SHS With No Students: Mem-Chemfre E-Block School Faces Desertion Amidst Infrastructure Decay

The Mem-Chemfre Community Day Senior High School (E-Block) in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Eastern Region, stands eerily silent and empty. Following the departure of its last cohort of less than 20 students who sat for the WASSCE in 2023, the school has been left devoid of academic life.

According to reports by Daily Graphic, the unfortunate state of affairs was laid bare during their visit to the school premises, where the usual hustle and bustle of a school environment had been replaced by silence and overgrown weeds. The few remaining structures, including classrooms and sports facilities, are now in disrepair, with ceilings falling apart, furniture deteriorating, and classrooms invaded by dust and reptiles.

According to Solomon Akuruko Azubila, the District Director of Education, efforts to retain both students and teachers have proven futile. “We pleaded with the teachers to stay and support nearby junior high schools facing teacher shortages,” Azubila lamented. Despite these efforts, teachers are considering reassignments to more active schools, leaving Mem-Chemfre further understaffed and abandoned.

The school’s location has been cited as a primary reason for its decline. Situated far from local communities and lacking basic amenities such as reliable water and electricity, Mem-Chemfre fails to attract students, especially as a day school. Azubila emphasized the need for immediate intervention, suggesting that the Free SHS Secretariat allocate students to the school and possibly attach boarding facilities to enhance its appeal.

Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director-General of the GES, acknowledged the issue and highlighted ongoing efforts to address it. “We are exploring options to attach a boarding facility to make the school more accessible,” he stated, drawing parallels with similar strategies successfully implemented elsewhere.

Local sentiments echo a mix of frustration and resignation. Some residents in Donkorkrom, the district capital, criticize the school’s location as politically motivated rather than pragmatic, suggesting alternative uses such as converting it into a College of Education or repurposing it for Complementary Basic Education (CBE) learners.

As stakeholders debate the fate of Mem-Chemfre E-Block, the future remains uncertain. With infrastructure crumbling and educational prospects fading, urgent decisions are needed to revitalize this once-promising institution and rekindle hope in the hearts of the local community.