In the heart of the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region, the community of Juanayili stands drenched in morning rain.
As the water seeps into the cracked walls of Juanayili D.A. Basic School, it becomes evident that for the children of this farming community, education is more than a struggle—it is an impossible dream.
The three-unit mud-block school, visibly worn by time and the elements, leans dangerously with deep cracks threatening to bring it down at any moment. The structure is beyond dilapidated, yet it remains the only place where the children of Juanayili are supposed to receive their education. But today, as the rain pours, the school stands empty.
Determined to understand the situation firsthand, a journalist enters one of the classrooms. Inside, two young siblings sit alone, waiting. Their presence is both heartbreaking and inspiring—they have braved the rain, eager to learn, despite the absence of teachers.
Speaking on the situation, 2022 National Best Teacher, Ms. Stella Gyimaah Larbi expressed her deep concern about the dire conditions of the school. She cited Maria Montessori’s philosophy on education, emphasizing that a proper learning environment is crucial to a child’s growth.
“Maria said that the environment must be rich in motives, which lend itself to activity and invite the child to conduct their own experiences. If the environment is not motivating the learner enough, if it is not motivating the teacher enough, then the change that we seek or the development we want to embrace cannot happen.’’
According to Ms. Gyimaah Larbi, the consequences of such poor learning conditions go beyond the children.
“One, the teachers are not motivated. Two, the learners are not motivated. And three, there is going to be emotional stress. Because you cannot give what you don’t have. We want to give quality education, but we don’t have the infrastructure. We don’t have the resources.’’
A Risk No Teacher Should Take:
The challenges in Juanayili D.A. Basic School are not just about motivation but also about safety. Teachers assigned to the school are reluctant to show up, knowing the buildings could collapse at any time.
“We are all pushing for teachers to go and teach, but how can I go and teach when I am emotionally unstable? When psychologically, I know that when I enter the building, it might collapse as it’s raining?’’
“Where the building is refined and ready, we are mandated to go and teach. But this is a building that is near collapse. We put ourselves at risk, and we put the learners at risk as well.”
Can the Community Intervene?
With no immediate government intervention in sight, Ms. Gyimaah Larbi called on the community to step in.
“Now we don’t have only Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), but the PTAs are back, and the parents will support. Achieving quality education is not a one-way affair. The parents have a role to play, the community has a role to play, and the government has a role to play. The government cannot do it alone. It takes a whole community to raise a president. It takes a community to raise the next Kofi Annan, the next Obama… the next you, a reporting Journalist.’’
The deteriorating state of rural schools like Juanayili D.A. Basic School is a wake-up as we call to all agencies responsible for education in Ghana. Ms. Gyimaah Larbi stressed that urgent intervention is needed.
Meanwhile, during the last State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama announced that teachers in rural areas would receive a 20% salary increment and improved accommodation. But will this be enough to solve the deeper issues plaguing rural education?
“We are praying and hoping that it happens because it is a step towards motivating teachers in the rural areas to keep doing more.’’
“Sometimes, we always look at it from one side. I mean, you are in the village—what are you doing in the village? What impact are you making in the village? You can be in the village and do nothing,” Ms. Gyimaah lamented.
The story of Juanayili D.A. Basic School is just one of many across rural Ghana, where children struggle to access education in safe and conducive environments.
While government interventions like salary increments may help in some ways, the bigger picture requires urgent infrastructure investment and community involvement.
Without immediate action, the cycle of poor education, teacher absenteeism, and emotional stress will continue, leaving thousands of children behind.
The question remains; Will the Government rise to the challenge, or will schools like Juanayili continue to crumble, taking the future of its students down with it? Only time will tell.
By Nelson Ayivor