The Afadzato South District Assembly in the Volta Region has launched a programme aimed at improving the furniture situation in basic schools in the area. 

The initiative is geared towards ensuring every pupil has a desk to sit in during their studies to enhance their concentration in class. 

This is one of the ways the District Chief Executive, Etornam Flolu seeks to improve education in his jurisdiction. 

The Educational Furniture Improvement Programme involves the distribution of furniture to teachers and pupils in the district. 

Over 30 schools would benefit from 2,500 pieces of dual desks in the first phase.

One thousand, five hundred pieces out of the 2,500 was funded by Coastal Development Authority under the GH₵1million per constituency policy. 

Mr. Flolu said the Assembly instituted the initiative with the sole objective of providing a solid foundation at the basic education level. 

“I just want to solve a problem and make sure that at least when kids have time to come to school, they will not worry about carrying desks from their homes or having to sit on stools or stones”, he said. 

He added that mono desks and teachers’ furniture would be made available in subsequent distributions in the coming months.

Mr. Flolu revealed that his administration has earmarked the construction of 20 classroom blocks before the end of 2024 to improve on educational infrastructure in the district, while existing blocks would be rehabilitated. 

The Afadzato South District Education Director, Dr. Esther Adzo-Adzimah Yeboah lauded the initiative by the Assembly. She was hopeful that the plight of lack of furniture in the schools would be lessened. 

She, however, lamented the challenge of teachers refusing to accept posting to the district, and others requesting transfers a few months after reporting. This she said is due to the rural status of the district. 

She, therefore, suggested the introduction of a policy to ensure teachers posted to the district stay for at least five years before requesting transfers. 

Dr. Yeboah believes this would help improve the teaching force in the district and the academic performance of pupils. 

“We still need more teachers who the government can bond, at least to stay with us for five years before leaving and that will help us keep teachers in the classroom. 

We are also appealing to the government to get more incentives for those teaching in rural areas to keep them at post”, she said.