Head teacher of Aboabo No 2 R/C KG and Primary School in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region, Rexford Korang, has raised serious concerns about the health and safety of pupils and staff due to the school’s proximity to the Aboabo Cemetery.

According to him, the situation continues to disrupt teaching and learning and poses significant health risks, particularly during the rainy season.

Speaking to Accra News reporter, Korang explained that the strong odour emanating from the cemetery becomes unbearable when it rains, adversely affecting the health and general well-being of both pupils and teachers.

He further revealed that members of the community often use the school compound as a pathway to the cemetery during burial activities, sometimes within school hours.

This, he said, distracts pupils and creates fear and panic, especially when caskets are carried through the school premises.

Korang is therefore appealing to local authorities and relevant stakeholders to urgently address the situation by relocating either the cemetery or the school, or alternatively fencing the school to prevent its use as a passageway to the cemetery.

He also called for regular fumigation of the cemetery to help reduce the offensive odour.

He stressed that beyond disrupting the learning environment, prolonged exposure to the odour could have serious long-term health implications for pupils and staff.

Some teachers at the school have also described the situation as hazardous, noting that the odour from damaged tombs at the cemetery becomes intolerable, especially during the rainy season.

They said the stench occasionally leads to illness among kindergarten and lower primary pupils whose classrooms are closest to the cemetery.

They revealed that a recent burial activity led to the collapse of a kindergarten pupil, while several others lost concentration during lessons.

Some pupils who shared their frustrations describe the challenges they face as a result of the cemetery’s proximity to the school.

They appealed to traditional authorities and relevant government agencies to either relocate the cemetery or the school, or construct a fence around the school to reduce health risks and limit the negative impact of burial activities on their education.