In the heart of Bawku West District in the Upper East Region, teachers and students of Kukuruzua Primary School (comprising KG 1, KG 2, P1, P2, and P3) face a daunting challenge – an unsafe and deteriorating learning environment.
The school building stands dilapidated, revealing visible signs of decay – bare iron rods, cracked walls, loosely hanging windows, and roofs in shambles. While the school boasts a sufficient number of teachers and some teaching materials, the lack of proper furniture and the deteriorating state of the building itself cast a shadow over any positive academic efforts.
The situation has reached a point where the safety of the children is at risk, forcing them to resort to studying under the sheltering embrace of trees. Although appeals to the Ghana Education Service and the Bawku West District Assembly to address the issue have been made, they seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Kukuruzua Primary School was established in 2004 as part of the HIPC project. However, the passage of time has eroded its foundation, and despite the building’s weakened state, renovation efforts have been non-existent. The farming community, nestled within the heart of Zebilla township, accommodates about 4000 residents but lacks the necessary infrastructure to support its educational institutions.
Deep cracks line the walls and pillars of the school building, leaving it perilously close to collapse. The vulnerability extends to both teachers and pupils, who face the imminent danger of structural failure. Madam Gladys Baba, the school’s headmistress, recounted their numerous appeals to various authorities, including the District Assembly, Ghana Education Service, and the local Member of Parliament, all of which have yielded no meaningful action. She issued a fervent plea for philanthropic support to rescue the school from its dire state.
Blessing Abare, a class three teacher, revealed the challenges of teaching in open air, where the absence of a marker board, duster, and pens has hampered the educational process. Apambilla Mercy, a class one teacher, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the conditions have hindered effective teaching and learning.
The case of Kukuruzua Primary School is just one among several infrastructure crises that have plagued the area. A total of 35 schools, the Zebilla town council, slaughterhouse, health centers, and other structures have suffered the same fate – severe damage between 2020 and 2023, without the necessary attention and repair.
As the students of Kukuruzua Primary School grapple with the challenges of their crumbling learning environment, urgent action is required to ensure their safety and foster a conducive atmosphere for their education.
