Jimpensi Basic School Block
A basic school in Jimpensi a farming community of Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) District, is in a state of imminent collapse, creating a severe safety crisis and halting educational delivery, according to local parents and confirmed by district officials.
The school building has been completely stripped of its roofing sheets, windows, and doors, leaving the structure exposed to the weather. Mr. Seidu Hakeem, Chairman of the school’s Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), described the facility as a “death trap” in an interview with Info Radio. He confirmed that the lack of any furniture forces pupils to sit or lie on the bare floor during lessons.
An official assessment conducted during the previous government’s tenure concluded that the building is beyond rehabilitation. The District Planning Officer and other officials visited the site and recommended the construction of an entirely new school block. Despite promises of reconstruction, no work has begun.
The local Assemblyman for the Chala Electoral Area, Hon. Mumuni Seidu B., verified the assessment, stating that district engineers have also declared the existing structure unsalvageable. He further reported that a separate, promised six-unit classroom block has never been built.
Compounding the infrastructural emergency is a critical shortage of teaching staff. Mr. Imoro Abass, Chair of the School Management Committee (SMC), disclosed that only two teachers serve the entire Junior High School, while just four teachers oversee all Kindergarten and Primary classes.
A partially completed three-unit classroom project, awarded to Book Company Limited by the Northern Development Authority (NDA), offers no immediate relief. The Assemblyman confirmed the project is stalled, with the contractor citing non-payment by the NDA as the cause. Only windows and doors have been installed; painting and finishing work remain incomplete, rendering the block unusable.
The crisis extends beyond Jimpensi. Nearby schools, including Chala Basic School and Kenkellen Primary, face severe overcrowding and similar staff shortages. For instance, Jimpensi Primary School has only three teachers for over 300 pupils.
Parents and community leaders are now issuing an urgent appeal to the DBI District Assembly and the District Education Directorate to fulfill past promises, expedite all stalled projects, and address the acute staffing deficits. They warn that further delay directly endangers student safety and violates the right to basic education.
Sources: Info Radio 91.1FM