The Ejisu M/A Model School in the Ashanti region is facing pressing challenges that adversely affect the quality of education and the well-being of its students.

Despite the school’s academic excellence, evidenced by its national quiz championship, the lack of adequate infrastructure is a major obstacle.

Headmaster of Ejisu M/A Model School, Kwesi Kwarteng has raised concerns about overcrowding, emphasizing the urgent need for more classrooms to accommodate the growing student population.

Beyond infrastructure, the rising cases of child sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy are of concern.

NGO, Juniper Tree, is actively working to protect young children from sexual abuse and its devastating consequences.

One of the key initiatives addressing child sexual abuse is the Tamar Project, an offshoot of Juniper Tree.

Through counseling sessions and educational programs, the project has discovered numerous cases of abuse that would have otherwise gone unreported.

Executive Director of Juniper Tree, Rev. Dr. Jocelyn Fugah, emphasized that child sexual abuse prevention is directly linked to reducing teenage pregnancies.

The Tamar Project has been instrumental in educating children on how to recognize abuse, protect themselves, and seek help. It operates through clubs in schools, where students are empowered to report cases of abuse.

In addition to its work on abuse prevention, Juniper Tree promotes reading competitions and counseling services in schools. Recently, thirty students from various schools in Ejisu Municipality were awarded certificates for their participation in the Essay reading competition, while school counselors were also recognized for their efforts.

Rev. Dr. Fugah further stressed the importance of government’s intervention, urging leaders to fulfill promises such as the provision of free sanitary pads for girls. She also called on parents to be more involved in their children’s lives.

Headmaster Kwesi Kwarteng also highlighted how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, providing students with valuable learning tools.

However, he cautioned against over-reliance on AI, urging students to avoid “verbatim learning” and instead focus on understanding and applying knowledge