The deplorable condition of the Tinkong SDA Basic School Kindergarten Classroom block, within the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, hinders the delivery of excellent teaching and learning. The school was established in 1997, and since its inception, it has operated in an abandoned condo belonging to COCOBOD. The living room of the condo serves as a Basic One classroom, while other rooms house Kindergarten One and Two. The over 40-year structure wasn't renovated before the school took over. Inside the classrooms, rainwater seeps down the walls from the ceiling, filling the floor until it becomes a pond whenever it rains. The rainwater marks leave ugly, dark green lines on the wall. Chairs and tables get soaked in the process, with some getting spoiled. Books are often destroyed, while chairs and tables are soaked, with some getting spoiled. Posters on the classroom walls get ripped off, and instructors have to prepare them again and again.
A teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, notes that whenever it rains, especially during the wet season, the classroom temperature becomes very humid, which is damaging for the children's health. Whenever the rain sets in while school is in session, scholars are relocated to a safe corner within the structure until the rain stops. The classrooms have to be prepared—the rainwater drained out, mopped, and allowed to dry—before scholars are ushered into the classrooms to continue from where they stopped.
"It wastes a lot of our time to get the class ready for instruction after every rainfall. Most of the time, we don't come back because of the humidity of the room," she said. "We came back one morning just to see all our books soaked and destroyed. We had to individually contribute to get the books back for the children," one teacher said.
The headteacher of the school, Hannah Boateng, who took office years ago, expresses concern over the situation, as the children's health and instructors' comfort are of concern in the current condition. She notes that the Parent Association has tried to offer a solution to the problem, but the level of work required to transform the situation is beyond their means.
"We can't continue to hold these young ones in this terrible condition, but we don't have an alternative," she added. The assemblyman of the area, Samuel Kwadwo Abokyi, confirms his awareness of the challenge, but, like the headteacher, his quest to get assistance from the assembly has not yielded any positive results.
To ensure the successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4, a conducive learning environment remains paramount.
In a related matter, Tinkong citizens are calling for the completion of their police station. The town has suffered from a lack of confidence stemming from thefts targeting businesses, churches, and homes. Local government in Tinkong has appealed for funding to assist with the completion of the police station to stem the wave of insecurity.
