Pru West Education Projects under scrutiny as Bono East Minister demands quality and speed

The education infrastructure in the Pru West District is currently under scrutiny as the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi, demands improvements in both quality and speed. During an inspection of development projects, the Regional Minister expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the work.

Pru West District Director of Education, Daniel Lambon, acknowledged that infrastructure remains a challenge in the district but noted that ongoing interventions will help improve the situation. He mentioned that furniture, previously a major issue, is no longer the primary concern as the Member of Parliament has promised to provide additional supplies.

However, the district is facing a severe teacher shortage. More than 30 teachers sought transfer or release this academic year, but only 12 were posted to the district, resulting in some schools having only one teacher managing an entire school block. This has negatively impacted the teacher-pupil ratio, with educators in some hinterland communities unable to distribute their workload effectively.

The Regional Minister directed contractors to address the quality issues, particularly at Akrakuka, where the windows and doors did not meet the required standards. He emphasized that all windows and doors in that area must be replaced within one month, and the size of whiteboards must be increased to standard size. Furthermore, he insisted that provisions have been made to ensure classrooms are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Regarding community involvement, the Regional Minister stressed that monitoring is a collective responsibility and not solely the duty of the District Chief Executive or the assembly team. He urged for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the projects progress as planned.

The District Chief Executive for Pru West, Samuel Agyapong, affirmed that education remains a top priority for the region under President John Dramani Mahama. He explained that there are six to seven education projects ongoing, with some already completed and awaiting commissioning. Agyapong assured that the completed projects will soon be handed over to the schools for use.

While acknowledging concerns about timelines and the quality of woodwork, the District Chief Executive assured that the Assembly will work to ensure the projects are completed on time.