Friday, September 12, 2008

Wee peddlers, thieves invade school lands

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12-09-08

CHECKS by the Daily Graphic at the Accra Metropolitan Directorate of Education have revealed widespread encroachment on school lands and invasion of school buildings by drug peddlers and thieves in the Accra metropolis.
The situation does not only disrupt academic activities, but is also a threat to lives and school property and undermines effective teaching and learning.
Apart from the encroachment on the school lands, which has affected expansion, classrooms are used as brothels while the suspected drug peddlers smoke Indian hemp on school compounds during school hours. Refuse is also dumped near schools and mechanics make noise while passers-by use the school compounds as a thoroughfare.
At the Alajo Cluster of schools in the Ayawaso Sub-Metro for instance, the front of the school gate has become a refuse dump while a community toilet has been sited near the school.
Some members of the community also cook on the school compound at weekends.
The veranda of the Manhean Junior High School (JHS) at Osu Manhean has become a sleeping place for some people during school hours.
Kiosks have also sprung up around the school compound with the owners claiming to have permits from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Documents cited by the Daily Graphic indicated that the affected schools included the Kaneshie 1, 2 and 3 primaries and JHSs, Awudome 1 and 3 JHSs, the Avenor Primary, Kaneshie Kingsway schools, Shiayennoh 1, 2 and 3, Pig Farm Primary and JHS, Kotobabi 3 and 4, Kwashieman Cluster, Dansoman 2, A and B, Abossey Okai 1 and 2 and Kaneshie West 1 and 2.
School authorities and the Accra Metro Directorate of Education have expressed concern over the situation, which is virtually out of hands, adding that the current situation was having an adverse effect on effective teaching and learning.
For the directorate, it was the duty of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to protect the schools and their lands. Officials of the directorate said it was sad that people complained of the poor performance of students at the basic level, yet did little to ensure that students had the right environment for teaching and learning.
“Unfortunately there is no community support for the affected schools. When the students don’t do well they blame the education sector forgetting that a lot of factors went into producing good results,” an official who wanted to remain anonymous said.
School authorities said the records of students in the affected schools were always tampered with, adding that locks to cupboards and offices were always broken whenever they were changed.

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