In a major boost to education in the Wa East District, Plan International Ghana has officially handed over a massive consignment of school furniture to the Ghana Education Service (GES). The donation, valued at approximately GH₵ 1.4 million, is set to minimize the days of students sitting on cold floors or lying on their stomachs to write.
As part of the “PROTECT” Project (Promoting Resilience, Opportunity, and Equity for Children and Adolescents Through Transformation), the organization provided 900 Dual Desks for primary and junior high schools, and 375 Sets of Age-Appropriate Pre-school Furniture specifically designed for kindergarten learners.
During the presentation, Mr. Kamaldeen Iddrisu, Program Coordinator for Plan International Ghana, shared that previous visits to the district revealed a worrying gap where many kindergarteners were using adult-sized desks where their feet couldn’t even touch the floor.
“This donation ensures that children now have a comfortable, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment to learn. By providing furniture tailored to their size, the project aims to make the classroom a more inviting and effective space for the youngest learners to thrive”.
The project, dubbed “Promoting Resilience, Opportunity, and Equity for Children and Adolescents Through Transformation” (PROTECT), aims to create a safe environment for children, adolescents, and youth, particularly girls and young women, free from all forms of abuse, including sexual and gender-based violence Mr. Kamaldeen explain.
According to Mr. Kamaldeen the other component in the protect project was training of teachers on issues of child protection so that the children can keep safe in their various schools.
The project is being implemented in partnership with community development alliance (CDA), in 20 communities in the Wa east district.
Receiving the furniture on behalf of the District Director, Mr. Nbenaba Timothy expressed profound gratitude, noting that Plan International has been a pillar of support in the district for over 20 years.
“If not for your aid, a whole lot of things regarding education would have gone bad He noted”.
“If you go to many of our schools, you will see empty classrooms. There are instances where you see children lying on their stomachs to write,” Mr. Timothy shared. “Having the foresight to provide this furniture is a massive plus for us.”
He also gave his word that the GES will strictly monitor the use of the furniture to ensure it is well-protected and remains in good condition for years to come.
