Authorities of Percheyire R/C Basic School in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region are concerned about the safety of teachers and learners of the school, as reports of the condition of the structure appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

The ramshackle classroom structure looks like one that could cave in in the case of a heavy storm and, according to the teachers, teaching and learning become impossible when the rains set in.

The structure, which accommodates pupils from Primary Four to Six, has worn-out roofing sheets, mud walls and sections supported by wood used as pillars.

A source at the school, who requested anonymity, told The Spectator in an interview that the situation was particularly difficult during the rainy season.

“When it rains, it means teaching and learning would come to an end,” he said.

The source explained that the challenge affected only the upper primary section, as pupils from Kindergarten to Primary Three were housed in a relatively better block.

According to the source, about 30 pupils from Primary Four to Six currently use the dilapidated structure, but expressed grave concern about its condition.

The source, however, said that the safety of the pupils, their furniture and books remained a concern, particularly during heavy rains.

The source said the situation had been reported to the relevant authorities and was hopeful that the structure would eventually be reconstructed.

Some pupils sitting in one of the classrooms

Despite the visit to the school, authorities indicated that work would be undertaken, but the school was yet to receive further information on when the project would begin.

The source also identified the poor road network to the school as another challenge affecting enrolment, saying the school serves pupils from Percheyire and three neighbouring communities.

It also emerged that an enrolment drive embarked upon in one of the communities, Togodo, showed that more than 60 school-going children lived in the community, but were unable to attend the school regularly because of the distance and poor road.

The school currently has about 110 pupils from Kindergarten through Junior High School, according to the source.

The source said improving both the classroom infrastructure and the road network would help create a more conducive learning environment and potentially improve enrolment.

A former teacher of the school, Rev. Elizabeth Korasare, said she was surprised to find the structure still in use after 38 years.

“I was surprised to see that the classroom I sat in 38 years ago is in the same state. Even though there are some new blocks, the upper primary is still housed in that same dilapidated structure,” she told The Spectator.

She therefore appealed to the relevant stakeholders to support the school by building a modern structure and improving the road network.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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