Basic Education in Sing Plaqued by Deteriorating Infrastructure and Limited Furniture

Sing is a prominent community in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, known for its rich cultural history.

However, the community faces numerous challenges that have left residents uncomfortable due to widespread deprivation and underdevelopment.

A recent visit by a reporter from Info Radio to the Sing MA Primary School revealed significant structural defects. The school block has developed visible cracks and leaking roofs, which will make teaching and learning difficult during the rainy season.

Additionally, the aprons constructed around the school have been eroded, and the classroom walls are gradually deteriorating.

In an interview, the Chief of Sing, Naa Issahaku Mahama, expressed deep concern over the worsening condition of the school block and the Wa Metropolitan Assembly’s failure to renovate it before the situation worsens.

“The school block is rapidly deteriorating. Due to erosion around the building, gullies have formed so deep that learners find it difficult to climb the verandas to access their classrooms,” he said.

Naa Issahaku Mahama also raised concerns about the suspension of the National School Feeding Program at the school.

"Since the beginning of this term, learners have not been provided with hot meals. This has led to increased absenteeism, and those who do attend often leave classes in search of wild fruits,” he explained.

The problems in the Sing MA primary school are further heightened by the limited number of furniture available for the learners. Learners during contact hours often have to lie prostrate in order to write.

According to a teacher who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the learners keep fighting over places to sit, even to the extent that some absent themselves from school because they don’t want to sit on the floor.

The chief emphasised that education is a key driver of progress in any society. He urged the government to create an enabling environment for both teachers and learners. Furthermore, he called on the Wa Metropolitan Assembly, NGOs, and individuals to come forward and assist in addressing the many challenges facing the Sing community.