Headmaster of Hordzoga MA Basic worried over drop in enrollment due to insufficient teaching and learning resources

The headmaster of Hordzoga MA Basic School, located in the Ho Municipality, has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the school, fearing its imminent collapse if urgent action is not taken to address the dire situation.

Established in 1963, Hordzoga MA Basic School holds a significant place among the eighteen Hordzo communities and was one of the earliest basic schools in the region. Over the years, an additional six schools were established in neighboring communities.

Presently, the Hordzoga MA Basic School has a student population of approximately 151, with a dedicated team of fifteen teachers. Operating from the nursery level to Junior High School, the school has maintained a commendable academic and non-academic standing under the auspices of the Ghana Education Service.

However, the school is currently grappling with significant infrastructure challenges and a shortage of classroom materials, which are gradually eroding its foundation.

Headmaster Eric Fafa Tsahey voiced his distress regarding the school’s deteriorating state, emphasizing the potential danger it poses to the safety and well-being of both students and teachers.

“Our school, despite being one of the prominent basic schools in the municipality, has been facing numerous challenges. The infrastructure and learning materials are in a deplorable state,” lamented the headmaster.

Tsahey further highlighted the perilous condition of the school building, describing it as a potential death trap. He emphasized the absence of necessary classroom furniture, stating, “When we talk about desks, you’ll notice that five children are sharing a single desk.”

The headmaster went on to express deep concern over the teachers’ predicament, stating, “Even the teachers, who are responsible for imparting knowledge, do not have a single chair or table in any of the classrooms.”

The appalling state of affairs has resulted in a significant drop in student enrollment, which can be attributed, in part, to the discontinuation of the school feeding program since 2019 due to accumulated debts.

During a recent visit to the school, it became evident that the classroom block formerly used by the Junior High School students was in a deplorable condition. The roofs were tattered, with large portions missing, leaving the remaining parts, including doors and windows, weakened and dilapidated.

Consequently, the school was compelled to relocate Junior High School students to occupy primary classrooms, while the primary school had to make do with an unfinished classroom block intended for Kindergarten.

Observations made by teachers, the headmaster, and the community chief revealed that JHS One (Grade 7), consisting of 38 students, had to manage with only ten mono desks.

Similarly, JHS Two (Grade 8), with twenty-one students, struggled with six mono desks, while JHS Three (Grade 9), comprising nine students, made do with just five mono desks. Shockingly, none of these classrooms had a teacher’s desk or chair.

Despite various efforts to address the situation through relevant authorities, the headmaster expressed frustration, stating that their appeals to the Parent-Teacher Association and other stakeholders had yielded no results.

In light of these circumstances, the headmaster urgently appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES), the regional minister, the Member of Parliament, and the Municipal Chief Executive to intervene and provide much-needed assistance to save the school from its current plight.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh