Relief has finally come to the pupils of Kulpeliga Basic School in the Talensi District, who for years sat, squatted, and lay on the floor to learn, thanks to a JoyNews report that has triggered immediate intervention from the Office of the National Security Coordinator.
Following the airing of “Crumbling Start“ on JoyNews, the National Security Coordinator, through the Human Security Department, has donated 60 mono desks and five teachers’ tables to the school.
The gesture is part of a broader promise to renovate the existing school block and construct a permanent structure to ensure no child is left learning on the floor.
At a short ceremony on the school compound, Deputy Director of Human Security at National Security, Hakeem M. Duwiejua, who represented the National Security Coordinator, underscored the importance of education in securing the future of Ghana.
“To the students, know this: we see you, we hear you, and we are with you. You are the future of this nation, and we will not let the future sit on the floor,” he said.
“Let me thank the teachers and community leaders who continue to hold the fort, often with very little. Your dedication inspires us. We also thank JoyNews in partnership with School for Life for bringing this to the public’s attention,” he said.
The intervention comes after the JoyNews documentary revealed heartbreaking scenes of pupils at Kulpeliga D/A Basic School kneeling on bare floors, using their thighs and pillars as makeshift desks, and sometimes lying flat just to write.
The school had no furniture, limited teaching staff, and a collapsed classroom block yet to be restored after a rainstorm.
Charles Zoogah, Community Relations Officer at the Ghana Education Service, received the items on behalf of the Talensi District Directorate.
“Having these desks is a first step, a quick response to the needs of our children and staff,” he said. “It may not be enough, but the promise of more, especially to renovate our school block, is something words cannot describe,” he indicated.
Local leaders and pupils were also present at the event. Chief of Kulpeliga, James Mambora, was visibly emotional.
“I used to be extremely sad whenever I visited the school, seeing the children sit on the bare floor. But now I feel like I’m running from my sick bed,” he said.
For Blessing Dok, one of the pupils whose voice featured prominently in the original JoyNews story, the donation brought hope.
“We thank you, National Security. We thank you, School For Life. And we thank you, JoyNews, for making this possible,” she said during the ceremony.
While the new desks and tables will go a long way to improving learning conditions, challenges remain. The school still lacks adequate teaching staff, teacher accommodation, and books. But for now, pupils like Blessing and Justice Gbandan – who once used shoes to cushion their knees – can finally sit, write, and learn with dignity.
The story of Kulpeliga Basic School is a reminder that impactful journalism can drive real change – and that every child deserves the right to learn without pain.
Crumbling Start is a JoyNews Education Feature Series in partnership with School For Life.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
