'One Man Contractor': Meet the teacher who handles 12 classes alone at Kakpeni

Samuel Donkor, a teacher at the Kakpeni District Assembly Primary and Junior High School in the Northern Region has been compelled to handle an extraordinary workload, teaching 12 classes all by himself.

According to him, he arrives at school very early, before the first bell rings, and prepares for a day many would consider overwhelming.

He arranges his lesson notes, checks his chalk supply, and gets ready to move from one classroom to another, teaching learners from Kindergarten through to Junior High School (JHS) graphic.com.gh reported on May 8, 2026.

Donkor stated that for more than three years, he has remained the only government-trained teacher at the basic school, which has a student population of 448 in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region.

During this period, he has combined the roles of classroom teacher and headteacher, effectively running the entire school single-handedly.

Donkor explained that he largely manages the workload alone, with only occasional support from two community volunteers whose availability is inconsistent due to low motivation and personal commitments.

The situation, he said, is becoming increasingly difficult.

Each day, he moves between classes teaching core subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Science, and Ghanaian Language across all levels.

To cope with the shortage, several classes have been merged; Kindergarten, Basic One, Basic Two, and Basic Three share one classroom, while Basic Four and Five are combined despite differences in their syllabus requirements. Basic Six class is however managed separately.

The arrangement, according to residents, has created a strained learning environment in which pupils struggle to keep up. Samuel himself admits the limitations of the system.

“I do what I can, but I know it is not enough. These children deserve more. By the time I reach the last class, the first class has forgotten what I taught them,” he said.

The challenges are worsened when he has to leave the community for official duties, as teaching comes to a complete halt in his absence.

Samuel’s duties extend beyond teaching. Travelling to Kpandai for official assignments requires crossing a river by canoe, often without life jackets, posing serious risks, especially during the rainy season.

Despite these challenges, he continues to serve, at a personal cost.

“Most of my time is spent in the school and community, with little attention to my family and personal life,” he said.

His dedication has earned him the nickname “One Man Contractor” among residents and colleagues.

Pupils and parents also express deep concern about the situation. Some pupils say they miss essential lessons such as reading and numeracy due to the lack of consistent teaching.

“There are more days without lessons than days we are taught,” a student noted.

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Residents warn that prolonged learning gaps could contribute to rising cases of teenage pregnancy and early marriage in the community.

They are appealing to the Ministry of Education(MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to post more teachers to the school and include it in the School Feeding Programme to improve enrolment and retention.

Despite the difficulties, Samuel remains hopeful. He believes ongoing teacher recruitment efforts may help ease the burden, especially if priority is given to underserved rural communities.

Aside staffing challenges, the school also faces serious infrastructure deficits.

“Beyond staffing shortages, the school also faces serious infrastructure deficits. Some Junior High School pupils study under trees due to a lack of classrooms, exposing them to harsh weather conditions and frequent disruptions. furniture and teaching materials are also inadequate,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the Kpandai District Education Directorate has confirmed that two additional teachers have been posted to the school and are expected to report soon.

JKB/VPO

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