Heartbreaking: Chiana SHS students have lessons under trees

Another major infrastructural deficit that has characterized the Free Senior High School programme has been highlighted after some students of Chiana Senior High School in the Kasena/Nankana West District of the Upper East Region were pictured having lessons under a tree.

Accra-based Atinka FM, which first reported the heartbreaking news, said two of such classrooms have been created to host some class sessions of second-year students. Another classroom is also under a tent canopy.

Classes that are lucky to be in normal classroom blocks are also overflowing with students on their verandas, the reported added.

Headmistress of the school, Margret Bobi, said she admitted over 400 students this year.

" We had a good number of admissions this year. We admitted well over 400 students even though I was asked to receive more. I couldn't have taken in more students without enough classrooms and the lack of a proper boys' dormitory in the school," she said.

According to her, another major problem facing the school is accommodation problem for the male students.

She said a boys dormitory under construction since 2014 has been abandoned.

“The major problem is accommodation for the boys. Have you seen where the boys sleep? It's very bad. That is an old block we have converted into a temporary structure to house them but even with that some sleep outside. Behind this office is a new boys' dormitory under construction since 2014,” she noted.

“The contractor has abandoned work for lack of funds. The new administration block is also being constructed by the same contractor and works on that one too has been abandoned."