From the outside, Zamse Senior High Technical School in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region looks appealing with its traditional white and green colours that easily catch the eye.
However, hidden behind the walls and the beauty of the colours are students reeling in pain and virtually enduring hardship for the past few years, with no end in sight.
Many individuals, to a large extent, would not be surprised if a school in a far more rural area were in such a deplorable state.
Though being in the heart of the regional capital, Bolgatanga, the classroom situation looks terrible and not deserving of even a basic school, let alone a 49-year-old public secondary school.
Some of the classrooms occupied by students in uncompleted buildings have not been floored, leaving the students to spread their clothes on the bare sand to sit for everyday academic work.
In some of the classrooms, the students are compelled to sit on blocks because of the lack of furniture. Apart from the classroom, the school’s dining hall currently has only ten (10) tables and one bench.
This has compelled the 2609 students to eat in batches.
The administration is not left out. It is in a poor state with the staff common room not befitting. Due to its deplorable state, washrooms in the staff common room cannot be utilized, forcing authorities to put a notice directing teachers to go to the general office when necessary.
The kitchen of the school also leaks, leaving one wondering about the safety of meals prepared, especially with the rains setting in.
In 2024, Dreamz News reported about the plight of students in the school, but nothing significant has changed, except to add that some parents were compelled to buy furniture for their children.
The school is in an extremely sorry state, requiring urgent government and other stakeholders’ intervention.
Speaking during the visit of the Upper East Regional Minister, Donautus Akamugri Atanga, to the school, the Headmaster, Anaba Simon Amalga, explained that the situation is adversely affecting the delivery of quality education.
He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to intervene.
“The school has challenges ranging from a lack of furniture for students in the classroom, a lack of furniture in the dining hall, and uncompleted infrastructure. We don’t have a pickup for administrative work, and we don’t have a bus. We also have a dilapidated science class. With insufficient furniture, most of the students have resorted to sitting on the floor, and we always have challenges when it comes to exams.” He decried.
The Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga, who was saddened by the situation, says he would make a case for the government to intervene.
“One cannot say that he is happy when you are faced with challenges that people are facing, and it is not a result of their actions. You have students who have placed clothes on the bare floor to sit on. Even for those who have furniture, the parents gave them furniture, which is why some of them have furniture. You can imagine the struggle in the classroom given the poor nature of the classrooms. This school is on the ground, and we have to appeal to the education minister to intervene. This is a school that is in town, but it is worse than school in the periphery.” The Minister decried while assuring authorities of government intervention.
