Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Teaches threaten strike over constant thievery

The low performance at BECE level in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District of the Upper West Region could further take a nosedive if the threat by some teachers to leave the district is carried through. 

The teachers say they experience rampant stealing of their property and that of their schools thereby making their work very difficult. 

The teachers also claim that rent charged by landlords in the district is as high as those in urban areas which is a disincentive to them. 

To help find lasting solutions to these problems a forum has been held at Daffiama to solicit views of chiefs, parents and other key stakeholders on how to deal with the menace. 

Radio Ghana’s Correspondent Sualah Abdul-wahab reports that the DCE for area Fidelis Zumakpeh blamed the problem partly on the unwillingness of residents to expose those who are engaged in what he described as unscrupulous activities. 

In June this year the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District Education Oversight Committee met and discussed how to improve on education as a whole in the District. 

It came out during the meeting that the district is facing serious low enrolment rate from the Upper Primary to the junior high level. 

It also emerged that there is high rate of teenage pregnancy of fifteen percent while early marriage is also prevalent. 
This prompted the District Assembly to hold the educational forum to come out with measures to deal with the problems. 

The DCE for Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Fidelis Zumakpeh put the blame on all key actors for failing to live up to expectation. 

He said parents, teachers, students and the communities have not played their role effectively. Expressing worry over the development, the DCE wondered why some parents will not find out from their wards where and how they acquire certain property to let them know that they are being monitored. 

Mr. Zumakpeh challenged parents to always show keen interest in the development of their children. 

He also entreated communities to expose those who are engaged in the stealing and vandalizing of schools property.  

The District Director of Education Mrs. Catherine Banka lamented that though there are quite a number of school infrastructure in the district, enrolment is very low. 

She said the district is the smallest in the region with seventy-six schools from kindergarten to junior high school. 

However, many children of school going age are not in school. 

Mrs. Banka said because enrolment is low resources allocated to the district for education is also small. The District Director called on parents to ensure that all their children are sent to school. 

Assembly member for Daffiama North Dr. Sebastian Sandaare said chiefs, assembly members and parents will insist and ensure that all children at the age of four must be in school without any excuse. 

Dr. Sandaare who is also the NDC parliamentary candidate for the area said his mother was a visual impaired woman yet she was able to take care of him become a medical doctor. 

He hinted assembly members and chiefs will intensified education on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and early marriage so as to bring practices to the barest level. Similar fora have been held at Issa and Bussie in the district.


GBC