Today can report that pupils of Bukarikope Primary and Junior High School (JHS), located in Bukarikope, a farming community in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, study under very dangerous and harsh weather conditions.
The situation, according to the residents and teachers in the area, who spoke to Today on condition of anonymity, pose grave danger to the lives of the pupils.
More than 300 Class One to Six pupils in the school, Today observed, face imminent danger as they learn under palm trees and thatch shade structures which are on the verge of collapsing.
The North Tongu District Assembly and Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Today was told, were yet to fulfill their promise to refurbish the so-called classrooms for the school which was established some 50 years ago.
What makes the situation more frightening is the fact that the children were exposed to all kinds of reptiles.
“We are living in fear because our numerous complaints to school authorities concerning the deteriorating condition of our make-shift structures which serve as classrooms have not received any positive response.
“…but we fear that one day they will collapse on us,” the distraught pupils and teachers told Today in an interview.
According to the pupils, the school which was built 50 years ago has not seen any rehabilitation works.
Our recent visit to the school revealed that the school could wreak havoc on the pupils if immediate steps are not taken to address their legitimate concerns.
Today also observed that the state of the makeshift structures, which serve as classrooms, was fast deteriorating as a result of the lack of maintenance.
In some instances, Today noted that there have been a partial attempt to roof them, albeit poorly done.