Children attend classes under trees for seven years

Pong-Tamale (N/R), Oct. 13, GNA - For about seven years now, the pupils of Pong-Tamale Local Authority (L/A) Primary School in the Savelugu/Nanton District have been attending classes under trees, following the collapse of the school building in a rainstorm. Madam Fulera Abdulai, Headmistress of the school told the GNA in Pong-Tamale that the school's books and registers are being kept in the nearby L/A Junior Secondary School, which she said had become congested as a result, adding that the furniture and black boards had been left at the mercy of the rain.

She said the six-classroom block, including the headmaster's office, which was built in the 1960's, collapsed some seven years ago, compelling the pupils to attend classes under trees.

She explained that the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) of the school came to the aid of the school and built a three-unit school block, which could accommodate only three classes but unfortunately, the building also collapsed last year.

Madam Abdulai said the school had an enrolment of 350 pupils, including a Day Nursery.

"The situation is adversely affecting the performance of the pupils", the headmistress said and called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to come to the aid of the school.

Madam Abdulai said under the HIPC Fund, a three-unit classroom block and a headmaster's office had been built for the school, adding that the building was yet to be handed over to the authorities.

"Even though the contractor told me about four months ago that the building is complete, the authorities are not allowing us to use the facility because it has to be formally commissioned."

She appealed to the District Assembly to expedite the handing-over to enable the school authorities to accommodate some of the pupils and the school property.

When the GNA visited the school campus, teachers were conducting classes under trees while the newly built school block had been turned into a depot for cement and other materials for the construction of another three-unit classroom block for the school being funded by the European Union under its micro-project programme.

Mr Alhassan Mohamed Mumuni, the Deputy District Coordinating Director told the GNA at Savelugu that he was not aware that the original school project, which was funded from the HIPC Fund, had been completed.

"The District Assembly will check on this and if indeed, the project has been completed, the Assembly will expedite the handing-over for the pupils to move in as soon as possible," he said.

Mr Ben Mahama, Circuit Supervisor for Pong-Tamale District Education Office, was not also aware of the completion of the project but gave the assurance that he would trace the contractor for the keys to the building for the handing-over if he confirms that work has been completed.