By Joseph Agrace Wiyorbie, GNA
Wa (UW/R), Sept. 14, GNA – The Upper West Administrative Field Unit (UWAFU) of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church has donated a sum of GH¢10,000.00 to support a mechanised borehole project for the Kpaguri SDA Basic School in the Wa Municipality.
The project, initiated by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, was aimed at addressing acute water challenges facing pupils and staff at the school, as students and staff trekked long distances in search of safe drinkable water.
The intervention, estimated to cost GH¢25,000.00, would also foster better health, personal hygiene and create conducive learning environment.
Mr Charles Dawona, the PTA Chairman of the school, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Wa after the presentation that the school had faced water challenges since its establishment.
He observed that pupils spent instructional hours searching for potable water outside the school premises, leading to lateness, disruption of lessons, and poor academic performance.
He said the PTA, therefore, mobilised and contributed GH¢12,870.00 to construct a mechanised borehole to address the situation.
Mr Dawona also cited inadequate furniture, lack of textbooks and teaching and other learning materials, and inadequate classroom blocks as some of the challenges confronting the school.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), corporate organisations, philanthropists, and non-governmental organisation to support the school.
Presenting the donation, Pastor Whaley Asonre Aboungo, Director of the UWAFU, said the donation formed part of the Church’s corporate social responsibility to complement government’s efforts in providing educational infrastructure.
Pastor Aboungo said the Church considered education as a critical part of its mission and that supporting schools was an investment in the future of children.
“We believe that when we support our schools, we are investing in the development of children who will become responsible citizens, leaders and people who could make meaningful contributions to society,” he explained.
The Director also said the church saw it necessary to donate towards the project because access to safe drinking water was a basic requirement for a healthy and effective learning environment.
Mr Andrews Zunkara Sotenge, Headmaster of the school, said the water situation had created a difficult learning environment and expressed gratitude to the Church and the PTA for the intervention.
Madam Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, Upper West Regional Director of Education, who received the donation on behalf of the school, commended the SDA Church for the gesture and assured that the funds would be put to expected use.
She said the government remained committed to addressing educational challenges and called on faith-based organisations to continue supporting government in that regard.
Paulina George Loor, a Basic Eight pupil, told the GNA that pupils were sometimes punished for returning late to class after searching for water during break time and thanked the benefactors for the intervention.
A visit to the school by the GNA revealed the water challenge not only affected the school but also the residents of the area and needed urgent attention from all stakeholders.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Report: Joseph Agrace Wiyorbie
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