Asiafo-Amanfrom appeals for take over of community school

An opinion leader of the Asiafo-Amanfrom community, in the Yilo-Krobo District of the Eastern Region, Mr Jonathan Odonkor has appealed to government to take over the running of the only school in the area.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, he, said, would enable the school to benefit from the School Feeding Programme and Capitation Grant.

The school which started eight years ago, by an American Philanthropist, Ms Lauren Grimamis, is the only basic school in the community and provides education to children from four adjoining communities.

Children of school going age in these communities began schooling late because of the eight kilometre journey, they had to make each day to attend school at Akpamu, an adjoining community, with a public school.

Currently the school has a student population of 123 from the kindergarten to primary six and a staff strength of eight made up of seven volunteers from the community.

There is also a retired educationist who serves as the school’s administrator.

According to Mr Odonkor, the school started through ‘The Akaa Project’ a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established by members of the community with support and funding from Ms Grigmamis to improve the wellbeing of the people in the areas of education and health.

Mr Odonkor who is also the Project Manager of the Akaa Project, recalled that he used to walk more than eight kilometres to attend school during his childhood and noted that it was the reason for many parents in the village to shun education.

He said for the past eight years, the Philanthropist, pays the teachers and the entire staff from her own resources.

She also provided a six classroom block and a library centre for the community school to enhance teaching and learning.

He said parents are made to pay some fees such as teaching materials and feeding for their children, but this has become a burden, hence his appeal for government to absorb the school into the public school system.