Dilapidated public school buildings: Our collective shame

Education infrastructure plays a pivotal role in enhancing quality teaching and learning in the school environment.

The school environment motivates and boosts the confidence of the learners for a better learning outcome.

In June 2024, the Ministry of Education announced that it would begin rehabilitating all old and dilapidated basic schools across the country to ensure that the schools are safe, attractive and conducive to effective teaching and learning. Most of these are in a deplorable state and indeed have become death traps, while the environments serve as a haven for miscreants, reptiles and other animals.

This has resulted in a learning environment that is, at best, conducive to mediocrity.

The lack of proper infrastructure, including classrooms, libraries and sanitation facilities, has led to a decline in academic performance and an increase in dropout rates.

In November 2024, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, could only inaugurate 80 out of the about 37,678 basic schools in the country.

With a significant portion of the country's basic schools in a state of disrepair, the government, civil society and private sector must come together to revamp the country's education infrastructure.

It is in this vein that the Daily Graphic endorses the initiative of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei South, Ernest Adomako, in collaboration with the Ga Mantse Foundation, to launch the Okaikwei South Public Schools Renovation and Upgrade project.

The initiative is a shining example of what can be achieved through collective effort. The Okaikwei South Public Schools Renovation and Upgrade project aims to transform the face of public school education in the constituency, and its impact will be felt by over 8,000 learners and 350 teachers.

The initiative also seeks to provide motivational packages for teachers, as well as introduce agriculture experimental activities such as gardening and livestock rearing to equip students with practical skills to appreciate agriculture.

The project's scope is impressive, covering painting and beautification of school buildings, fencing school compounds, lawn establishment and landscaping.

Additionally, old and broken furniture will be replaced, and well-equipped libraries and ICT centres will be provided. Motivational packages for teachers and agriculture experimental activities will also be introduced to equip students with practical skills.

This initiative sets the tone for other MPs to follow. With 276 MPs in the country, each receiving a Common Fund, it is reasonable to expect that a portion of these funds can be allocated to renovate basic schools in their respective constituencies.

If all MPs take up this challenge, significant progress can be made within their four-year mandate.

The Daily Graphic rightly emphasises that education is a collective responsibility, not just a government concern.

Community involvement, corporate social responsibility and philanthropic efforts are essential in addressing the poor state of school infrastructure.

When communities take ownership of their schools, they are more likely to ensure that the facilities are well-maintained and conducive to learning.

Our call to action is timely, especially considering the ongoing National Education Forum, which has identified infrastructure as one of its key pillars.

The final document presented to the government must provide practical solutions to address the challenges facing school infrastructure nationwide.

In conclusion, the facelift of school structures is indeed a collective responsibility.

It requires the efforts of the government, community, corporate bodies and individuals to create conducive learning environments.

By working together, we can ensure that our children have access to quality education, which is essential for the country's growth and development

It is in this direction that the Daily Graphic believes that there is a need for community, religious bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate bodies, influential individuals and philanthropic involvement in the facelift and renovation of basic schools in their jurisdictions.

We must create a brighter future for our children.