Kintampo: The Kintampo Technical Institute in the Bono Region is on the verge of collapse due to poor infrastructure, authorities have said. Now, most of the boarding students, including girls, sleep on the bare floor in the deplorable classrooms blocks because of the lack of dormitories.
According to Ghana News Agency, the institute lacks an assembly hall, a canteen, a dining hall, teachers' quarters, and workshops for practical studies. The institute's authorities have called on the government to come to their aid to make the academic environment comfortable for both teachers and students.
Mr. Abdul Hafiz, the School's Accountant, made the appeal in an interview and highlighted the need for a sick bay and additional classroom blocks. He stated that a classroom block had been converted into a boys' dormitory, which could only accommodate 12 students, while the girls' dormitory also required expansion as it could house only 12 girls.
Established in 2002, the institute currently has 620 students with 120 in the boarding house. Mr. Hafiz noted that many boys and girls sleep on the bare floor in some of the classrooms. The institute offers five major academic programs, including Wood Technology, Electrical Engineering, Fashion, Catering, Building and Construction, along with non-examinable courses such as Home Management, Information and Communication Technology, and Entrepreneurship.
Mr. Hafiz described the infrastructure development of the school as appalling, which has led to heavy student congestion in most classrooms. He warned that if the situation persists, it could lead to outbreaks of diseases. The challenges have also slowed down the school's enrollment, impacting effective teaching and learning, with many parents and guardians withdrawing their children and wards.
Some boarding girls reported battling bedbugs and appealed for the expansion of the girls' dormitory. Mr. Thomas Benarkuu, the Coordinator of the Bono East Regional chapter of the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, urged the government to save the institute from collapse. He emphasized the importance of TVET education for industrialization and reducing unemployment in the country and called for a framework to guide TVET education.
Reacting to the congestion situation, Mr. Patrick Amankona, a Health Promotion Officer at the Sunyani Municipal Directorate of Health, warned that it could lead to outbreaks of skin diseases and lung inflammations. He stated that individuals with weak immunity are vulnerable to infections and allergies and called for urgent attention to address the congestion problem.
