Tamale Assembly distributes 1,450 mono desks to address school furniture deficit

The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Hon. Abu Takoro, has handed over 1,450 mono desks to Junior High Schools across the Tamale Metropolis as part of efforts to address the persistent shortage of furniture in schools and improve teaching and learning conditions.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Hon. Abu Takoro said the initiative forms part of a broader intervention by the Assembly to improve educational infrastructure. He explained that concerns about inadequate school furniture emerged during consultations undertaken by President John Dramani Mahama before assuming office, with many residents highlighting the challenge facing schools within the metropolis.

The Mayor noted that the Assembly has committed to procuring and distributing furniture annually using the District Assemblies Common Fund. He recalled that about three weeks ago, the Assembly distributed 1,170 dual desks to primary schools under the first phase of the intervention, while the current distribution of 1,450 mono desks constitutes the second phase targeting Junior High Schools and selected Senior High Schools. He added that a third phase involving furniture for Kindergarten schools will be carried out in the coming weeks.

Handing over the desks to the Metro Directorate of Education for onward distribution, Hon. Abu Takoro urged school authorities to adopt a strong maintenance culture to safeguard the investment. He expressed concern over the poor handling of school furniture in some schools and warned against allowing private individuals or organizations to use school furniture for commercial purposes without contributing to their maintenance. He further disclosed that the Assembly and its Education Sub-Committee would conduct unannounced monitoring visits to beneficiary schools, stressing that institutions that fail to properly maintain the furniture could be excluded from future distributions.

Receiving the furniture on behalf of beneficiary schools, the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education, Nelson Konlanm, expressed appreciation to the Assembly for the intervention. He disclosed that the desks would be distributed to 24 Junior High Schools with urgent furniture needs and urged headteachers to ensure their proper maintenance and security. According to him, responsible use of the desks would help address the furniture deficit and encourage further support as the Education Directorate works with stakeholders to improve learning conditions across the metropolis.

Hon. Abu Takoro reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure and expressed optimism that sustained annual investments would significantly reduce, if not eliminate, furniture shortages in schools across the Tamale Metropolis by 2028.