By Gideon Peprah, GNA
Korko (Ash),
Aug. 14, GNA – The Korko Community in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti
Region, is appealing for urgent support from the government, local government
actors and other philanthropists, to aid the completion of a junior high school
building project.
Initiated by
the community through self-help, work on the JHS block which is at the roofing
stage is stalled due to lack of funds.
Nana Yaw Gyasi
Simpirimo, the Chief of Korko, speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said the
completion of the JHS project, would end the drudgery primary school graduates
go through – making a daily round trip of six and four miles to nearby Hiakose
and Ahwerewa respectively, to access junior high school education.
Also
compounding the challenge is the poor nature of the roads –a situation which
has led to commercial drivers to either refuse to ply them or over charge,
using that as a condition to convey the passengers.
Some JHS pupils
who have endured this situation narrated their unpleasant experiences to the
GNA in the local language, said they were compelled to trek the whole distance
since their parents could not afford the lorry fares.
According to
them, commuting to these communities had exposed them to the vagaries of the
weather, affecting their academic performance, leading to some of them dropping
out of school.
In the rainy
season, they said, they were forced to trek the muddy roads and arrived very
late when classes were already in session. According to them they were forced
to sit in class with their wet clothes feeling very cold and as a result unable
to concentrate.
The scenario is
not better during the dry season too, as after walking the dusty roads, some of
them slept in class, whiles others with minor respiratory health challenges
sneeze and cough whiles classes was in session, affecting their ability to pay
attention.
The way back to their homes was another
challenge.
“The situation
is affecting our academic performance and we are adding our voices to the ‘SOS’
appeal,” one of the students speaking on condition of anonymity said.
This was
indicated strongly in their inability as JHS students to communicate in the
English language.
Nana Simprimo
who was enstooled barely four months ago with the help of community members
mobilized resources to fix the challenge, but lack of resources, has stagnated
the efforts.
He said the
community was only asking for roofing materials and was prepared to offer
self-labour in order to complete the project before the beginning of next
academic year, starting this September, to enable the children to use the
block.
GNA
