ActionAid Ghana has donated classroom furniture to selected kindergarten schools in the Banda District of the Bono Region to improve teaching and learning amid a severe shortage of school furniture in the area.
The organisation presented 36 sets of child-friendly furniture and nine teacher tables and chairs to schools in Bofie, Biema and Wewa. The intervention is expected to benefit 216 kindergarten pupils by providing them with a safer and more conducive learning environment.
The donation comes as the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the district reports a deficit of 1,320 school furniture units, comprising 1,200 dual desks and 120 hexagonal desks, leaving many pupils without adequate seating.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony at the Banda Ahinkro Methodist School, Interim Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, Abdullah Abdul Rahaman, described education as a powerful tool for transforming lives and promoting equity.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and building a more just, inclusive, and equitable society,” he said.
“Every child, regardless of their background or location, deserves the opportunity to learn, to dream, and to realise their full potential.”
He said ActionAid Ghana remains committed to improving learning environments, promoting inclusive education and expanding access to quality education, particularly for girls and children from marginalised communities.
According to him, through the organisation’s Complementary Basic Education initiatives and support for Ghana’s School Re-entry Policy, more than 20,511 children have either enrolled in school or returned to continue their education.
Mr. Abdul Rahaman said the organisation has also supported the construction and rehabilitation of kindergarten facilities, improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, provided learning materials and created child-friendly spaces in districts including Banda and Tain.
He urged the Ghana Education Service, school authorities, parents and community leaders to ensure proper maintenance of the furniture to guarantee its long-term use.
The Banda District Director of Education, Isaac Adjei, described the furniture shortage as a major challenge affecting quality education delivery and said the donation would improve classroom conditions.
“This support will greatly enhance the teaching and learning environment. With proper seating arrangements, pupils can learn in comfort, and teachers can deliver effectively,” he said.
Mr. Adjei, however, noted that the district is also facing a shortage of about 165 teachers, a figure he said is expected to increase to 180 due to ongoing staff releases.
“This situation continues to affect academic work in the district. There is an urgent need for more teachers to be posted to Banda to address the gap,” he appealed.
Representing the District Chief Executive, District Coordinating Director Amoako Adams commended ActionAid Ghana for the intervention and urged beneficiary schools to properly maintain the furniture to ensure its durability.
The presentation was attended by headteachers, teachers, traditional authorities, Assembly Members and Parent-Teacher Association representatives from the beneficiary communities. Stakeholders said sustained investment in educational infrastructure and teacher recruitment remains critical to addressing the broader challenges facing education in the Banda District.
