Academic Disruption in Jantong Dashie: Chief Threatens to Reclaim Cement Blocks Due to Unkept Promise

Students and teachers at Jantong Dashie District Assembly Junior High School in the North East Gonja District of the Savannah Region have faced challenging educational conditions for five years after a rainstorm severely damaged the school’s roof. The destruction left the classrooms exposed to harsh weather, and the situation has led to frequent disruptions in lessons, due to extreme heat or rainfall. These interruptions have had a profound impact on both teaching and learning, as teachers are often forced to cut classes short to protect students from the elements.

The situation has made it difficult for the school to maintain a consistent academic schedule, leaving students unprepared for essential exams, including the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E.). Students have voiced their frustration with the conditions, questioning the commitment of authorities to provide them with equal educational opportunities. Fuseini Abdul Malik, one of the students, asked, “Do we not deserve better education like other children in Ghana?” Sandow Ajara, another student, expressed her concerns about the impact of the disruptions on her studies, saying, “If this situation continues, how can I focus on my studies when teaching and learning are constantly disrupted?”

Teachers have also highlighted the negative effects of the situation, particularly with the decline in enrollment numbers. Idrisu Musah, a teacher at the school, explained that the number of students had dropped significantly since the roof was damaged. “Our numbers were encouraging before, but since the structure was damaged, many parents have withdrawn their children, citing the lack of a proper learning environment. The structural defect has disrupted our academic calendar. As we speak, we are nearing vacation, but we haven’t covered the syllabus, and the students are expected to write exams soon,” he said.

Despite multiple appeals to the district assembly, no tangible solutions have been provided to address the situation. Abdulai Fuseini, the Assemblyman for the Jantong Dashie Electoral Area, expressed his frustration with the lack of progress. “The assembly once sent an engineer to inspect the building and concluded that it was unfit for use, recommending a new structure. Yet, nothing has been done since then,” he explained.

Frustration over the situation has also been voiced by the Chief of the Jantong Dashie Traditional Area, Jantongwura Abdullah Mahama. Despite his significant contributions to efforts to rebuild the school, the chief has expressed deep disappointment with the lack of action. He recalled that the community had once gathered materials for the construction, including sea sand for molding blocks. “When the workers arrived, there was no cement. I donated 50 bags of cement to mold the blocks, but now the blocks are sitting idle, and no one seems to care,” he said. The chief has warned the district assembly that if the school is not rebuilt soon, he will retrieve the blocks. “Five years without action is unacceptable. Our children’s education is at stake,” Jantongwura Mahama emphasized.

This ongoing crisis at Jantong Dashie D/A Junior High School highlights the urgent need for investment in rural educational infrastructure. With no immediate solutions in sight, the future of many students in the region remains uncertain. Local leaders, parents, teachers, and students alike are calling on the authorities to prioritize this issue and take decisive action to restore the school. The delay in addressing this situation is taking a toll on the students’ education, and without urgent intervention, many of these young learners may face significant challenges in their academic and professional futures.

The plight of Jantong Dashie D/A Junior High School underscores the broader issues of inadequate educational facilities in rural Ghana. It serves as a reminder of the need for continued investment in the country’s education system, particularly in areas that are often neglected. Local leaders are calling for immediate action to repair or rebuild the school to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for the children, who deserve the same quality of education as their peers in more urbanized regions.

The situation at Jantong Dashie is not only a call for immediate action to restore the school, but also a plea for a more equitable approach to education across the country. The collective call from students, teachers, parents, and community leaders demands that authorities address the issue and make rural education a priority, ensuring that every child in Ghana has the opportunity to succeed.