Osabene (E/R), Feb. 10, GNA - The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Osabene English/Arabic School near Koforidua, has appealed to the Akuapem North Assembly to expedite efforts at reconstructing a new classroom block to replace the one destroyed by a recent rainstorm. It said since the previous block was destroyed last December, classes had not been held thereby affecting the academic standards of the pupils especially, the primary six pupils.

The chairman of the PTA, Mr David Agyei Danquah, who led a delegation of the Association to the GNA offices at Koforidua to make the appeal on Monday, expressed concern that despite two delegations sent to the District Assembly at Akropong-Akuapem since the disaster, "nothing seems to have been done to solve the acute situation leaving the academic fate of the 87 pupils in the balance." According to him, the situation had left both the pupils and the teachers idling about, thereby putting the academic standards of the pupils in jeopardy.

He said the school also served nearby communities, including Apenkwa, Kentenkren, Pipe Ano, Abontanso and Sepoamensa. Mr Danquah said the PTA was levying the members to raise funds, while it had also mobilized the people to provide stones and timber as their contribution towards the construction of the block and appealed to NGOs and well-wishers to come to their aid. He commended Madam Agatha Botokua for donating land for the school free of charge.

When contacted, the District Chief Executive, Dr (Mrs) Eugenia Danquah Quist, said the Assembly was preparing to put up a temporary shelter, while efforts were being made to obtain funds from the HIPC relief to construct a permanent block.

Meanwhile, the Ghacem Foundation had donated 50 bags of cement towards the construction of the school's permanent structure.