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I WILL TELL THE BIG SIX – FLAGSTAFF HOUSE BASIC SCHOOL IS AN INDICTMENT ON THE PRESIDENCY

Feature Article I WILL TELL THE BIG SIX – FLAGSTAFF HOUSE BASIC SCHOOL IS AN INDICTMENT ON THE PRESIDENCY
NOV 23, 2014 LISTEN

I WILL TELL THE BIG SIX – FLAGSTAFF HOUSE BASIC SCHOOL IS AN INDICTMENT ON THE PRESIDENCY.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela

For some time now on my way to work I use the 37 – Kanda road and each morning the same question keeps running through my mind each time I see the Flagstaff house basic school. ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT EDUCATION AS A COUNTRY?

There are several schools that hold classes under trees in Ghana even though we are in 2014 and we are supposed to be oil producing lower middle income country. One may be able to forgive that flaw if we argue that government has several responsibilities to meet at the same time. Also in the last decade or so several efforts are being made to remove the schools under trees and replace them with classroom blocks even though I think more can be done. It is absolutely unacceptable that kids should school under trees in the year 2014 in a country like Ghana.

MY BEEF
I am not writing to tell you about the phenomenon of school under trees, but rather about one specific school which is fortunate to have some classroom blocks. The flagstaff house basic school is the last building u see before getting to the flagstaff house which is the seat of government. This school is a government school which one would normally assume will be privileged because of its location and its name amongst the other government owned basic schools, but unfortunately that is not the case. First thing you notice about the school as you pass by is the nature of the roofs which makes it stand out amongst all the buildings in the vicinity with the exception of the police barracks which is also close by and which I will talk about in the next edition.

The roofing sheets look rusted and have turned brown as a result of corrosion. Just last week too, I don't know if the students were writing exams or the classrooms were just full, some students were sitting on desks on the corridors presumably as a result of lack of space. The school building itself looks old and does not live up to the name that it bears. Alternatively, for the last two weeks or more, there are painters and other workers busily trying to beautify the magnificent presidential edifice.

I am not against the government building such an edifice to house the president, neither am I against the government taking steps to maintain the building. My real problem is that, a school which is so close to the presidency should serve as a model school in the country and should be in such a condition that even private schools will aspire to attain an equal status. The government should show intent by elevating the school infrastructure wise and quality of teaching to send a signal to the rest of the country as to what the country's direction is when it comes to education.

Also, one would expect that even if the government decides to allow it have the same status as other schools in the country, at least renovation works on the school will be forthcoming since the school is situated right under the nose of the presidency where the movers and shakers of the country take decisions on our collective welfare.

There is a general problem of the total neglect of the several government basic schools in the country which needs to be addressed urgently if our government is serious about improving the quality of education in Ghana. One example is the police training school basic school at Tesano. This school has been there for ages and has served the entire community for several years but cannot be compared to any of the private schools in that neighborhood in terms of quality and infrastructure.

There are a countless number of government basic schools in the country just like the flagstaff basic school which require serious attention if we are to achieve the aspirations we have set for ourselves as a country.

Let me end by reechoing what Nelson Mandela said again, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. If we want change as a country, we cannot achieve it by treating education the same way as we have been doing over the years.

We must invest more and ensure that such investments are protected from those whose stock in trade is to “create, loot and share” in the words of Justice Dotse.

Until I write to you again, good bye for now.

YOUR GRANDSON.
ALBERT OPARE. [email protected]

ibelieveinghana.blogspot.com
The Author Albert Opare is a political science graduate from the University of Ghana and a social commentator as well as a social & political activist. He is also a freelance writer. You can contact the author by mail on [email protected] or txt on 0575125101. Comments and Criticisms are welcome.

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