Enrolment significantly increases following renovation works on Saamang R/C school

The Saamang local Roman Catholic Basic School in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern region of Ghana this year enrolled 85 new pupils, pushing its total enrolment figure from 150 to 235 and making it the second largest primary school in the area.

This significant increase of 56.6% of student population follows the completion of renovation works on the school last year.

Pupils and teachers of the kindergarten and the primary sections could not hide their joy when they were ushered into their newly renovated classroom block at the beginning of the academic year.

The headmaster of the school, Mr. Samuel Abrokwa, said in an interview that the facelift given to the school has undoubtedly impacted positively on the academic fortunes of the school and commended the Fanteakwa South District Assembly and ACA for coming to their aid.

“We are so happy to be learning under such a conducive environment and this would undoubtedly enhance teaching and learning in the school”, one of the pupils said after her first day in the renovated building.

Renovation works on the school were carried out last year under the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), a partnership between the district assembly and Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-governmental organization, which helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractive projects to take control of their futures.

Following the completion of the project, the school is now providing convenient teaching and learning environment for the kindergarten and the primary sections of the school and ultimately contribute to the overall improvement in educational standards in the district.

/By the end of this academic year, the dropout rate is to decline by 5%. It is also anticipated that the completion of this project will, in the long-term, reduce the cost of education for pupils in Saamang by 15%.

In an interview, the Assembly member for the Saamang Electoral Area, Desmond Ofori Abrokwa, said the state of the school block prior to the start of the renovation works was deplorable and adversely affected enrolment as well as effective teaching and learning.

“As I speak to you, our kids have a conducive environment to go about their studies. Also, teachers are happy to give their best. The looks on their faces tell it all”, he said.