Mamprobi residents turn school into rubbish dump, defecate in classrooms
Named among the Ghana Education Service' (GES) top five deprived schools in the Greater Accra Region, the Mamprobi Socco Primary and Kindergarten school lacks basic infrastructure and amenities.
The school which has for over a decade provided basic education to residents, has been turned into a refuse dump, compelling the authorities to reduce contact hours between teachers and students and instead use the time to clear filth lodged in and outside their classrooms.
Since the school was relocated from Lashibi in 1973, it has been providing basic education to residents of Mamprobi.
The main gate which serves as the entrance to the Mamprobi Cluster of Schools, has been replaced several times because unknown individuals break in to use the school's classrooms as their bedrooms at night.
Circuit Supervisor, Mercy Kusi-Appiah says they are tired of buying padlocks as they always find intruders sleeping on the school's verandas.
“They break into the classrooms, sleep there and when they are leaving they will defecate in the teacher’s drawers, on chairs and other places which gives the children a lot of work the next day.
“Especially when these people sleep over during the weekend, they [pupils] have a lot of work to do the following Monday,” she said.
According to her, the community has turned the school into a dumping site as they also come to meet garbage which they have to sweep and clean to make the environment conducive for teaching and learning.
“Some of the residents carry their domestic rubbish and come and dump them inside the school. They also cross the gutter to pour dirty water in front of the school.
“A pregnant teacher nearly collapsed because of the stench from the dirty water,” Madam Kusi-Appiah said.
Headmistress of the school, Vicentia Selassie Banini said they have received assurances from authorities to check this but nothing has been done about the situation.