Okere District, Ghana Students at J.G. Knol School in the Okere District have been forced to study under tents after part of the school’s classroom structures were deemed dangerously unstable, raising serious safety concerns among parents and the wider community.
The near collapse of the school buildings has disrupted normal learning activities, with pupils seated under temporary shelters on the school grounds to continue their lessons. The situation was brought to national attention after teachers reported visible cracks in several walls and ceilings, prompting immediate evacuation of affected classrooms.
In response to the crisis, the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Idrissu visited JG Knol Technical School this afternoon, 9th January 2026, to assess the severity of the situation and spoke directly with staff, students, and the District Chief Executive about the challenges they are facing.
During the visit, the Minister expressed deep concern over the state of the school infrastructure and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring safe learning environments for all children.
“We cannot have our students learning in conditions that pose a serious risk to their lives. The structures here are clearly unsafe, and urgent action must be taken to provide permanent classrooms,” the Minister said. He also acknowledged that the tents being used as temporary classrooms are not ideal, but stressed that they are a necessary stopgap while plans are developed to rehabilitate the school.
In addition to the near structural failure, the education minister identified other pressing challenges during the visit, including:
- Lack of dormitories for both boys’ and girls’ students
- Lack of Learning Materials: Teachers reported shortages of textbooks and essential teaching aids, compounding the difficulties presented by the compromised learning spaces.
- Sanitation Issues: With an increased number of students under tents and outdoor spaces, the existing sanitation facilities are inadequate and in urgent need of expansion and repair.
- Lack of furniture
The headmaster, teachers and students welcomed the Minister’s visit but urged swift action to prevent further disruption to the pupils’ education. “Our students deserve better. We are grateful the Minister has seen the situation with his own eyes, and we hope to see concrete steps taken soon,” The Minister pledged to fast-track emergency funding for the reconstruction of the most damaged sections of the school and to work with the District Office to ensure that long-term plans are implemented to prevent a recurrence.
WRITTEN BY: INFORMATION NEWS DESK