It was all joy when the former president, John Mahama cut sod for the construction of community day senior high schools between 2014 and 2016 to expand access to education in deprived communities.
But almost a decade on, some of the beneficiary communities are yet to enjoy the benefit of the school project due to non-completion of the facilities.
TV3’s Ibrahim Abubakar reports in the Ashanti region, at least five E-blocks are yet to be completed and put to use.
Concept of E-blocks
In 2014, the Mahama administration signed a contract which sought to bring senior high education to the doorstep of some deprived communities under the Community Day School Project.
200 of such schools, referred to as E-blocks, were planned to be constructed.
But years later, that initiative, together with the hopes of some of the beneficiary communities to see better days in education, has been stalled because there was a change in government in 2016.
Whilst some of the school project were completed and put to use, many others have been left in the bush.
Fumso Community Day SHS
Not long ago, work resumed on the E-block project at Fumso in the Adansi-Asokwa district after it halted in 2017.
For many parents, the school project holds prospect of a better future for their children when completed.
Although the project has suffered undue delays, residents are anxiously waiting for the operationalization of the Fumso community day senior high school.
“Former president Mahama promised to give us a day senior high. He started the project but couldn’t complete before leaving office. Since then, the project has been abandoned. Government should try and complete for the Fumso community to develop”, a concerned resident, Kwame Kwakye appealed.
A parent, Amponsah Boahen added that “the population in this area is huge and when this school begins to function, the community will develop. It will also come as a relief to us as parents since our children will not go far to further their senior high education. This means transportation cost will be cut”.
Kwabenakwa Community Day SHS
The story is the same at Kwabenakwa in the Obuasi East district.
The project has been left uncompleted for almost eight years.
Isaac Owusu was one of the students hoping to enroll to avoid attending senior high school far away from home.
“I thought we will be the first batch to enrol in the E-block but unfortunately it wasn’t completed when we were about entering senior high. If this building was ready at the time, I wouldn’t have gone all the way to Bekwai for senior high education”, he said.
Some concerned residents called for the immediate completion of the project.
“I get sad anytime I pass by this building. How can we just allow tax payers money to go waste like this? Government should so everything possible to complete this project”, Emmanuel Owusu noted.
For Esi Benewaa, it is painful watching the building to rot away while the entire Obuasi East district has only one public senior high school”
At Ejura, the E-block project which started in 2016 has been left at the foundation level.
The Adobewura community school project has however been in use since 2016.
But there are fears of a possible shut down of the facility following continuous decline in enrolment.
School authorities’ lament, the absence of a hostel facility and accommodation for teaching staff coupled with the poor road network is discouraging for students and teachers.
“500 of us were posted to this school but only 97 reported. Many others who did not return complained about the location and lack of accommodation”, senior boys prefect of the school, Douglas Doku Marfo hinted.
Most of the ceilings in the classrooms are falling off; posing a threat to the lives of students and teachers.
School authorities are certain that, adding a boarding facility and providing accommodation for teachers will help increase enrolment and save the school from collapsing.
Beneficiary communities are hoping to see the effective operationalization of these projects as it will not only expand access to quality education but open up the area.
