandoned school block, citing its dire consequences for students’ education and safety. 

Mr Tijani Musa, the Chairman of the Committee, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), revealed that the project, initiated in 2019 under the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Buem, Mr Aziale Lawrence, had been left unattended since his departure. 

“The students are currently studying under deplorable conditions, and it’s worrying”. 

The SMC chairman appealed to the Jasikan Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders to prioritise the completion of the school block. 

Mr Bismark Yirenkyi, the Assembly member of the old Ayoma Electoral Area, revealed to the GNA that teachers refuse posting to the community due to the school’s deplorable state. 

He said the school’s condition was so dire that students often closed school early when it rained, disrupting their education. 

Mr Yirenkyi said “As an Assemblyman, I have sought help from Pencils of Promise, but bureaucracy has hindered progress. We need urgent intervention to provide a conducive learning environment and attract qualified teachers”. 

Some teachers confirmed to GNA some pressing issues affecting the school, like lack of tables and chairs for students, inadequate learning materials, non-existent ICT lab and the absence of teacher’s bungalows. 

Education implications raised by the teachers during the interview included a disrupted learning environment, limited access to technology, insufficient resources for effective teaching, low teacher morale and retention, and poor student academic performances. 

The teacher’s concerns were based on difficulty in delivering quality education, frustration due to lack of basic resources, limited opportunities for professional development and challenging working conditions. 

GNA uncovered how teachers and pupils had to commute long distances from their homes to get to school, which affects teacher morale, punctuality and overall well-being. 

GNA