Some recently enrolled Form One students of Labone Senior High School in Accra sit on the floor while the rest cram on dining hall benches during lessons.
The situation has raised concerns among parents, who were asked to contribute GH¢300 for infrastructure in addition to the GH¢100 Parent Teacher Association dues but say they have seen no improvement.
When The Mirror visited the school on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, a number of classrooms had students in uncomfortable positions, especially as all the good desks were being used by the seniors (Form Three students) who were writing a mock exam.
While some leaned against walls as they wrote, others shared small desks meant for one person.
In certain classes, more than six students were seen crowded on dining hall benches, writing on their laps because there were no desks.
A teacher of Integrated Science, Mr Obed Nyarko, told The Mirror that the problem, which had persisted for years, usually began at the start of the academic year when the school admitted a large number of students under the government’s double-track system.
He explained that the existing desks were insufficient for the growing student population.
Some desks were old, with broken legs or shaky tops, making them unsafe for use.
Mr Nyarko said the shortage affected teaching and learning because students, sometimes over 60 in a class, became easily distracted when seated on the floor or benches.
“It is difficult to move around the classroom because of how students are seated, which makes it hard to check exercises and guide them properly. Just now, I asked them to do a ‘closed book’ test, but because they were so close, some were ‘giraffeing’ to copy and I couldn’t really do much about it,” he noted.
Some students confirmed that they sometimes had to sit on the floor during lessons.
“It is mainly us Form One fresh students. Once our seniors leave, we get desks to sit on,” said Nana Akua, a new student.
She added that the dining hall benches were particularly uncomfortable for classes.
“My back and legs hurt after sitting on the bench for long hours because I have to bend over to write in my book. When I get tired, I kneel on the floor or squat, then put the book on the bench or floor to write,” she explained.
A General Arts Five Student, Philip Kojo, said the situation had improved slightly since they now used the dining hall benches.
“In the early days when we first came, two weeks ago, most of us were even sitting on the floor. If you didn’t fight to get a chair, you had to sit on the floor,” he recalled.
A parent who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity expressed disappointment that their children were learning in such poor conditions, even though during a PTA meeting, they were asked to contribute GH¢300 towards infrastructure development.
She said she expected the fee to go toward essential facilities such as desks and other basic items needed for teaching and learning.
“We, as parents, are even ready to offer our support towards some projects because at the end of the day these are our children and we want the best for them,” she noted.
School authorities
When The Mirror went to the school’s administration office, the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration, Mr Ishmael Ayim, said the headmistress was the best person to explain the situation but was not available.
“It is true that we have a desk and infrastructure deficit, but here we follow a hierarchical order, so it wouldn’t be my place to comment, as I don’t have the full information on the situation on the ground or the measures being taken. I’m not privy to the discussions at the higher level.
We typically only speak when our governing body, the Ghana Education Service, instructs us to do so,” he explained.
Mr Ayim added that interviews could be arranged at a later date.
He, however, noted that as a school, they were periodically required to present a report on their state, especially when new students were enrolled.
He added that, as such, he was hopeful that through those reports, support might come.
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