Parents threatened to withdraw children from school

Apam(C/R), Oct. 22, GNA - Parents of students at the Apam Methodist A.B. and C schools have threatened to withdraw their children if immediate steps are not taken to improve the accommodation problem facing the schools.

The schools are facing acute accommodation problem following the abandonment of a one-storey block, which had served as classrooms due to its deplorable condition.

The building, which was donated to the school by Mr T. K. Caaiquo, a Philanthropist citizen in 1975 had deteriorated due to the lack of maintenance.

When Ghana News Agency visited the schools last week to ascertain the situation, there were as many as 60 pupils in JSS 2A, 80 in JSS 2B, 66 in 3A and 56 in 3B even though some teachers said some school athletes who had gone for early morning training had not reported. The situation in the primary schools was still worse, as there were 90 pupils in Class 2 and 61 in class 6.

Pupils had to abandon their morning household chores and get to school as early as 0600 hours in order to get a place to occupy. The headmaster of the JSS Mr Harry Acquah said plans were afoot to construct a temporary structure to house the displaced classes.

Mr Acquah said the district assembly had provided some boards and nails for the temporary structure but said they were woefully inadequate and appealed to the district directorate of education, Apam citizens associations and individuals to help to save the school.

Asked why they did not adopt a shift system as a measure to mitigate the situation, the headmaster said the shift system had its own problems but said it would be considered as a last resort if the school authorities did not get help immediately to construct the structures.