Upper East SHS cannot Admit Students for 2010 Academic Year

Bolgatanga, March 4, GNA - Most Senior High schools in the Upper Eas= t Region are considering not admitting new students for the 2010/2011 acade= mic year for lack of infrastructure to contain the new entrants.

Some of the heads told the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga that even=

though government had directed them to put in requests for facilities suc= h as additional classroom blocks, dormitories, and other learning aids, the= y were not sure if they could be provided before the academic year begins i= n September. The Headmaster of the Bongo Senior High School (SHS), Mr. Samuel Baba-Yarful, said he had made an emphatic statement in a letter to the Gh= ana Education Service stating his inability to enrol students for the next academic year because of the limited facilities in the school. He said "I will not be capable of absorbing a single student for SHS=

One for the next academic year for lack of classroom accommodation." Mr Baba-Yarful appealed to the authorities to ensure that the facilities are made available before September when the academic calendar=

starts.

Mr. Baba-Yarful said he had made a request for 200 fresh students ne= xt academic year with the hope that the promise by government to get the facilities available was fulfilled.

He said he requested a five-classroom block to house the 200 student= s earmarked for next academic year and that there were other facilities tha= t needed the quickest attention if the admissions would be possible.

These include an administrative block, two separate two-storey dormitory building for boys and girls, a computer laboratory block, a library, bungalows for teachers and the Headmaster, assembly and dining halls. Mr. Didacus Afegre, the Headmaster of Bolgatanga Senior High School,=

said facilities available in the school could not accommodate additional students.

He said he had requested for 18 additional classrooms, two boys' dormitories and other learning facilities.

The Headmaster of Navrongo Senior High School, Mr. Patrick Tangonyir= e, said the school did not have the facilities to accommodate extra students= .. He said the school would need 10 classrooms, two dormitories for boys=

and girls, an extension of the school's dinning hall, furniture and additional beds.

The Assistant Headmaster for the Awe Senior High School, Mr. Roland Sekwo, said his school had made a request for six classrooms, a dormitory and a Home Science Block.

He said the school has started a two-classroom block funded by Ghana Cement Company and if that project is complete it could take care of some more students.

Some parents expressed worry about the inconsistencies in managing the education of the country's young people. Some support the four-year duration and said continuous reversal of the educational system tells how confused managers of that sector are. Madam Amina Issah an educationist said the duration did not matter b= ut that quality education depended on the availability of infrastructure, go= od tuition, availability of learning materials and working out modalities to=

motivate teachers mattered most and could do the trick.