Welcome to Avukope Basic School in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The school, currently has an enrollment of 125 students. This number is made up of students from KG 1 to Basic 4. The school, for the past 6 years has only one teacher, teaching the students.
Very soon, the Ghana Education Service would be posting teachers to various schools across the country. I know deep down my heart, that teachers would be sent to this very school to teach. However, barely a year down the lane, the story won’t change from what it is today.
This, is not the only school in the District facing similar challenge. The last time I visited Kwakudade in the same District, the story wasn’t different. Out of passion for the job and love for kids, I spent two weeks on the island, assisting the only teacher there to impact some basic knowledge. I wished I could do more but…
Manchare is another community facing similar challenge. With very nice infrastructure, the last time I checked, the only teacher in the school had gone on study leave. By now, the school should be heading towards closing down (if that hasn’t happened yet).
These are issues that need proactive leadership initiatives, to prevent them from escalating to something beyond resolve. The disturbing part remains that, whoever that has been charged to help address these challenges, is aware of the challenges. I just can’t tell what s/he has been doing about them all this while.
It is time, among other things, we put measures in place to help secure and maintain teachers in the District. To do this, I suggest leadership and management should;
1. Provide teaching and learning resources for the schools in the District
2. Provide infrastructure for the schools in the District(especially on the Islands)
3. Secure accomodations for teachers posted to hard-to-reach areas (especially on the Islands)
4. Provide motivation for teachers (through Annual Teacher Awards Scheme)
5. Support indigenes who have interest in becoming teachers gain admission into CoE
6. Provide financial assistance (at least 30% fees) for indigenes who are in the CoE (to come back and serve a minimum of 3 years in the District)
7. Provide Professional Development Opportunities for teachers in the District
The above might not be all that could be done to help solve the problems. However, I believe these among others could help reduce the effect the continuous teacher deficit in the District is having on education in the area.
NB: Let us ensure we use the Educational Funds available (through the Government) to support Education in the District. We can do it. Let’s just make the people our priority.
Thank you
Source :
APS