Pupils of Kave D/A Basic school in the Ketu North District of the Volta region now learn under palm-frond roofed sheds because of inadequate classroom blocks.
The school which started as a community initiative in 1950 and absorbed into the mainstream during the government of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1962 is now in a life threatening state with visible cracks on parts of the school building.
The roof of the only building housing the pupils was ripped off some four years ago following a rainstorm.
This compelled the authorities to move the upper primary pupils to the already crowded Junior High School (JHS) block whiles the rest are accommodated under the sheds.
In 2004 there was an intervention by the then Volta regional minister and a product of the school, Kofi Dzamesi to provide some classroom blocks following an increase in enrollment.
His intervention however could not meet the present demands as pupils were seen lumped in the dilapidated structure.
Some teachers who would not speak on record said they are compelled to close down school when it rains.
“We don’t want the building to collapse on us and the innocent children, so the best way to close the school when it is about raining.”
Ironically the school which is few meters away from the District Assembly has been hosting inter zone sports over the years with officials of the District Education Directorate partaking in the events.
Kave D/A is among schools in the Ketu North District benefiting from the school feeding program.
The pupils sit on the bare ground under a tree and under unhygienic conditions to eat meals served under the school feeding program.
The caterers in the school say they had to make “improvises’’ due to inadequate infrastructure.
Citi News checks at the Ketu North District Assembly revealed that the plight of the school has not been captured into the any of the Assembly’s development plan.
The District Chief Executive Hon Kofi Lawson disclosed that his attention has not been drawn particularly to the situation because most of the schools in the district suffer an infrastructure deficit.
‘’ I’m not privy to that but a radio station in Ho called me today. The onus lied on the assembly member for the area to present the case for redress at the assembly meeting.’’
He however added that his outfit have been working around the clock to provide befitting classroom blocks for the pupils.
‘’There are about 75 basic schools in dire need of infrastructure the district but we were able to provide school blocks to 60 of such schools’’
Meanwhile, when Citi News contacted John Wornoo, Assemblyman for the area, he claimed they have made frantic efforts to draw the attention to the plight of the school contrary to the assertion of the DCE.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citimonline.com/Ghana