The Whole Act Of Teaching...

Madam Faustina Essuman is a teacher at Kanda Estate 1 primary school.She has taken it upon herself to teach the pupils of class 6 maths,english,science,ICT and citizenship education.She studied psychology and she is a trained teacher.According to her,the opportunity she had to study psychology has helped her now in her teaching skills.She is able to "read the minds of her students,know them better as well as the appropriate teaching method".

Madam!so what motivates you to teach in a school this?"I am a mother and that motherly love keeps me going.And one thing is that;I really love kids.The fact that I wake up every morning and with the hopes that i'll meet these kids just gives me some new energy of a sort.I also love to impact people's lives and I believe i'm using these wonderful kids to do that in my little way".

The class 6 teacher seems to be dedicated to her work as a teacher.But some challenges make her efforts go waste sometimes.She talks about her encounter with pupils in class 4;fourteen pupils had no exercise books so couldn't write their test.She goes on to talk about the fact that parents are making their work very difficult.Some parents have no interest at all in the performance of their wards at school.They don't care at all if their wards have books or not.Wednesdays are market days and half of the pupils do not come to school.They are off to make some money leaving their books alone.How will she achieve her goal in this situation?She laments.

Teaching at Kanda Estate 1 Primary is not practical.There are no materials available to help teachers to effectively teach their pupils.One teacher to many subjects is also a challenge.A teacher can be loaded with at least four subjects and this stresses them.A teacher for instance may not be well vest in a particular subject but he or she is forced to give off his or her best.Though one of the stressful works,their salary is not encouraging.Madam Faustina blames the government.

Sandwiched between these challenges;teacher Faustina has developed some strategies to help her class and teaching to be effective.Her approach to teaching is more of child-centered type,very interactive and engaging.She is very approachable hence giving her an upper hand to know her pupils more and we're a big family.She added.She also announces the best pupil at the end of every term.This urges other students to catch up quickly.

Madam Faustina Essuman is a rare gem contributing her quota in her little corner to promote development.I salute selfless teachers like her.

Madam Faustina's Class.Picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba

The Blackboard Style Of Teaching. Picture Credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Question Time. Picture Credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Pupils Enjoying Their  Lesson. Picture Credit: Prosper Mawuli Dagba

State Of Building @ Kanda Estate 1 Primary.

Kanda Estate 1 Primary school has been bedeviled with a couple of infrastrustural challenges.One which is top on the list is the state of their school building.It is very appalling and disheartening to know that the school has a good location but it not getting the needed attention for development.What may be the possible reason?Could it be that;because the school is a governmental institution,so this is bound to happen?
These politicians before coming to office,make various promises ranging from changing the state of buildings of primary schools and the likes.Where are they now?I may sound alittle political...yes!!!Because i'm looking at this issue from the mode of ownership.Obviously Kanda Estate 1Primary is owned by the government therefore one would not expect an individual from the school to take up this "mess" as if it were a private institution.

I wonder if the first gentleman of the land and his ministers have their children in government primary schools like Kanda Estate 1Primary?I'm very sure your answer is not different from mine.To them;it is embarassing and shameful to have their children attend such schools but they won't put them in good shape for the ordinary parent's child.The greedy and selfish politicians will always embezzle that little money allocated for the up keep of these schools.After all there are no proper systems to put them in check.

The school building has cracks all over and what worries me most is that it's a storey building.A massive quake and about hundreds of school children will be dead because the building would have collapsed.The paintings are gradually playing no role on the building making it look awful.The ceiling leaks badly when it rains making it difficult for the students to study.The only wall that hols the cluster together is partly broken.The partly broken wall faces the highway leading to Nima junction but nobody is willing to help.It's been months but the broken wall still "broken".

Take a close look at St.Pauls Lutheran School a private school closer to Kanda Cluster of schools;then look at Kanda Estate 1 Primary School.Though an abnormal comparism,what will be going through the minds of students of Kanda Estate 1 Primary,their teachers and even the headmistress considering the afore mentioned problems and the fact that a first rated school like St.Pauls school is closer to them?The psychological trauma,low self esteem,low motivation and bad results may be caused by this little but now huge problem.
My write up may be tagged as been alittle emotionalised but wait till you find your child or sibling in this "educational state"

The  Ceiling  In  A  Bad  State. Picture credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Picture  by  Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba

The  School  Wall. Picture by  Prosper Mawuli  Dagba

Adama Tells Her Story...

Salifu Adama is a 14 years old student of Kanda Estate 1 Primary.She joined the school last year and she is now in class 6.According to Adama,her mother suggested that she comes to live with her grandmother.She lived in Ayikuma so she attended Ayikuma Islamic School before coming to Kanda Estate 1 Primary school.She currently resides at Kanda(Ruga).How is life now at Ruga?I asked....eerrmm still trying to know the place but it has been fun.

Adama goes on to run me through a typical day in her life.As a student,she wakes up at 5am to start her chores before taking her bath.She will then take her breakfast if time is not far spent.Her favourite which is hausa koko with koose just helps her start her day right.Neatly dressed in her "konkonte" uniform,she will briskly walk to school.She will then help clean the compound and prepare for morning assembly.After morning assembly lessons begin.In between lessons,they go for breaks.

The first break is "school sponsored" as a result of the school feeding programme.Adama recalls a food that was served.The food was not properly cooked.According to her "there were some particles in the food served.Her mood changed when the question of- whether she likes the food?was posed.She answered;I don't but i have no option.Now the second part of the break is on the students.Adama's grandmother can only afford 1cedi a day.Out of that 1cedi,she tries to satisfy herself.I got very emotional during this part of her narration.

I had the opportunity to go to her class.Immediately I entered all the students stood up and in a chorus greeted"you're welcome sir";I responded "Thank you".At the time of my visit Adama's class teacher was not around.So I took advantage of the situation  to ask the class what they think of Adama.Students:sir,sir,sir....then I called Khareem who is so far the most sociable and jovial in the class.This what he had to say"Sir I think Adama is an intelligent girl,very kind but I don't like the fact that she's too shy".The whole class burst into laughter and cheered him on.

At the sound of the school's bell for closing,Adama will quickly ran home to help her grandmother to sell her purewater.Then she will assist in preparing dinner.After dinner she will do her homework if there is any.Her favourite subjects are english,mathematics and science.

She loves her school because she thinks the teachers are committed.Adama will love to attend St.Pauls Lutheran school but sadly said I can't afford their fees.Adama Salifu wants to become a medical doctor in future.My simple question is that-is Adama getting the right foundation,considering her school?My reason for getting Salifu Adama to tell her story is to compare the typical life of a students of Kanda Estate 1 primary school and the perceived life of those students from Morning Star school,St.Pauls Lutheran school, Ridge Church school and the likes.I believe there is still hope ;the likes of Salifu Adama are living their lifes to bridge the gap.All hail the medical doctor of our generation "Salifu Adama"

Adama  In Action. Picture by  Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Adama's  Class. Picture Credit;Prosper  Mawuli Dagba

Adama  Salifu. Picture By Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba

Profile Of "The Mother" Of Kanda Estate 1 Primary

Mrs Dorothy Appiah was born on 5th March 1956 to Mr Solomon Appiah and Agnes Appiah all of blessed memory.She is a Koforidua flower.She lived in Koforidua and had her early education at Koforidua Presbyterian Primary A school in 1963.In 1969 after attempting the common entrance,she passed to the secondary school.In the same year she gained admission into Asamankese secondary school.Life was tough within this period so she was repeated.She completed in 1975.

According to madam Appiah,after secondary school her father applied to teachers college at Akropong Presbyterian Training College.She attained post-secondary certificate in 1978.Her first posting was to Nsawam Presbyterian school.According to her;Nsawam Presbyterian school gave her some teaching experience.

In her quest to practise what she has learnt,she found "Mr Right" and got married in 1980.Marriage life was smooth as she said until the year 1984 when she divorced her husband.After the divorce she wanted to try something new aside teaching;so in 1985 she paused teaching to try hair dressing.According to her,it was a success till there was a massive change in hair styles.Since she could not keep up to the pace,she had to back out.She later realised that teaching was her only hope.Without hesitation,she went back into full time teaching in 1986 at Kotoku near Nsawam.She got married again in 1990.

Mrs.Appiah has some qualification to her credit.She went for a diploma course at University of Education Winneba where she studied social studies and special education.She completed in 1996.In 2001 and 2002 she had a sandwich course at the same university in order to attain her first degree.This gave her the opportunity to upgrade herself in the teaching profession.

A collage of Mrs Dorothy Appiah's pictures in her office

In 2008 she was promoted to Assistant Director 2 after her interview at Ayawaso circuit.Within this period she became headmistress of Kanda Estate 1 primary.As the headmistress,she has a couple of roles to play.Some of which are attending meetings on behalf of the school,keeping records,making sure the teachers are doing their work well.Her husband died in 2012.

 Her favourite meal was rice with stew not until she tasted kontomire stew with plantain,her preference changed.Aside teaching,madam Dorothy Appiah doubles as a gospel musician.Her decision was after her promise to God for a successful operation.She has five albums and a video to her credit.She is a staunch christian and a member of Hope Presby at Sakumono.According to Mrs.Appiah hardwork and continous prayers have brought her this far and she couldn't have done anything else aside teaching.Mrs.Dorothy Appiah is a beautiful woman inside out.Her genuine smiles drives away anger.She is indeed a wonderful woman.

In her office

Picture by:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Facilities At Kanda Estate 1 Primary.

  Just when I thought there was some hope for the 21st century child and student,Kanda Estate 1 primary school shattered that hope.For most people who found themselves in primary schools with all facilities in place were probably singing a different song from that of pupils of Kanda Estate 1 primary school.A school which is twenty-five or so years is still lacking some major facilities to help run the school.

An interview session with the headmistress.Picture by Maud Fadi

    It was exactly 1:00 pm when I found myself in the office of the headmistress of the school.Thinking I will be welcomed into a comfortable office was just a dream.The heat from the office could even boil an egg.Though there was a ceiling fan in her office,she still had to fan herself to feel comfortable.As if that was not enough,she has no computer in her office.Asked how she records important information and data;this what she had to say..."I write them in a book" there was total silence in her office after her answer;then we both laughed.


 Is there a computer lab in the school? Oooh yes!there is.The computer lab that has only ten computers and filled with nothing but dust.The computer lab according to the headmistress is used by all the eleven(11) or so schools in the cluster."I don't remember the last time the computer lab was opened" she added. I later went to one of the six classrooms and to my surprise,the teacher's table was in a bad state.Three pupils had to share a desk and the only cupboard in the classroom was really bad.Then the biggest surprise of all was the fact that they had no canteen so have to manage to eat in their various classrooms.The worst of all was the stench from the gutters in front of the classrooms.Asked why the awful stench?The headmistress worriedly said "Because the toilet was locked,pupils had to use the gutters as their urinal" then I finally found myself at the " Almighty Toilet".The outter look alone told the whole awful story.There are no bins,rubbish scattered all over and they have to burn the rubbish without a chinery in the school.


 From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm,I did not find anything impressive with respect to facilities than the warm nature of both teachers and pupils.The headmistress's final words were that"I just need a bus for the school". Talking about facilities at Kanda Estate 1 primary school reminds me of my visit to Ridge Church school.The school's compound was beautiful,the classrooms were awesome,the office of the headmistress was wonderful.This observation just leaves one question in mind..."Where did Kanda Estate 1 primary go wrong".

Picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Toilet Area, picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba

"The Cluster With Clutter"...

Shrouded in the cluster of many,Kanda Estate 1 primary school has been one of many but today,we take a look at this rare gem which I might say is a diamond in the rough.Built on 24th May,1988,this bird had risen from the ashes with the help of Mrs.Louisa Parker,Miss Margret Kittin,Mrs. Beatrice Mfodwo,Mrs. Celestine Anthony and Miss Dorcas Ackah.

The school rose to the ranks to be one of the best in the area and having gone through many a trial,it had risen and now has an enrollment of over thousand pupils.With six classrooms to call home many pupils find their dreams in these four walks being taught subjects such as citizenship education which hitherto used to be known as social studies to better equip them with knowledge of the society around them.

The race they say is not for the swift,certainly this gem has taken its time and in accordance to Accra Metropolitan Assembly has abolished the shift-system with the school it used to run with 'Kanda 4 primary' this home of theirs has never been void as they share a compound with many a school,the Kanda Estate 2 primary and JHS,the ringroad school,the A.M.A school which is only a JHS,but this has never deterred them from reaching their fall potential as a government institution in the sense that pupils seen as lacking in their studies one often kept behind a year just to make sure they meet the desired standards of learning.Many may come and go but in this school many move on to the next stage but hardly do new members come to join the family.

One is amazed by the issue that capitation grants which are awarded to each school(public) has been seen only in the year before,as this grant is to enable the school keep body and soul together by repairing basic damages done to it such as broken windows,cupboards and the like.
To loose a penny is to find gold in so doing the pupils are educated free of charge,for them not to worry their parents for school fees or fear the fact of being driven out of their classrooms,all they do worry about is how to study and understand what knowledge acquired can do for a person.
Lucky for these chaps,they have willing teachers in the persons of Lydia Amponsah,Robert Nkansah and a Headmistress Dorothy Appiah who says the school is set to sail inspite of its challenges.

FRONT VIEW OF THE SCHOOL. Picture by Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba

Picture  Credit; Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba