The only public elementary school in Kamara-Ta, Sanoyea District #7, Bong County, is in a deplorable condition, as students sit on the ground to write. Speaking in an interview with a team of reporters recently in Kamara-Ta, following a tour in the district, the Youth President of the Town, Aloysious Joe, revealed that the school is experiencing serious shortages of armchairs, as the kindergarten division uses mats to sit on.
The school, which is located in a remote area of Bong County, has no proper desks or chairs for the students. The classrooms are overcrowded and lack basic teaching materials such as textbooks, notebooks and pencils.
Mr. Joe said the lack of resources has been a major hindrance to the students’ learning and they are often distracted by the uncomfortable seating arrangements and the lack of basic materials. The situation has also led to a decrease in enrollment, as many parents are reluctant to send their children to a school with such poor conditions.
One parent, who has two children attending the school, expressed her concerns about the lack of basic facilities and how it affects her children’s education.
In addition to the lack of resources, the school also faces challenges with staffing. There are only two teachers for over 100 students, leading to large class sizes and limited individual attention for students.
However, elders of the area are calling on the Ministry of Education to intervene and address the issues facing the school. They have also urged non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to assist in improving the school’s condition.
The kids and youths in the town are in dire need of quality education; as such, MOE should urgently intervene in the lack of chairs and create a conducive atmosphere for learning.
They also added that the lack of qualified teachers is another impediment for students of the school, adding that some of the students walk over 45 minutes to get to the school, but sometimes there is no teacher because most of the teachers are not on government payroll.
Joe disclosed that the employment of teachers is essential to the growth and development of the school and underscored the importance of a well-working facility that will help to curtail some of the difficulties students are going through on campus. By: Edwin D. Khakie edwinkhakie0@gmail.com
