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Regional News of Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Source: GNA

One pupil admitted at Sakumono TMA Primary on re-opening day

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - Only one pupil was admitted at Sakumono TMA 1 and 2 Primary school when school re-opened on Tuesday compared to 31 pupils last year.

Even though admission is still in progress, it is obvious that the zeal of enrolment is not encouraging at the school.

Madam Georgina Atta, Headteacher of the school who spoke to the Ghana News Agency during 93My First Day in School" visit, explained that it was the re-opening day and admission was slow but that she expected more pupils to be enrolled in due course.

She noted that about three years ago a section of the Kindergarten 1,2 and 3 classroom collapsed and that might have prevented parents from sending their children to the school.

"Although the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities nothing has been done about it. The pupils are now crowded at the canteen originally built for the school feeding programme," she said.

Madam Atta complained that the school had not been fenced and for that reason footballers used the school park for training even when classes were in session, thereby disrupting teaching and learning and littering the compound.

She said some of the inhabitants used the school place of toilets as a public place of convenience after school session.

"The worst of it is a madman who has taken over one of the corridors permanently throwing stones at the pupils and scaring them," she added.

Madam Atta said there were inadequate furniture and that broken furniture was not being replaced, which created an inconvenience during classes and examinations.

She appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for assistance to improve facilities in the school.

In another development, authorities at Noble Kids Academy did not enroll any pupil because there were no adequate classrooms, furniture and facilities to accommodate them. Mrs Leticia Fosu, headmistress of the academy said last year 28 pupils were admitted on the first day when school re-opened, adding, however, that admission were still in progress.

She said some challenges facing the school authorities included the refusal of some parents to pay the tuition fees of their children and thus making it difficult for efficient operation.

Other challenges included insufficient classroom infrastructure with an increasing number of pupils to handle.