Primary school enrolment in some rural areas in the country are far below expectation despite various policy directives and interventions by successive governments over the years.
Enrolment continues to decrease in such communities due to poor or lack of infrastructure.
Although government has tried over the years to ensure that all children of school going age are enrolled in school, that is being thwarted by various factors including poor infrastructure in primary schools.
Lack of infrastructure such as tables, chairs, books and poor living conditions of parents hamper education in such a locality as Akateng D/A Primary school in the Upper Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Pupils are forced to sit on the plastered floor which also serves as their table and exercise book. Pupils, aside writing on the floor, have no textbooks for references. This is affecting education in the community as pupils are assessed by what they write on the floor which is also marked by the teacher on the floor.
The pupils and the school authorities are appealing to government and the general public for support.
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah