Civil Engineer Abdulai Mahama has opined that the community day schools project known as the E-block which was started by the erstwhile NDC administration would have been more beneficial if the number of schools was reduced from two hundred to about fifty or twenty-five while the number of boarding schools are increased.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he explained that the siting of some of these schools at “dead ends”; without any community surrounding these schools, has affected the utilization of the schools and its facilities.
“The two hundred (200) schools which were supposed to be constructed, per our population growth, in my estimation, I felt that the two hundred (200) could have been reduced to twenty-five (25) or fifty (50) and the other one hundred and fifty (150) could have been used for the boarding facilities.
Even as at now, if there are no boarding facilities added to the structure there, that aim of the E-block is aimless”.
Noting one of such examples, he stated that the E-block facility located at the Aneum-Apapam is not very well utilized because of its location and the absence of communities around the school. In contrast, he stated that the Kwabenya E-block is around communities and that makes it easier for students and teachers.
Stressing his point, he stated, “My point is that those schools which have been scattered and have not been overused or utilized properly would been better if we had fewer schools with the rest being facilities for housing the students and lecturers alike”.
Former President Mahama in the NDC Manifesto for Election 2012 promised to build 200 of the day schools between 2013 and 2016 with the intention to build at least 50 each year within the four year period.
But with a few months to Election 2016, the NDC admitted it was not going to be able to achieve that feat. President Mahama, however, inaugurated a few of them for use with the announcement that 75 were ready for use.
However, some of these buildings have been abandoned with some of the buildings engulfed by weeds.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah