The Sekyere South Education Directorate has raised concerns over increasing absenteeism among pupils in basic schools, particularly in the Wiamoase community, blaming the situation partly on families’ inability to provide essential learning materials.
The Directorate says some pupils are compelled to stay away from school because they lack basic items such as school uniforms, sandals, school bags, and exercise books.
Deputy Director in charge of Supervision and Monitoring at the Sekyere South Education Directorate, Andrew Osei Twumasi, disclosed this to Adom News.
This was when an NGO, Humanity Heavens Foundation, donated educational materials to pupils in Wiamoase to help ease the burden on parents and encourage children to attend school regularly.
He said the lack of basic school materials has become a recurring excuse for absenteeism among some pupils.
“If you meet some pupils outside school and ask them why they did not go to school, you will always hear one problem: ‘I don’t have a school uniform, bag, sandals or exercise books.’ This is a major challenge hindering education here,” Mr Osei Twumasi said.
The Directorate is therefore appealing to non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and other benevolent individuals to support schools in the district with essential educational materials.
The items donated by the Humanity Heaven Foundation included school bags, exercise books, pens, pencils and mathematical sets.
President of the Humanity Heaven Foundation, Madam Emelia Frimpong, said the donation was aimed at motivating pupils and ensuring that a lack of basic learning materials does not prevent them from attending school.
She said the Foundation’s assessment revealed that many parents struggle to provide essential learning materials, particularly when schools reopen.
“We stepped in to alleviate this burden and ensure these young learners do not miss out on quality education due to a lack of supplies,” Madam Frimpong said.
The Foundation has also appealed to other NGOs, corporate organisations and philanthropists to support pupils in Wiamoase and other communities in the Sekyere South District.
