Mankrong-Junction Primary holds classes in Mosque

Mankrong-Junction (C/R), June 7, GNA - About 60 pupils of the Nazifatu Islamic Basic School at Mankrong-Junction is now holding classes in a Mosque.

The school, which was holding classes under a shed roofed with palm branches and bamboo moved to the Mosque following the onset of the raining season in May.

Mr Awudu Zakaria, Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) speaking at a meeting of the Association at Mankrong-Junction, said 210 pupils in lower and upper primary were studying under very difficult conditions.

He said the parents could not build a school block because of the high level of poverty in the area while the Agona District Assembly had refused to assist them to construct one The PTA Chairman stated that this compelled the school authorities to seek permission from the leaders of the Muslim community to use the Mosque for classes.

Mr Zakaria said a three-classroom block started by the PTA for the JSS was completed by the Assembly in 2002/2003 but had not been painted while doors had not been fixed.

He noted that since then the Assembly had not provided any physical infrastructure to promote effective teaching and learning. Mr David Howard, Head-Teacher, also expressed concern about the deplorable state of the school structure, which he said impeded academic work.

He said stated that petitions to the Assembly for classrooms had not been heeded and appealed to the non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and citizens of the area for assistance. Mr Howard said some youth had taken advantage of the poor facilities to remove teaching and learning materials from the classrooms while others defecate on the school compound.

Mrs. Mary Otwe, Assembly Woman for Mankrong-Junction, appealed to parents and guardians to support their children's education in spite of their poor financial position, since it was the only legacy they could live them.

She promised to continue to pressing the Assembly to construct a classroom block for the school and said Mr Ebenezer Kwafo, District Engineer of the Assembly, had visited the School to inspect the structure.