Education is the bedrock of development, but for pupils and teachers at Famkwa M/A KG and Primary School in a deprived community in the Jaman South municipality of the Bono Region, learning has become a daily struggle.
A recent rainstorm has caused severe damage to classrooms for Basic Five and Six, leaving the school in urgent need of government intervention.
The incident, which occurred over three weeks ago, has forced over 50 children to continue their education in a cramped, muddy makeshift structure provided by a community member. With no immediate help in sight, the headmistress, teachers, and pupils are pleading for assistance.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with 3News’ Bono Regional Correspondent, Claude Kumi Abisa, headmistress of Famkwa M/A Kindergarten and Primary School, Joyce Twenewaa, described the situation is very dire.
According to her, whenever it rains, the roofs leak, the structures are weak, and sometimes they have to combine classes or send pupils home because the classrooms are unsafe.
Even though authorities from the Jaman South Municipal Assembly and the Education Directorate have visited the school to assess the situation, she is however appealing for urgent intervention from the government, NGOs, and kind-hearted individuals to intervene to ameliorate the situation.
“We are appealing to the government, NGOs, and kind-hearted individuals to come to our aid. Our children deserve a better learning environment,” she stated.
Class six teacher at the school, Emmanuel Vandyke, describes the situation as heartbreaking as they struggle to offer their best, but the environment is just not conducive.
“It’s heartbreaking to see children struggling like this. The government must act fast. How can we achieve quality education when our classrooms are collapsing?” he lamented.
An affected pupil, Albert Kwabena Osei, shared their ordeal with 3News emphasising that when it rains, water enters their classroom and their books get wet.
Furthermore, their classrooms are dusty, they become muddy when the rain falls and worst of all is the wooden structure becomes shaky when heavy wind blows. “We can’t learn properly, I’m scared the roof will fall on us. We need a new school building, government should help us,” he pleaded.
The call for help is loud and clear, with the rainy season intensifying, the fear of a total collapse grows daily. For now, pupils and teachers continue to endure the harsh conditions, hoping for a miracle.
