Parliamentary Select Committee on Education Visits Schools in Volta Region

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education recently completed a two-day tour of schools in the Volta Region to assess the challenges they face and make recommendations to the government for improvements.

Led by Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Chairman of the committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North, the delegation visited several schools, including Bishop Herman College in Kpando, Awudome Senior High School in Tsito, Mawuli School in Ho, OLA Senior High School in Ho, and E.P. University College (EPUC) in Ho.

Mawuli School’s Challenges

At Mawuli School, Headmaster Benjamin Yawo Dei shared the school’s progress since its founding in 1950. With an enrollment of 4,961 students, including 4,383 boarders, the school offers various programs such as General Science, Agricultural Science, Business, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Technical Studies.

However, Dei highlighted several pressing issues:

• Infrastructure: The school currently has 96 classrooms and requires at least 32 additional classrooms to exit the transition system.
• Staff Accommodation: Only 43 of the 309 staff members live on campus, with more accommodation needed.
• Furniture & Equipment: There is a shortage of furniture in classrooms and the dining hall, and the school lacks a bus and pick-up vehicle.
• Electricity: The school is struggling with funding for its 38 pre-paid electricity meters.

OLA Ho Faces Space and Infrastructure Issues

At OLA Senior High School, Headmistress Benedicta Agbezudor shared similar concerns, noting the overcrowded dormitories and classrooms, which hinder effective learning for students. The school also faces challenges in its dining facilities, where students are forced to eat in batches due to limited space.

Appeal for Support from EPUC

The tour concluded with a visit to EPUC, where President Professor Tsatsu Adogla-Bessa called on the government to provide financial support and waive taxes to help the university grow. He also suggested establishing a research fund for disadvantaged institutions to boost their research output.

Next Steps

Chairman Nortsu-Kotoe assured the schools that after gathering firsthand information, the committee would work towards finding solutions to the identified challenges.