Lack of toilet facility unsettles us in class, gov't must help us - Ntensere pupils plead

Pupils at Ntensere D/A Primary and Junior High School (JHS) in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District have pleaded to the Ghanaian government and stakeholders to acquire them sanitation and water facility to bridge the huge barrier to education as most of their colleagues frequently feel unsettled in class due to the unavailability of toilet facilities.

School dropout is increasingly growing in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District and the lack of proper toilet facilities in the various schools is becoming a case as the majority of girls prefer to stay home especially during their adolescent stages. Girls who have reached their menstruating stage easily drop out of school for the reason that access to a water point and a place to dispose of their pads becomes a challenge to them.

Girls in schools without toilet facilities are easily harassed when looking for a private place which shaken their interest in schools.

In an interview with a young female student at Ntensere D/A Primary, pupils most of the times feel discomfort when coming to school for the reason that whenever there is a stomach upset, they find it difficult to locate a place to defecate which sometimes affect their academic interest.

She pointed out that houses around the schools always receive plead from pupils and the act has been thought-provoking.

“We have no toilet, our urinal is in a bad shape and we lack text books to supplement our education," she said.

“Due to the toilet challenge in the school, I make sure to attend natures’ call in the house before coming to school else when there is a stomach upset, I lose attention to what is been thought. Sometimes, I keep it until school closes.

"Other students go nearby houses to beg for a place and it's really stressing. We want the government to come to our aid and build as a toilet,” she added.

Another told Soireenews that the deplorable state of roads leading to the school affects students walking from Akwaboah, Sokwai and Kapro especially when it rains. He explained that the road gets muddy to the extent that moving from one place to another becomes unbearable.

“When the rain falls, it’s difficult to come to school and sometimes the mud prevents us from coming. The authorities must come to our aid,” he told.

Some parents who spoke to Soireenews on the situation expressed worry at the challenge the future leaders go through in the quest to pursue a better future.

Mr Patrick, a native of Ntensere complained bitterly at their broken bridge which has received series of moans yet the Member of Parliament, Honorable Benito Owusu Bio has turned a blind eye towards them. He narrated how the broken bridge has affected commerce in the area and the fingers pointed at people who protest on the challenge. He pleaded that government should make it one of its priorities to resolve the road.

My main concern here is that our bridge at Sokwai to Ntensere is broken, ”Mr Patrick revealed.

“I have complained about it severally and nothing has been done. The road is worse and it has affected the trade of farmers.

“The school is poor and the lack of toilet is affecting the comfort of pupils. They always have to go and beg homes to go for toilet. The MP has refused to help and it's really unfortunate that Benito has turned deaf ears at our complaints.

"Anytime we complain, people think we are against him but it’s the best we seek. Government must come to our aid else things are getting out of hand.”

Kwadwo Owusu Boateng opened that various means have been strived to define comfortability in the school but to no avail.

He praised the Assemblyman for his responsiveness but disapproved his method of failing to discover solutions to their problems despite his closeness with the MP.

He cautioned government authorities to make good use of the quarry benefits towards surrounding communities instead of enjoying with their families.