The Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Sulemana, the Municipal Chief Executive for Wa, Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha together with officials of the Wa Municipal Education Directorate, on Monday stormed the Kperisi Primary school, to provide the pupils with desks.
The assembly’s intervention comes few days after the Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia, ordered 500 desks to be made for them.
The school’s plight came to light after the State of the Nation Address last Thursday, where the President had boasted of massive achievements in the educational sector.
Harrowing pictures of children lying on the bare floor but showing determination to learn were awash on social media and some news portals, drawing the attention of Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia, who was on a visit in the region, to pass by the school.
Although the Assembly appears to have hurriedly constructed the desks to save their face, they claim they were being done before Dr. Bawumia gave the pledge.
Citi News’ Latif Mahama said he counted fifty-two desks in classes one and two, but the Assembly claims about 200 desks are being made.
According to Latif, there were also a few new desks together with some old ones in class three, but could not confirm whether those ones were also provided by the Assembly.
He said the Headmistress of the school, Madam Rosina Die, who was full of praise upon receiving the furniture, said she was unaware about the exact number of desks provided by the Assembly.
She however says what has been provided is enough to solve the problem. Latif says the pupils showed great excitement, as they sat on the desks after learning on the bare floor with waist pains for nearly a year.
Headmistress’ life in danger
Following the publicity given to the plight of the school, there are reports suggesting that the District Assembly is unhappy with her and has asked her to render an apology.
In their view, the headmistress’ lamentation about the school’s plight seeks to portray the government in a negative light especially when it comes barely after the President touted several achievements in the education sector at last Thursday’s state of the nation address.
The Headmistress confirmed this to Citi News’ Latif Mahama on Monday, saying she has received threats through text messages and phone calls from some persons who have accused her of putting the name of the community and the government in a bad light.
I fear for my life
She said her life is in danger and could not give an answer to whether she would like to continue to work in the school or seek a transfer.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie