In the small farming community of Obaakrowa, located in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, education is becoming increasingly difficult for the local youth.
With a lack of adequate classroom infrastructure, students at Obaakrowa D/A Basic School find themselves studying under the open sky, relying on tree shade for some respite from harsh weather conditions.
The situation is dire as the rainy season approaches, raising fears that their fragile learning environment will become even less stable.
Though the school appears to have classroom structures at first glance, closer inspection reveals roofs in poor condition. As a result, students from the first to third year of Junior High School (JHS) are forced to conduct their studies in the open air, exposing them to the elements.
With desks placed in dusty surroundings, students lean whiteboards against tree trunks, striving to focus on their lessons despite the challenges.
One student shared the difficulty of concentrating, saying, “When the sun shines and you are writing, it becomes really hard. Sometimes you have to push your desk to find a better spot.”
As the rains begin, the children’s educational endeavors are at risk of being washed away.
Classes halt during inclement weather, and when the sun blares, students struggle to concentrate. Adding to their plight, the prolonged exposure to harsh elements increases the risk of health issues like malaria, colds, fungal infections, and skin rashes.
Local Assembly Member Gilbert Kwame Afekpe has expressed deep concern about the situation, particularly regarding the final-year students who are preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Their future hinges on these exams, and currently, they are forced to study outdoors without the necessary protection or resources.
In response to this pressing issue, Afekpe is calling on the government and relevant authorities to intervene and provide support by constructing additional classroom blocks for both the primary and JHS departments.
“I am pleading with the government to consider our plight and assist us in addressing this critical need,” he stated.
