Big Boss converts uncompleted structures into classrooms

Bolgatanga, Nov. 28, – Infrastructural deficit has affected the Bolgatanga Senior High School (Big Boss) as management of the school are compelled to begin using uncompleted classroom blocks for learning sessions.

The school’s management has begun using six and 12 unit classroom blocks under construction and at roofing level to house first year students.

The structures were started some years ago and were abandoned because of the lack of funds. The structures have no windows, doors and they are not cemented.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, Mr Vitus Angkyire, Assistant Headmaster of the school in charge of Administration, said the school was experiencing infrastructural challenges and had no alternative than to convert the abandoned structures to classrooms in order to ensure that academic work continues.

He said "the two structures have been left by the contractors because there is no fund to complete them. We are only lucky that they have been roofed and can be used as classrooms during the day. The school does not have any option than to do that. When it rains it creates problems due to the lack of windows and doors."

"The students cannot use these classrooms to learn at night. The classrooms have not been connected to electricity so the students use the dining hall to study at night", he said.

The Assistant Headmaster said accommodation to house both students and teachers has always been a major challenge confronting the school and some students had to always sleep outside, while some teachers commuted from far distances to the school to teach.

"The students’ dormitories are very congested, especially the male ones and it has compelled some students to sleep outside. The school currently has about 100 teaching staff in addition to non-teaching staff and the master's bungalows are few. So some have to come from their various homes to the school every day to teach," he said.

Mr Angkyire said the school was also in dire need of water adding that the major pumping machine meant to pump water to supply various taps within the school has broken down and this has compelled the students to move out of campus to search for water.

He appealed to government, corporate bodies, philanthropists as well as old students to come to the aid of the school by providing it with the needed infrastructure and water supply to enhance effective teaching and learning.

GNA