Government -run schools in Grand Kru County have been “neglected, and outshined by political donations.”
While celebration at the Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa recently dedicated new annexes are yet to go away, the A.A. Hoff Elementary and Junior High School in Big Suehn, have suffered years of government neglect.
The schools which serve students from Jlaklohken, Small Suehn Gbuken, and Big Suehn communities, have reportedly deteriorated to unsafe levels.
With leaked roofs, cracked walls, and inadequate classroom space, the schools are now commonplace; a situation which has forced some of the government assigned teachers to combine multiple classes in single rooms.
This practice, parents expressed frustration that it compromises teaching quality and student learning.
“The new annexes are nice, but what about the classrooms where our children spend most of their day?
“Government built this school, yet it is left to fall apart, while politicians use donations to score points,” remarked a concerned parent, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the community.
At present, only six classrooms are operational, some of which double as administrative offices.
Overcrowding has made lesson planning difficult, and educators warn that students are not receiving the quality of education they deserve.
Sen. Bartekwa, during the dedication, praised the role of community and political support to improve education.
Yet, critics say the contrast between the annexes and the decayed main facility highlights a troubling pattern.
Some of the residents argue that without urgent government intervention, the infrastructural crisis will continue to impede learning outcomes, leaving students at a disadvantage in Grand Kru.
Residents have called on the government to repair and maintain the original school buildings, insisting that political donations, while appreciated, cannot replace sustained public investment in education.