Residents of Dabillipuo demand suitable classroom block as school resumes

Challenges Faced by Dabillipuo Community in Providing Quality Education

The residents of the Dabillipuo community in the Wa East District have raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of their local school's infrastructure, highlighting that it is unsuitable for children’s education in the 21st century. They describe the current state of the building as a “death-trap” due to its vulnerability to collapse, especially during the rainy season.

Mr. Andrews Dari Dagil, the Chairperson of the Dabillipuo School Management Committee (SMC), shared these concerns with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during an interview at the community. He emphasized that the risks posed by the structure endanger the lives of students and teachers, despite the community's strong commitment to education.

The Dabillipuo Basic School was initially established as a community initiative in 2007, using grass tents as classrooms and relying on Senior High School graduates as teachers. The community supported these volunteer teachers financially, aiming to bring early childhood education closer to the children. In 2011, the government took over and assigned regular teachers to the school.

To improve the learning environment, the community constructed a mud structure that served as classrooms. This effort attracted students from nearby communities who would otherwise not have access to education due to the long distance to the nearest school at Kpaglahi. Currently, the school serves over 200 learners from Kindergarten to Basic five, but it only has five teachers and lacks appropriate classroom facilities.

During a recent visit to the school, the GNA observed several issues, including tattered roofs, hanging roofing boards, stagnant water in some classrooms, and visibly cracked and fallen walls. These conditions make the school unsafe, forcing it to close whenever it rains or threatens to rain.

Mr. Dagil expressed frustration with the ongoing challenges, stating that the community is exhausted from contributing to maintain the building. He appealed to the government and the broader community for assistance, emphasizing the need for a proper classroom block to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.

The SMC Chairperson also noted that some parents and guardians are withdrawing their children from the school due to the unsafe conditions and the financial burden of maintaining the structure. He mentioned that children whose parents can afford bicycles are attending school in Kpaglahi, while others are currently out of school.

Despite repeated assurances from the Wa East District Assembly over the years regarding the construction of a classroom block, these promises have yet to be fulfilled. This lack of action highlights the urgent need for intervention to address the educational disparities faced by the Dabillipuo community.

As Ghana strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030, the importance of providing a suitable classroom block for the Dabillipuo community cannot be overstated. A safe and conducive learning environment would encourage higher school enrollment and retention, supporting the target of ensuring that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and preprimary education by 2030.

The situation in Dabillipuo underscores the broader challenges many communities face in accessing quality education. It calls for immediate action from both local authorities and the wider community to support the development of adequate infrastructure and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive environment.