In spite of the efforts by government to eliminate schools under trees across the country, there are still some schools in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, where teaching and learning are conducted under trees.
Among the most affected, is the Mercy Nursery/Primary School at Serigu, which absorbs orphans from the Mother of Mercy Orphanage Home and the Kaase Primary school.
This was uncovered during a working visit by World Vision Ghana (WVG) together with some journalists to the two schools to ascertain the academic progress of the pupils.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ihtMflpbkEpC370OeQBmoNGxeZg3nLyi”]Headmistress of Mercy Nursery/primary school, Mrs. Akanboyure Lucy, said a three-unit classroom block which was constructed in 2000 solely for nursery children, by the Diocesan Development unit of the Catholic Church, now has a population of over 400 children including Junior High School students.
She said although the Ghana Education Service (GES) in 2003 absorbed the school, it did not provide classroom infrastructure to contain the high enrollment compelling the school authority to conduct teaching and learning under trees.
“Several appeals to the Ghana Education (GES) and the District Assembly to expand the school infrastructure have proven futile leading to the Parent Teacher Association of the school and the church to build a mud structure for the JHS students whilst most of the children study under trees.” 
“The school had no furniture, portable drinking water, toilet and urinal facilities until we appealed to World Vision Ghana who came to support the school with furniture, drinking source of water, toilet and urinal facilities and some teaching and learning materials,” Mrs. Akanboyure stated.
The head teacher of the Junior High School, Reverend Jacob Moldana, described the mud structure for the Junior high School as a death trap affecting teaching and learning especially during rainy seasons.
The situation was not different at the Kasse Primary school where a three classroom block built in 1993 only accommodates primary four, five and six pupils, while primary three, two, one and Kindergarten one and two and the nursery pupils, study under trees.
The Head teacher of the Kaase Primary school, Mr. Eugene Zagenia, told Citi News the school, which had a population of 353 pupils, has made several appeals to the District Assembly to expand the school infrastructure.
The school heads commended WVG for supporting the schools and appealed to other Non-Governmental Organizations and philanthropists to come to the aid of the schools by expanding the infrastructure, and providing them with furniture and teaching and learning materials.
Mr. John Agangmikre, the Circuit Supervisor in charge of the area, said the Directorate of the Ghana education Service was aware of the plight of the schools and reiterated that the GES has also made appeals to the District Assembly for the past three years with no positive response.
Mr. Joshua Aduah, who spoke on behalf of WVG Area Development Programme Manager for Kanesa- Nankana West District, Mrs. Grace Biniyam, reiterated their commitment to solicit funds through benevolent organizations to salvage the situation in the affected schools.
–
By Fred Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana