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OKESS furniture Shortage -PTA responds with 500 Mono Desks
Source:www.dailywatchgh.com/Justice Baffour Awuah-0246930931
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Osei Tweretwie Senior High School (OKESS) in Kumasi has stepped up with a crucial intervention, donating 500 mono desks valued at GH₵100,000 to help resolve the school’s deepening furniture crisis,one that has left many students sitting on floors during lessons.
The donation, presented on Friday, November 29, was led by the PTA’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Nana Osei Tutu, former Assembly Member for the Atwima Yabi Electoral Area and Otumfuo Sikakua Nifahene. He said the contribution was a direct response to distress calls from school authorities who have been battling a severe shortage of basic classroom furniture.
According to Hon. Osei Tutu, supporting OKESS is not a new priority for the PTA. Over the years, the Association has undertaken several interventions, including repairing broken desks, providing teaching materials, and assisting with key logistical needs aimed at maintaining a conducive learning environment.
“When the school appealed to us, we knew we had to act quickly. The conditions under which our children are learning are not acceptable. As parents, it is our responsibility to support the school in any way we can,”
he stated.
Receiving the desks, the Headmaster, Mr. Frederick Keelson-Aikins, expressed deep appreciation and described the intervention as both timely and life-changing.
He painted a grim picture of the current situation at the school, noting that over 2,000 Form One students and more than 1,500 Form Three students are competing for limited classroom furniture and space. This overcrowding, he said, has pushed resources beyond their capacity and created a crisis that threatens academic performance and students’ well-being.
“Our classrooms are almost empty, and the furniture deficit is huge. The way students sit to learn is even shameful to talk about. But this donation will go a long way to improve teaching and learning,”
he lamented.
Beyond classroom challenges, Mr. Keelson revealed that the school is also struggling with a critical shortage of beds in the dormitories, forcing some students to sleep on the floor. He stressed that while government continues to provide support, the scale of the problem requires collective action.
“Government is doing a lot, but the burden is huge. We need every stakeholder,parents, old students, institutions, and philanthropists,to come on board,”
he appealed
Speaking on behalf of the student body, the Girls’ Prefect, Armah Grace Naa Akweley and senior boys Prefect expressed heartfelt thanks to the PTA for the support. She noted that the donation would bring relief to students who have been learning in uncomfortable and sometimes undignified conditions.
They further called on old students’ associations, benevolent organizations, and corporate institutions to support the school in addressing the remaining challenges.
“We are grateful, but we still need help. The desks are a big relief, but there are many more needs. We appeal to all stakeholders to support us,”
she said.
The PTA’s intervention has brought renewed hope to OKESS, but school authorities say sustained and collaborative efforts are needed to restore dignity and improve academic performance in one of the Ashanti Region’s renowned senior high schools.
