The Net Organisation for Youth Empowerment and Development (NOYED Ghana), an NGO, has presented 200 pieces of metallic and wooden desks valued at GH¢140,000, to three deprived basic schools in the Tamale Metropolis, to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
The beneficiary schools included Kakpagyili Taskif Islamic Primary School, which received 80 desks, with Datoyili T.I. and Burhaniya Primary schools respectively receiving 80 and 40 desks.
The gesture formed part of the implementation of the Fit Facilities for Basic Schools project being implemented by NOYED Ghana, with funding support from Wood and BBS Ghana Limited.
Mr Zulka Sulemana, the Project Officer at NOYED Ghana, during the presentation of the desks to the beneficiary institutions, said it was to address infrastructural challenges in schools, especially the acute shortage of furniture in basic schools across the Northern Region.
He cited data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS), which revealed a deficit of more than one million desks with over 5,000 schools still operating under trees, sheds, and dilapidated structures.
Mr Sulemana emphasised that inadequate furniture continued to undermine quality education and contributed to poor learning outcomes saying, “While government has made efforts, the gap remains huge compared to the scale of the problem.”
He explained that the donation was targeted at schools with the most urgent needs to improve learning environments, promote school attendance and retention, and enhance performance especially in underserved areas.
Mr Emmanuel Quaye, the Project Engineer of Wood and BBS Ghana Limited said the initiative went beyond providing furniture describing it as an investment in the future of learners to enable them to reach their full potential.
He urged the pupils to study hard and become responsible citizens to contribute to national development.
Mr Konlan Nelson, the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education described the donation as timely saying it would help reduce the burden of the furniture deficit in schools.
He urged school authorities to take good care of the items to maintain durability while appealing to other benevolent organisations and individuals to support educational infrastructure development in the area.
Mr Abdul Razak Abubakari, the Assistant Headteacher of Kakpagyili Taskif Islamic Primary, thanked NOYED Ghana and its partners for the intervention and pledged that the school would maintain the furniture to serve their intended purpose.
Source: myghanadaily
