Danger looms in Mion as school building poses risks to students

Members of the Tinsung community in the Mion District of the Northern Region have called on the government to address the dilapidated state of the Tinsung Fathul-Mubeen Islamic Primary School, which currently poses significant risks to the students.

In a report by graphic.com.gh, the lives of students are at significant risk due to the mud-based school building, which has developed cracks and has one side completely collapsed.

Parts of the structure have also been supported with wood to help stabilise it, the report said.

The mud-based building, with crumbling walls and rusted, dilapidated roofing, fails to provide a secure environment, making teaching and learning challenging, especially when it rains, it added.

Students have been forced to attend classes in these deplorable conditions, which hinder their learning abilities.

Speaking to graphic.com.gh, the Chairman of the PTA at Tinsung Fathul-Mubeen Islamic Primary School, Dauda Sumailai, expressed concern about how the school has never been renovated since it was built forty years ago.

According to him, the dire situation of the students and the terrible condition of the school are not conducive for learning. He noted that students need to be equipped with a suitable learning environment to properly develop their abilities; otherwise, they will be at a disadvantage if immediate assistance is not provided by the authorities.

"Our major problem is a proper school building for our children. We've been urged to send our children to school, but as you can see, this building isn't suitable for learning. The mud structure you see was built by community members 40 years ago, yet no government, not even the Mion District Assembly, has considered building us a modern, well-furnished classroom block,” he is quoted as saying by graphic.com.gh.

Tinalibei Jijiri Yildana, a teacher at the school and a native of the community, stated that the terrible condition of the school has affected student enrolment over the years.

"I feel sad every time I enter the classroom to teach. This school is older than me. It was built by our parents in 1985 before I was born. I studied here in the same conditions and became a teacher. When I got my post, I chose to return and help my community, but the situation remained unchanged. The school was nearly collapsing as enrolment was dropping. However, we kept pushing, and now we have over 300 students enrolled,” he said.

He added, “We have four teachers, including one Arabic instructor, but only three are currently on post. One handles the Junior High School. Teachers come from far away, and upon seeing the structure, they run away. Some request transfers, while others leave without notice."

MAG/AE

In the meantime, follow Ernestina Asante as she tours the Asokwa Constituency and speaks with MP Patricia Appiagyei in this episode of Campaign Trail on GhanaWeb TV: