Fresh details in the Mfantsipim School congestion saga indicate that the problem is not limited to the dormitories alone, students sit on plastic chairs in overcrowded classrooms too.

Many students of the elite school are forced to sleep on trunks and chop boxes in their congested dormitories. The school has admitted almost 1,100 students out of the quota of 600 that the school was given in the just ended admission process.  

Further checks indicate that the congestion situation is not isolated to the dormitories alone. Students sit on plastic chairs during lessons in the classrooms and are forced to write notes on their laps.

Joy News’ Central Regional correspondent, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko discovered conspicuous congestion in the school’s classrooms. Almost all classes are packed to the rafters and students have to do classwork without desks.

There is no space for movement, even by the teachers to aid in teaching and learning in these classes.

Some laboratory blocks are being converted into classrooms to enable the school deal with the huge numbers. However, the teachers feel this will affect the standards and performance that the school is famous for.

School authorities are not prepared to speak on the matter. Persistent calls on authorities to explain their position have yielded no results.  

Mixed feelings

In a related development, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko has received threats, via text and private phone lines, from old boys of the School who insist he is dragging the image of their school into disrepute and washing their dirty linen in public.

He has been told by these old boys to stay away from their beloved school.

It seems feelings over the development are mixed, however. Some old boys have decried the inaction of their compatriots, which in their opinions has led to the current situation.

Citing work done by old students of other schools to improve their alma maters, they complained that the situation is not so for Mfantsipim.