Regional News of Friday, 17 March 2006

Source: GNA

Pupils threaten boycott over dilapidated classroom block

Menang-Ashanti, March 17, GNA - Pupils of Menang District Assembly primary school, near New Edubiase, in the Adansi South District of Ashanti have threatened to boycott classes in protest of their dilapidated classroom block made of adobe.

The block built in 1969, had not been rehabilitated and had now become a death trap to them and their teachers. They have therefore, appealed to the assembly and the Ghana Education Service to intervene to avoid a disaster in the school with about 310 pupils.

The pupils made the appeal on Wednesday when Mr Yaw Owusu, assemblyman for the area, inspected portions of the block that collapsed on Monday, March 13 when classes were in session, the pupils run helter-skelter and some of them received injuries.

He said a report on the block had been submitted to the assembly and therefore, appealed to NGOs, the GES and philanthropists to assist the school to prevent any disaster.

Mr Emmanuel Amoako, Headteacher of the school said the last incident on March 13, was the third time part of the block had collapsed.

Master Joseph Oheneba, School prefect and Spokesman for the pupils, said the dilapidated block coupled with frequent invasion of the classrooms by livestock and reptiles made teaching and learning difficult.

He said the pupils were forced to close anytime it threatened to rain and teachers had no tables and chairs. The School Prefect appealed to the assembly and stakeholders to build a new block for the community.