Students at Danyaseman R/C SHS in the Bekwai Municipality are being forced to study in crumbling classrooms and temporary spaces after years of infrastructure neglect culminated in the partial collapse of a school structure during a weekend rainstorm.
The school, located in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, faces severe shortages of classrooms, furniture, dormitories and essential learning facilities, including science and ICT laboratories. Students say the conditions are undermining both their safety and academic performance.
Established in 1992 by the local community and the Catholic Church, the school was absorbed into the public education system in 2010. Despite that transition, staff and students say infrastructure development has stalled. The only storey building on campus was constructed years ago under former district chief executive Mary Jantuah, with no major additions since.
Student leaders described daily challenges ranging from overcrowded classrooms to lessons held outdoors. Protocol prefect Forgive Akakoo said the absence of a perimeter wall allows animals and intruders to wander onto the compound, disrupting classes and creating safety fears. “We truly want to study in a safe and peaceful place,” he said.
Christabel Omena, the school’s student representative council organising secretary, said the lack of science equipment forces teachers to rely solely on theory. Without practical experiments, she said, many pupils struggle to grasp scientific concepts and feel disadvantaged compared with peers in better-equipped schools.
Senior girls’ prefect Anita Alobase said Saturday’s rainstorm destroyed part of a building, worsening an already dire situation and pushing some classes under trees or into the dining hall.
Clement Frimpong, head of the school’s IT department, called the conditions “heartbreaking,” noting that overcrowding and unsafe classrooms continue to disrupt lessons. He urged authorities to intervene urgently to prevent further deterioration.
Students and staff are appealing to government and community stakeholders for immediate investment, warning that without swift action the learning environment will continue to decline and jeopardise educational outcomes.