The New Tagnamo D/A Primary School in Kayang, a farming community in the Mion District of the Northern Region, is facing a dire situation. Over 400 pupils are without classrooms due to a destroyed school building.
The roof of the four-unit classroom block and adjoining office were ripped off by a heavy storm about five years ago, and despite appeals, the damage has not been repaired.
Teachers are forced to conduct classes under the scorching sun, and parents have withdrawn their children from the school, enrolling them in other schools in the area. The Head Teacher, Mr. Jephthah Adjei Boateng, expressed concern about the fate of the pupils, stating that community leaders are threatening to close down the school if repairs are not made.
The school’s dilapidated state has affected effective teaching and learning, and despite efforts to draw the attention of the Mion District Assembly Office and the Ghana Education Service, nothing has been done. The Mion District Director of the Ghana Education Service declined to comment, referring the matter to the District Chief Executive (DCE), who was unavailable for comment.
The Head Teacher and the Chairman of the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) appealed to non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, individuals, and natives of the community to help repair the destroyed classroom blocks.
The Assembly Man for New Tagnamo Electoral Area, Mr. Magan Nkatibi Elijah, stated that despite efforts to bring the situation to the attention of the assembly and other agencies, no response has been received.
The school’s situation is dire, with teachers reluctant to post to the school due to the poor conditions. The Head Teacher, Mr. Boateng, lamented that it is disturbing to come to school and find only one student, emphasizing the need for urgent attention to the situation.
