Residents of Varempare, a community in the Wa West District, have expressed their concern about the current condition of their school.
The Varempare D/A Basic School was built in 2003 is currently serving over four hundred learners from Kindergarten One (K.G 1) to Primary six (P.6). Three classrooms serve the entire population of the school.
According to residents, the windows and doors have fallen off, and the roof leaks anytime it rains. Children are forced to sit on the bare floor to study amidst dust, which is not only uncomfortable but also poses a health hazard.
The residents described the school structure as a threat to the lives of the children. Most of the classes are held under trees and structures made with guinea corn straws.
This situation has made learning difficult for the students, as they have to deal with distractions from the environment.
Ghana is a signatory to the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aims at ending poverty and other deprivations, and ensuring that no one is left behind by 2030.
Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to provide an inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as promote lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. Target 4.1 specifies that by 2030, it is important to ensure that all boys and girls receive free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education, leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
In just six years, it will be the year 2030. Unfortunately, if nothing is done about the current deplorable state of the school in Varempare, the children who attend may be left behind.
The students are currently learning in classrooms with leaking roofs and structures made of guinea corn straws.
Bayew Adams, the Parents’ Association Chairman for the Varempare D/A Basic School, Bayew Adams believes that every child deserves a safe and conducive learning environment. He mentioned that the current state of the school is unacceptable.
"We have many children attending this school, but unfortunately, there are no proper classrooms in the school building. To be honest, the building is not suitable for its intended purpose. Currently, we only have three classrooms, and the rest of the classes are being held under temporary structures made of guinea corn straws that we have erected ourselves," he explained.
Mr. Adams mentioned that due to the deplorable state of the school building, children in the community lack motivation to attend school.
Alimata Issahaku, a resident, expressed her concern, stating that if a parent does not have enough soap, they do not allow their children to attend school. The children sit on the bare floor, which results in them dirtying their uniforms every day. Parents have to wash their children's school uniforms every day.
The Wa West District Chief Executive (DCE), Vida Diorotey, responded to the concerns raised by the community, advising the residents to exercise patience with the Assembly. She revealed that the Varempare School has been included in the Medium-Term Development Plan of the district assembly.
Madam Vida explained that the Assembly faces resource constraints, but assured the residents that the challenges faced by the school will be addressed as soon as sufficient resources become available.