Articles

A picure of the three unit classroom at Nakpanduri D/A JHS that was ripped off.

Photo by Y. Samuel

THE ROOF D/A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM BLOCK RIPPED OFF
Nakpanduri D/A Junior high school had the roof of one of its classroom blocks severely ripped off by a rainstorm on 1st May, 2021. The roof of the three unit classroom comprises store rooms in each of the classrooms and a head teacher’s office.
Following this catastrophic phenomenon, the head teacher was compelled to merge pupils in this block with the other pupils in the only remaining three unit classroom block. This has led to overcrowding in the limited available spaces in the classrooms leaving the students highly susceptible to covid-19 infection.
Aside putting pupils at risks of contracting covid-19, effective teaching and learning has been inversely affected. Apart from the difficulties associated with overcrowding, the learning of practical lessons in ICT has stalled as the situation has necessitated the school authorities to convert the only computer laboratory of the school into a classroom. Administrative works have also slowed down. The ripped off block housed the office of the head teacher where the administration of the school is run. It is that challenging that there is barely nowhere to keep very confidential documents of the school and its records.
Fazed with these daunting challenges, after the incident, the head teacher filed an official complaint to the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District Education Directorate and the Assembly which attracted a visit to the school by some top officials of the district assembly. The District Coordinating Director, the District Engineer and the District Carpenter were the officers who came to assess the extend of damage and what sort possible interventions to bring to assuage the situation in the school.
Five months down, nothing has yet been done and heard of duty bearers regarding any interventions. In view of this, I call on authorities of the district to expedite action to make sure the classroom get roofed in order for effective teaching and learning to resume in the school.
Nakpanduri D/A Junior high school, previously, (L/A JHS) is one of the oldest schools that has produced a lot of human resources within and outside the district. It will therefore not be out of place if I use this medium to appeal to those in position of influence, power and resources to assist in providing the school a roof because their juniors (pupils in the school) who are leaders years to come are badly affected by the situation.

Written by: Kombat Chris
Contact: chris1232k@gmail.com