Pupils of Tono JHS use cement blocks as tables

The lack of classroom furniture required for effective teaching and learning in Tono Junior High School in the Kasena/Nankana East municipality of the Upper East region has left pupils of the school with no other means of seating for lessons but full-size cement blocks.

Despite having full pupil enrolment and a complete teaching staff, all three classrooms of the school have a huge deficit of desks and that has resulted in the stacking up of cement blocks by pupils to serves as "desks" on which they can sit and write during contact hours.

Apart from the seemingly better form 3 class that has a little over ten complete dual desks in good condition, the rest of the few incomplete desks in form 2 and 1 are rickety and broken.

Another worrying situation at the school is the lack of a decent toilet facility. The only place where pupils can attend to nature's call is an abandoned, dilapidated KVIP facility with weak walls ridden with cracks and gaping holes in the roof.

School authorities have declined to speak to Atinka News concerning the challenges of the school after several attempts for fear of being victimized by the municipal education directorate. Information gathered, however, has it that the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is privy to the challenges of the school.

Some of the vexed pupils Atinka News' Senyalah Castro Cazo interacted with said the dire situation is affecting their academic performance. They called for support from philanthropist and government.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Kasena/Nankana East Assembly, Williams Aduum, in an interview with Atinka News has hinted that about 1,500 pieces of dual desks are in the process of being secured by the municipal assembly for onward distribution to basic schools in the assembly before close of the academic year. He also disclosed that a project will soon be commenced to provide toilet facilities in communities within the assembly to curtail the challenge of lack of toilet facilities at schools.

"We are aware that schools at the basic level in the assembly have challenges, especially with furniture. We know. The assembly is working very hard to make sure that all school get at least some furniture so that teaching and learning can be effective. Last year, the assembly distributed dual desks to some schools and as we are talking now, the assembly has made provisions to secure some furniture for distribution to basic schools.

"The assembly is also in talks with a philanthropist to soon provide water and toilet facilities to four electoral areas in the assembly " Mr Aduum asserted.

Mr Aduum on the, on the other hand, urged old students of the various basic and senior high schools in the assembly to support government in addressing challenges at the schools.

According to him, whereas government is doing the greater part in finding long-lasting solutions to the ever unending challenges in the education sector, old students can also do the little they can to address some of the smaller challenges at their various old schools.

Citing himself and his colleague "Nabias" (old students of Navasco) as example, Mr Aduum believes there can be greater development, especially at the basic schools if old students commit themselves to taking problems of their schools one at a time and tackling them.

" If you go to a school like Navrongo Senior High School, that is exactly what we are doing. It has now even become a challenge and every past student wants his or her house to be renovated. I'm from the Volta House "Voltarian" and we are putting resources together to also renovate our house. Depending on where you work and how much you can support with, your contributions are collected towards this worthy cause.

"we must encourage this spirit of commitment to our old schools because without them we wouldn't be where we are today. We must do this as our bit as old students to help those who are there now. There won't be so much pressure on government too when we all get involved ". he continued.