A non-governmental organisation, Pencils of Promise (PoP) has commissioned a three-unit classroom block for the deprived Adaklu Seva District Assembly Basic School in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region.

Provision of the block would augment infrastructure in the school which previously housed some classes under palm frond and thatch structures.

The classrooms were furnished with 20 dual desks, tables and chairs for teachers and the kindergarten department, and a water storage facility.

Commissioning the project, the Country Director of Pencils of Promise, Freeman Gobah chronicled the construction of the first three-unit classroom block for the kindergarten department of the school in 2019, to cement his outfit's relation with the school.

He said that PoP needed to return to construct another 3-unit classroom block gauging the challenges of studying under unfavorable conditions in the structures.

He stressed PoP’s commitment to ensuring schools in their operational regions have a full complement of infrastructure to enhance training of pupils for the future and improve academic performance.

Mr. Gobah advised that the facility should be put to good use and called on parents to take a keen interest in the education of their children to help nurture them into people of substance and safeguard their future.

“Our children here have great potential. When we do what is expected of us as parents, our children will have a brighter future. But if we fail to do it now, we can't reap or enjoy them in the future. And the children will blame us for not supporting their education”, he said.

He acknowledged the financial support from donors towards undertaking projects, assuring that every penny contributed would be channeled towards making the world a better place for the underprivileged.

“We want to thank our donors for believing in us. Sometimes people ask whether the money sent is being used properly. But for us, if we do these things [build education infrastructure] with somebody’s money, there is joy in it than you keeping some of the money”, he said.

He assured that Pencils of Promise will continue to support the over 260 schools that it had built in the Volta, Oti, and Eastern Regions.

The Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza lauded the partnership between his office and Pencil of Promise which led to improving access to education, where over 40 classroom blocks have been constructed in his jurisdiction since 2012.

“Through pencils of promise, we are not building schools, we are building the future of many people beyond me”, he noted.

He appreciated teachers who have accepted postings to the district to serve, though plagued with various challenges, including deplorable roads, and lack of accommodation, access to electricity and water in some areas.

He indicated that he had instituted the Adaklu Teachers Pride Award to identify and motivate teachers who have sacrificed the comfort and luxuries of cities to serve in deprived and hard-to-reach areas in the district.

Mr. Agbodza also announced the commencement of a teacher's bungalow project, to ease the burden of teachers traveling from their homes to school on motorcycles due to the lack of accommodation.

“So teachers, my commitment to you is that the next project that I will start here is to build a teachers bungalow, at least 3 units so that at least 3 teachers will be resident here”, he noted.

He reiterated an appeal to Pencils of Promise to consider constructing a 2-Unit classroom block to complete the infrastructure needs of the school.

The Headmaster of Seva District Assembly Basic School, Noah Adeti described the initiative as a legacy stressing how it had already contributed to increase enrollment.

“Ever since this project has started we have enrolled more students from the surrounding villages. Our enrollment moved from 138 to 165 now and we are expecting more”, he said.

He, however, lamented that only six teachers have accepted posting to the school and are struggling to manage the eleven classes of the school, and called on the government to ensure adequate teachers are provided for the school.

He added that another lingering challenge is the long distance between the surrounding communities and the school, preventing parents from enrolling their children in school.

Mr. Adeti appealed to philanthropic organizations to provide the school with tricycles to help transport the children from the hinterlands to school, adding that extending the school feeding program to his school will also contribute to improving academic activities.

The Chief of Adaklu Anfoe, Togbe Agbobada IV appreciated the efforts of Pencils of Promise and the Member of Parliament on improving educational infrastructure in the district.

A Circuit Supervisor at the Adaklu District Education Secretariat, Vivien Aseye Der-Alorse, implored the management of the school to adopt proper maintenance practices to ensure the longevity of the structure.