Akroso Senior High Technical School (AKROSEC) in Eastern Region with students population of about 3000 is grappling with severe infrastructure and furniture crisis which has created congestion in dormitories and forced the use of tables and benches as desks in classrooms.
The situation is significantly hampering learning.
The Assistant headmaster in charge of administration, Mr. Alex Boateng Attafuah, said there is critical shortage of dormitory space for female students, leading to overcrowding and forcing some students to sleep outdoors.
“The girls’ dormitory is too small. The student population is high, so it is congested. We are appealing for an additional girls’ dormitory to decongest the existing one,” Mr. Attafuah stated.
He further explained that the lack of sufficient desks means students often have to share or use dining hall furniture in classrooms.
“During dining, we cannot send the dining tables and benches back, so the students stand to eat.”
The school is also facing shortage of staff housing.
“Our campus is big, but we have only two bungalows for the headmaster and assistant headmaster. We need more bungalows to accommodate more teachers to enhance supervision,” Mr. Attafuah added.
He also emphasized the need for additional classroom blocks to eliminate the double-track system currently in place.
Several students lamented the ongoing challenges and effect on their academic activities.
“The desks are inadequate. Imagine over 3,000 students and the desks are less than 2,000. We are really suffering. Sometimes we have to sit under trees or stand to write notes. It doesn’t help,” one student said.
Another added, “Our dormitory is too small to contain our number. Some students even sleep outside in the corridors, and it is really bad because some people develop pneumonia from the cold.”
Mr. Isaac Kojo Obeng Amunti, president of the Old Students Association of Akroso Senior High Technical School said the association donated about 800 desks but was woefully inadequate to address the huge deficit.
“We supported the school with almost 800 desks, but the school population is over 3,000. GNPC built three classroom blocks but didn’t furnish them with desks, so we are appealing to all to help,” he said.
The school is urgently appealing to NGOs and the government to provide the necessary support to improve the quality of education and living conditions at AKROSEC.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
