Radio Ghana's report gets results as Tendaamba residents stop defecating classrooms

Staff and students of the Tendaamba Primary school ‘A’ and ‘B’ are elated as residents who live around the school have stopped defecating in their classrooms after a Radio Ghana report.
They said after the report which was carried two months ago the schools have not recorded a new case of defecation in their classrooms.
They were however, quick to plead with residents to stop breaking the doors and locks of their toilet facilities as replacing them is a drain on the school’s meager resources.
This came to light when Mark Smith went back to the school to interact with staff and students on the current happenings after the previous report.

The Headmistress of Tendaamba Primary “B”, Madam Evelyn Dede Dannson was happy about the new development. Speaking to Radio Ghana’s Mark Smith the headmistress said “the last time you came till now, to be sincere to myself there’s been a lot of change. No more defecat6ing in the classrooms and around the school compound apart from our toilet.”
“The toilet was given to us by WaterAid. We will buy padlocks by the time we come next day, they have broken them. Instead of them to defecate into the hole, they defecate on the floor. And look at the young and innocent children coming to school to come and clean feces.”
“Now we have even left it, we will not buy any padlocks. They have even broken all the doors.so how come we keep spending money when we come the next day, it is back to square one.”
The Headmaster for Tendaamba Primary “A” Payne Pwazaga said over the last two months they have been able to start classes on time because they no longer have to clean feces before studying. This, he hoped will eventually increase the academic performance of the students. Mr. Payne said the lack of proper lightening in the school makes it easy for perpetrators of the crime to continue the act.
He explained “the light situation is important. When you come there is no light so no one even sees that you are around. You know these criminals they like to operate in the dark. If there were lights, when you are jumping the wall to enter, or you are breaking the door to enter someone can even stand afar and then see you.”
Mr Payne said they have given up on the school’s toilet facility as all efforts to keep it clean for students and staff have proved futile. He said they spend money in maintaining the toilet facility each day because community members continue to use it improperly.
The Assistant Head for Tendaamba Primary “A” Abu Saalia Yussif said the school has petitioned the Wa Municipal Assembly on several occasions to construct a wall around it but nothing has been done about the situation. He appealed to well-meaning organisations and individuals to go to the aid of the school saying “if there is a wall around it [the school], it will help.
Presently the PTA has been able to get us a watchman. One watchman but you see that the school compound is very large and while he is at the other side, people can be at the other side doing bad things.”

He added that “if there is wall, with this barbed wire on top of it and there is one common gate and the watchman mans, that place, I don’t think these things would be happening.”
Story by Mark Smith