GES Must Tackle Congestion In Dormitories At Aggrey Memorial School

Students of Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion School have raised concerns about the congestion in dormitories and called for urgent infrastructural support. At the school’s 85th anniversary last Saturday, the students called for more infrastructure, particularly dormitories, to ease the congestion.

Reiterating the call, the Girls’ Prefect of the school, Maame Doku Blay, lamented the severe congestion in the boarding facilities, noting that some students had resorted to sleeping in corridors, which posed security challenges.

She said the congestion also left the students prone to communicable diseases. She thus urged authorities to prioritise the construction of additional dormitory blocks and the provision of more boreholes and water storage tanks to address frequent water shortages.

The Headmistress of the school, Dorothy Adentwi-Hayford, also called for urgent infrastructural support to address challenges affecting academic and student life at the institution. She indicated that despite the school’s reputation for academic excellence, it faced critical infrastructural needs for the ever-growing student population, which is almost at 5,000.

She expressed concern over the severe congestion in classrooms and dormitories, emphasising that “the school required a 28-unit classroom block to create a more conducive learning environment. “She also underscored the need for additional staff accommodation, pointing out that “a lack of on-campus housing had made it difficult for teachers to effectively supervise students and maintain discipline.”

Education is often heralded as the key to national development, yet the persistent issue of severe congestion in dormitories and classrooms underscores a pressing need for urgent infrastructural intervention. Without swift and decisive action, the quality of education at this esteemed institution will be severely compromised, undermining the potential of thousands of students striving for a brighter future.

The concerns raised by the students paint a distressing picture of the living conditions in the school. When students are forced to sleep in corridors due to overcrowding, their security and overall well-being are put at significant risk.

Such conditions not only expose them to potential harm but also increase their vulnerability to communicable diseases due to inadequate ventilation and unsanitary living spaces. It is unacceptable that in a country that prioritises education as a vehicle for national growth, students should endure such conditions simply to gain an education.

With an ever-growing student population approaching 5,000 the school is struggling to provide even the most basic facilities required for effective teaching and learning. The need for additional dormitory blocks is paramount, as is the provision of boreholes and water storage tanks to mitigate the frequent water shortages that compound the daily struggles of students.

Beyond dormitory congestion, the lack of adequate classroom space presents another significant barrier to quality education. The Headmistress’s call for a 28-unit classroom block is not just a request but a necessity.

Overcrowded classrooms hinder effective teaching, making it difficult for students to focus and for teachers to provide individualised attention. In an era where digital learning and modern educational approaches require conducive learning environments, crammed classrooms with insufficient resources are a disservice to the nation’s future leaders.

The situation at Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion School is a serious issue that plagues many schools across the country. The government, old students, corporate organisations and philanthropists must rise to the occasion and provide the necessary support to alleviate these challenges.

It is imperative that the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and other relevant stakeholders prioritise the infrastructural needs of Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion School. The construction of additional dormitories and classroom blocks, along with improved water supply systems and staff housing must be treated as an urgent national priority.

Furthermore, public-private partnerships should be explored to mobilize resources and ensure sustainable development of educational institutions nationwide.

The plight of the students at Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion School should serve as a wake-up call. The future of our education system depends on the commitment to addressing these pressing infrastructural gaps.

It is time to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to create a conducive learning and living environment for students and teachers alike. Only then can the country truly boast of an education system that nurtures and empowers its young minds for national progress.

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