[ 2017-11-01 ]

E/R: Bukrum-Agavernya JHS teachers risk their lives as they swim to school
Bukrum-Agavernya Junior High School near Klo-Agogo
in the Yilo Krobo district of the Eastern region
is in tatters waiting to cave in on pupils and
teachers.

The condition of the mud-made classroom building
built by the community in 1973 to serve four
communities in the enclave continues to
deteriorate posing danger to the occupants.

The roof of the school is in tatters, the mud
walls have developed deep cracks and falling
apart. The school closes whenever the cloud
gathers and teachers refuse postings to the
school.

The few teachers who accept posting to the school
do not get accommodation and have to endure a
terrible road network and other poor living
conditions. Even more worrying is when teachers
are forced to risk their lives to swim across a
river before they get to the school.

Though the school serves four communities,
enrolment is discouraging as most parents are
reluctant to send their children to the school due
to its inhabitable state.

The Headmaster of the School, Michael Teye told
Ultimate News “Our school building is now like a
death trap which is waiting to collapse on the
pupils and teachers. The school was established in
1973 and that mud house built by the indigenes has
been without renovation”.

The headmaster added “As we are talking now the
whole roof leaks, we don’t even have a roof, it
is in a mess, parts of the classroom block have
fallen, the remaining part now a trap. We have no
office to keep our teaching and learning
materials”.

He said the current condition of the school
building requires urgent intervention to avert a
disaster.

“It is a very serious situation which needs
urgent response other than that those of us who
have accepted posting there, let me say this, it
is not easy to accept posting to that school
because when you go and see the structure there,
you will be shocked “
.
Teachers Battle with Snakes

Due to the absence of Staff common room, teachers
have been compelled to use a river bank ecosystem
as office, hence battle with snakes and other
dangerous reptiles in its habitat.

“We don’t have an office, so the trees at the
river bank serve as our office and we have to
battle with snakes every now and then, ” the
headmaster recounted.

Portable drinking Water, an essential part of life
is rare in these communities hence teachers and
pupils depend on a polluted river nearby to
survive thirst, a situation which has accounted
for some health challenges.

The Assembly Member for the Area, Felix Tetteh
Kwablah, told Ultimate News several efforts made
to get help from the District Assembly have not
received any fruitful response.

Eastern region is notorious for the collapse of
school buildings due to the deplorable state of
the schools. More than five incidents of school
collapse have been recorded this year in the
region raising safety concerns.

The collapsed schools are located at Yiwase,
Tsremati Yoyim, Mintakrom, Mensahkrom, Bumpata,
and Nsawam.

The state of schools in parts of the region is in
sharp contrast to what the 1992 constitution of
Ghana stipulates –  “All persons shall have
the right to equal educational opportunities and
facilities and with a view to achieving the full
realization of that right- (a) basic education
shall be free, compulsory and available to
all”.

Again, the Sustainable Development Goal 4 enjoins
countries to ensure inclusive and Quality
education for all and promote lifelong learning by
2030.

Source - ultimatefmonline.com

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