At Esiama Senior High Technical School in Ghana’s Western Region, female students are carrying mattresses into classrooms and the school’s only assembly hall because there is not enough space in the dormitory.
The girls sleep in the makeshift quarters overnight, then remove their bedding each morning so the rooms can be used for lessons and other school activities.
The school has 641 female students but accommodation for only 240 in its existing dormitory. A shortage of classroom furniture is adding to the pressure, with fewer than 700 pieces available for the school’s 1,642 students.
Headteacher Francis Emmisah said students often struggled to find seats not only in classrooms, but also in the dining hall and during evening preparations.
“The major challenge has been furniture and dormitory space for our female students. As I speak, the total furniture in the school is less than 700, accommodating 1,642 students. We have 641 girls, but the dormitory can accommodate only 240,” Mr Emmisah said.
The school’s expanding population has also placed strain on its communal facilities. Its only assembly hall is too small to hold all the students, leaving some to sit or shelter under trees during gatherings. The school’s only bus is also out of service.
Despite the lack of facilities, Esiama Technical Senior High School achieved a 73.4 per cent pass rate in the previous year’s examinations, according to Mr Emmisah.
Some support has now been provided by Adamus Resources. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Angela Atteh, donated 400 mono desks to Esiama Technical Senior High School and Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School, together with other educational supplies.
The donation is part of Adamus Resources’ education development programme under its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ms Atteh said it was intended to improve conditions for students from Esiama and neighbouring communities.
“In furtherance of our education development programme under our corporate social responsibility, Adamus Resources is donating 400 mono desks to these two schools and other school supplies,” she said.
“This donation is dedicated to improving the learning environment for students from Esiama and all surrounding communities who depend on these schools. We want our children to learn in dignity and in comfort.”
At Esiama Technical Senior High School, the company has also supplied 200 tables and chairs, renovated a 20-seater toilet facility and begun work on the girls’ dormitory.
Ms Atteh also said construction of a new dormitory block would start before the end of the year. The project is expected to help reduce the shortage of accommodation.
The assistance provides immediate support for a school attempting to maintain its academic performance while dealing with serious infrastructure gaps. However, the shortages remain a challenge as the student population grows, with continued investment needed to provide adequate dormitories, furniture and communal facilities.
