Ahanta School Grapples With Poor Lavatory

The deplorable toilet facility

 

Information DAILY GUIDE has gathered indicates the absence of a modern place of convenience at Agona M/A Junior High School (JHS), also known as Agona School “A”, in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, which is disrupting teaching and learning.

The paper gathered that the only toilet facility at the school, constructed in 2002, is now in a deplorable state and has therefore been abandoned by the students due to its poor condition.

It was gathered that some of the school children are compelled to leave school during instructional hours to return home simply to attend to nature’s call, due to the lack of toilet facilities.

The situation is particularly distressing for female students, who face serious hygiene challenges, especially during their menstrual periods.

Some of the female students asserted that during their menstrual period, the absence of a hygienic space makes some of them stay away from school entirely, which affects their academic progress.

“Some of us go home to ease ourselves because the toilet here is in a bad state. When we are menstruating, it becomes very uncomfortable because we don’t have a place to change,” they disclosed.

They indicated that those who go home and live far away often do not return to school, and end up missing lessons.

The male students, on the other hand, are sometimes compelled to use nearby bushes, exposing them to dangers such as snake bites.

A visit to the school revealed that in addition to the poor place of convenience, the school is also grappling with inadequate access to clean water.

It was gathered that despite the school’s commendable performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), it lacked essential amenities.

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman of the basic school, Anthony Eshun, noted that efforts have been initiated at the PTA level to provide the school with an ultra-modern toilet facility, but the cost of the project is beyond their financial capacity.

“The amount involved is huge. We are therefore appealing to the government and other stakeholders for support,” he pointed out.

The Headmaster of the school, Lawrence Tawiah, was hopeful that a modern toilet facility with a reliable water supply would significantly improve the learning environment.

He also appealed to benevolent individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the school by constructing an ultra-modern toilet facility, to help ensure effective teaching and learning.

The Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive, Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo, noted that the Assembly is utilising some of its Common Fund to renovate selected schools across the municipality, and said Agona M/A Junior High School has been captured for attention.

 

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

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