Akotoklo primary pupils write exams on rocks; no desks

The Plight of pupils at Akotoklo R/C Primary School in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region continues to deteriorate as government intervention is not forthcoming.

Pupils are compelled to write their end of term examination on rocks due to the lack of desks and classroom.

They either lie on their bellies or kneel to write on the rocks while others write on their laps. This is usually accompanied with complaints of body aches by the pupils.

Exams papers are intermittently carried away by the wind disrupting the examination process.

The right to quality education is not only assured in the 1992 Constitution but is also captured in the Education Act, 2008 (Act 778) and the Children’s Act of 1998 (Act 560). Sadly, this fundamental right has not trickled down to touch the lives of pupils of Akotoklo-Gua R/C Primary School in the Upper Manya Krobo District as they study under very depressing condition.

Akotoklo -Gua Primary School has been operating in a dilapidated bamboo shed and mud made pavilion classrooms since its establishment in the 50s .

The bambooo classroom collapses whenever the  storm rears its head.

On March 24, 2019, a heavy rainstorm floored the bamboo shed classrooms, displacing about 120 pupils weakening the others which have become death trap.

This unresolved situation is the reason teachers have resorted to the use of rocks for pupils to write the end of term examination.

Interestingly, there is a sharp contrast between resources and human capital. Whereas a lot of schools lack teachers, Akotoklo does not have this problem.

There are about nine(9) teachers in the school eager to impart knowledge but no teaching and learning materials to aid in this pursuit.

No chalk boards, text books, and desks, and yet teachers are expected to do magic and children expected to compete with class ‘A’ schools.

Computers for ICT practicals are non existent yet pupils of Akotoklo were taking ICT examination during the visit by Starr News Eastern Regional Correspondent Kojo Ansah, obviously ,expected to write from imagination.

These challenges are manifest in pupils inability to read and write. It was therefore not surprising that teachers had to read and explain examination questions to pupils before they could tick or answer.

Esson Allan who is a National Service Personnel teaching in the school told Starr News “a child has to sit and write and here lies the case they have to write on rocks in this case the hand writing becomes a problem, It affects their writing”.

According to him, “normally when it rains teachers and pupils stay home because there is no classroom to shelter them safely “.

The School Management Committee Chairman, Olesu Moses Narh is unhappy with government’s insensitivity to their plight. He said a six unit classroom block started by the Assembly last year after a similar incident has stalled at the footing level while the children study in a deleterious condition.

” We too our children can be Lawyers ,Politicians ,Nurses ,Doctors in the future but here is the case they have to write on rocks, do you want our children to quit school and become armed robbers in future or what. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid “.

To cap it all, pupils of Akotoklo R/C Primary School are forced to drink unsafe water to quench their thirst out of the dehydrating condition in which they study due to lack of potable drinking water in the community.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh