"Be fair to us" - that’s the desperate plea of pupils and teachers in northern Ghana, urging the government to address the dire conditions of their schools. They come with hope, eager to learn - but the walls around them are falling apart, just like the education system meant to shape their future. 

Across the five regions of northern Ghana, basic education is in crisis. Schools are struggling with a severe shortage of teachers, leaving some institutions with just two teachers responsible for educating pupils from kindergarten to basic six. In many cases, this means a single teacher handling multiple classes at once, making quality education nearly impossible. 

For many pupils, school is not just a place for learning but also a daily battle for survival. Classrooms are in deplorable conditions - crumbling walls, leaking roofs, and floors filled with dust and debris. Some pupils sit on broken desks, while others have no choice but to use cement blocks as makeshift seats or sit on the bare ground to take lessons. 

The situation worsens when it rains. Lessons come to a halt as water pours through gaping holes in roofs, soaking books and sending pupils scrambling for shelter. These classrooms, instead of being safe havens for learning, have become hazards that put the lives of children at risk. 

The absence of the school feeding programme in many of these schools has made the situation even more unbearable. For some pupils, school meals are their only source of proper nutrition. Without them, many go through the day on empty stomachs, struggling to concentrate. The lack of food has forced some children to abandon school altogether, as their families prioritize sending them to work for daily survival. 

JoyNews’ latest education series, 'Crumbling Start', produced by Emmanuel Dzivenu, brings to light the harsh realities of basic education in northern Ghana. It tells the stories of children forced to learn under inhumane conditions and teachers who, despite overwhelming challenges, continue to show up for their pupils with little to no support. 

The series is produced in partnership with School for Life, implementers of the Citizens-led Actions for Educational Accountability and Responsiveness Project (CLEAR), together with GDCA and YEfL-Ghana. It is funded by the Global Partnership for Education through  Education Out Loud. 

'Crumbling Start' premieres on Tuesday, 18th February 2025, on JoyNews and Joy FM. Don’t miss this eye-opening exposé on the state of basic education in northern Ghana.