Head of Public Relations of the Ghana Education Service (GES), in the Brong Ahafo region, Mr. Nicolas Osei Twum has confirmed that acute chalk shortage in the area has compelled some schools in the area to use charcoal to write on board, claiming that ‘ its an improvement in teaching and learning process’.

Mr. Osei Twum said the development is not new in the region. “The issue of schools using charcoal to write on boards has lived with us in the District for a long time. Indeed, we face acute chalk shortage and because of that pupils and teachers have managed to overcome the challenge by using charcoal to write on white boards.

'This has even improved upon the teaching and learning process in the district as teachers have to do away with chalks which produce dust which in turn bring about respiratory problems for the pupils. Charcoals don’t produce dust so the pupils and teacher are happy with it,' Mr Twum said.

His comments confirm assertions by Member of Parliament for Wenchi, Professor Goerge Yaw Gyan Baffour, that some schools within his constituency have been compelled to use charcoal instead of chalk for teaching .

Speaking with Atinka News, the PRO maintained that teachers in those areas have managed to overcome the challenge of lack of chalk by using charcoal. “Writing on a white board with charcoal is akin to writing with a marker on a white board”.

He however called on individuals and corporate institutions to come to the aid of the schools.