Students and teachers at Kaleo Senior High Technical School (KASHTS), in Nadowli–Kaleo District of the Upper West Region have been left without a well-equipped functioning science laboratory since 2016, with a telling impact on Students performance. Despite the school being a pure science school and has been participating in the National Science and Maths quiz
The post Students, teachers of Kaleo SHTS bear the brunt as contractor abandons science lab project first appeared on 3News.
Students and teachers at Kaleo Senior High Technical School (KASHTS), in Nadowli–Kaleo District of the Upper West Region have been left without a well-equipped functioning science laboratory since 2016, with a telling impact on Students performance.
Despite the school being a pure science school and has been participating in the National Science and Maths quiz competition, the school is grappling with congestion and inadequate infrastructure such as dormitories.
The school which was founded in 1991 by the Catholic Church, presently has a population of 1,638 students and runs courses such as: General Science, General Arts, Home Economics, Agriculture, Building & Construction, Wood Works and Metal Work.
Despite its contributions to education over the years, the school is plagued with a myriad of challenges including the lack of a well-equipped Science Laboratory, inadequate dormitories for girls and inadequate classroom blocks.
The absence of a well-equipped spacious science lab compels management to still rely on a room that was dedicated for General science Lab built 33-years ago, which comes with limited seating capacity coupled with outdated equipment for the increased student population.
As a pure Science and Technical school, academic excellence cannot be attained without a proper furnished science laboratory, and this in 2016 informed the government’s decision to award the construction of a new science laboratory which is at an advanced stage of completion.
But work has stalled since 2017 with the contractor abandoning the project due to delays in payment by government.
The building was about 90 per cent complete awaiting just the installation of the equipment before it was abandoned by the contractor due to lack of financial commitment from the Government, our sources have said.
According to authorities, all efforts made by the school to bring back the contractor to site to see to the completion of the project were unsuccessful.
Some students who are largely affected by the actions and inactions of the contractor and government vented their frustrations while appealing to the government to take steps to ensure the completion and handing over of the project to them for use.
A chemistry student and a victim as well, Bacho Timotay Naasotin, said the lack of a well-equipped science lab is a major factor in their abysmal performance at the National Science and Maths quiz competition the school has been participating in.
Anwull Joyce, a form three General Science student said: “Anytime a master is to undertake an experiment, the master could use as much as about 30 minutes to set up the lab. And before he starts to even take us through the process, the next master is already on us also ready to use the same lab. And that is greatly affecting our studies.”
“Ever since we came to this school, our science practical has been so weak and as the saying goes, practice makes man perfect, but in our situation, it is worsening our stay and course we are studying,” Angsie Jacob, another Agric student lamented.
Sylvester Sungbaahee, Head of the Science Department and a past student of the school, said the deplorable nature of the old Science lab is causing huge inconveniences among both teachers and students as they are unable to conduct certain experiments.
He added that, the lack of a properly equipped laboratory for the school is defeating the Government’s plans for strengthening STEM education in the Country.
He is therefore making a passionate appeal to the Government to as a matter of importance, do the necessary summoning of the contractor to pave way for the completion of the project for them.
By IBRAHIM A. WANGARA /3news.com/Ghana
The post Students, teachers of Kaleo SHTS bear the brunt as contractor abandons science lab project first appeared on 3News.
