Two worlds on one compound: Story of some Accra public schools
It is two worlds on one compound. The ‘privileged few’ occupy Accra’s three-storey, 18-classroom Millennium School block while their ‘not-so-lucky’ counterparts study in makeshift wooden structures. One cannot miss the contrast on the Mamprobi One and the Salvation Army compounds as the giant millennium school block has reduced the wooden structure to dwarfs.
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The wooden structure was meant to be temporary structures for some pupils after the abolition of the shift system. It has been two years since.
Abena and Akosua are both pupils of the Mamprobi One cluster of schools but their zeal in reporting to school is clearly defined by the structures they now occupy.
Abena is on the Millennium block and Akosua is in the wooden structure, but they both study the same subjects and would be required to write the same examination.
Accra’s montessori public schools
Call it Accra’s montessori public schools and you will not be wrong. The millennium school block no doubt provides a clean, serene and orderly environment for conducive teaching and learning. Aside these, pupils also have access to a well-stocked library, computer and science laboratories. Those in the wooden structure can only dream of these facilities.
Congestion is not an issue for discussion because each class is required to have a maximum of 40 pupils.
“It’s an advantage for those of us who came here,’’ the Headteacher of Mamprobi South Six, the school that occupies the first floor of the millennium block at Mamprobi M One, Ms Bernice Nubuor, stated.
The Headmaster of Mamprobi One Basic, the school occupying the second floor, Mr Boni Afeti Kofi, told the Daily Graphic that moving into the new block had significantly transformed teaching and learning in a positive way.
“Teachers used to sweat a lot in the old structures, and some wasted a lot of time outside to cool off.
There has been a drastic reduction in pupil absenteeism and truancy, which was a major issue then,” Mr Afeti said.
“ Even teachers now come to school early, and the children are really picking up because they are more regular in school,” he admitted.
Not too happy going to school
The same cannot be said of Ms Vincentia Selasy Banini, the Headmistress of the Socco Healing Hands Basic School, also on the Mamprobi One compound.
Madam Banini and her school of 638 pupils are yet to benefit from the millennium schools.
That school is still faced with congestion in some classes and a ‘not too conducive’ environment for teaching and learning.
Madam Banini’s school has a class size ranging from 50 to 60 pupils.
In the meantime, pupils in the Socco Healing Hands school would have to contend with the broken windows, doors, and desks.
The millennium schools initiative and the story so far
The millennium school initiative started in 2010. It was at a time when the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Vanderpuije, was bent on abolishing the shift system, aptly blamed for the falling standards of education in Accra’s public schools. It was argued that pupils spent just about four hours in the classroom instead of about six hours.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the progress made so far, Dr Vanderpuije said work was ongoing on 89 of the blocks .
Per the project progress displayed on Dr Vanderpuije’s office, 61 of the blocks are meant for basic schools and the remaining 18 for senior high schools (SHSs).
Supported by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the USAID, Access Bank and Zenith Bank, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, among others, the millennium schools initiative seeks to transform the face of public education in Accra.
“ The whole objective is not just to transform structures but standards,” Dr Vanderpuije stated, and added that the construction of the blocks was to give all pupils equal opportunities to excel in their academic pursuits.
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