Oterbleku basic school pupils cramed into 3 classrooms

Inadequate classrooms at the Oterbleku D/A Primary School in the newly created Ningo-Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region have compelled authorities of the school to cram six classes into three classrooms.
While about 100 pupils are sharing three plywood-partitioned classrooms, another group of primary one pupils sweat under a shed. They are easily distracted by activities in the immediate surroundings.
Problems
Currently, the nursery, kindergarten and primary two pupils share one classroom. Though they are separated by plywood, access to the nursery is through the primary two classroom.
The school started in 1987, in a pavilion which was later demarcated into three classrooms in the hope that extra classrooms would be built as the school’s population increased.
Until three years ago, the school was operating a multi-grade system, the Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr Augustine Senyo, told the Daily Graphic.
He said two grades of pupils shared a classroom, explaining that classes two and three for instance shared a class, while sometimes one teacher taught classes four, five and six.
Currently, the classrooms have been partitioned.
The headmaster’s office is a narrow space which is further crowded by his desk, chair and the school’s sports equipment.     
The various classrooms have no lockers or cupboards for books, so all the school books are put in a small storeroom.
Domestic animals and herds of cattle often stray into the school compound, leaving behind trails of animal droppings because the school is unfenced.
Water problems
The only stream that serves the community of about 500 people is located about 300 metres from the school.
The brackish water shared with the cattle that roam the area is what the pupils trek to fetch for use in the school and their homes.
Mr Senyo appealed for help to make conditions in the school conducive for teaching and learning in order to develop the confidence of the children. He also appealed for books, school uniforms and footwear for the children; some of whom walk barefoot to school.
Assembly member
When contacted, the assembly member for the area, Mr Gabriel Kofi Doku, conceded that the school was facing a lot of problems.
“We have sent a letter to the District Director of Education and he has promised us that something will be done about it,” he said.
He said the assembly was new and that internally generated funds were now trickling in. “Hopefully, by the end of the year, we should see an improvement,” he said.

Writer’s email: seth.bokpe@graphic.com.gh

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