School under trees partially replaced at Milenu

A three-unit classroom block, with ancillary facilities and a detached place of convenience, constructed by the North Tongu District Assembly for the Milenu Basic School, has been handed over to the people at Milenu.

The facility, however, caters only for classes one to three, leaving classes four to six and the Kindergarten still to continue under trees, which served as the school's classroom since the 1960s.

With a student population of about 200 and four teachers, the school, aside Milenu, also serves Yidetsi, Fulanikope and Kpokpornu communities.

Mr. Richard Collins Arku, District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, inaugurating the facility, said the remaining extra blocks would soon be constructed to eliminate the school from under trees.

He said the Government was poised at extensively constructing school infrastructures in schools in the country, including the North Tongu District to enhance teaching and learning and quality education.

The DCE decried the case where classes abruptly end, and teachers and pupils run helter skelter with their furniture and books when the rains least threaten, and said that scenario would soon be of the past.

Mr. Arku told the enthusiastic community members to ignore critics of the Government, who he said were doing so deliberately, despite being aware the Government was performing on its campaign promises.

He said many school blocks had either been completed or were at stages of construction in his District in addition to projects in other sectors.

Mr. Arku advised the people to passionately pay their taxes, basic and property rates to enhance the Assembly's Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to accelerate development.

Mr. Isaac Gada, Assembly Member for the area, commended the Assembly for the project, and urged the DCE not to delay in concluding the entire number of classrooms for the school to end their more than 50 years operation under trees.

He also appealed for a Junior High School (JHS) to be added to the school to end pupils rigorously trekking more than seven kilometers daily to access the closest JHS in Juapong after exiting primary six at Milenu.

The Assembler Member also appealed for additional teachers for the school.

Mr. Gada said many students prematurely terminate their education after primary six, while those continuing to JHS in Juapong, frequently absent themselves particularly during the rainy seasons when paths to communities in the area were flooded by overflowing creeks.

He called for the construction of a culvert over the Horli stream, which gets flooded during the rains, cutting Milenu from the rest of the District, forestalling access of vehicles and motor bikes and curtailing the movement of traders and pupils, mainly.