The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has donated 400 mono metal-recycled plastic desks to four senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis as part of efforts to address furniture shortages and improve teaching and learning.
The beneficiary schools are Prince of Peace Senior High School, Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, Kumasi Senior High Technical School (KSTS) and Islamic Senior High School, with each institution receiving 100 desks.
The furniture was presented to the Kumasi Metro Education Directorate by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, for distribution to the beneficiary schools.
Mr Ofori-Agyeman Boadi said the donation forms part of the Assembly’s broader efforts to improve educational infrastructure and create a conducive environment for students.
He said the government remained committed to improving teaching and learning and would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening the education sector.
According to him, several educational projects are also ongoing in the metropolis, including the construction of a 24-seater toilet facility for KSTS and assembly halls for Islamic SHS and Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS.
The Mayor disclosed that the Assembly is also planning to procure and distribute more than 1,000 additional furniture sets to schools before the end of the year.
He explained that the use of recycled plastic desks aligns with the national policy to gradually phase out wooden furniture in schools.
“The government is committed to ensuring that our students learn in a conducive environment. To that end, the President has directed that within the next five years we should phase out the use of wooden desks in our schools,” he said.
Mr Ofori-Agyeman Boadi said the recycled desks were more durable, environmentally friendly and required less maintenance than wooden furniture, while also supporting efforts to reduce deforestation and promote recycling.
He called on alumni associations of second-cycle institutions to support the initiative by providing modern furniture and other resources to their former schools.
He cited support from old students of Opoku Ware School and KSTS as examples that could be replicated by other alumni groups.
The Mayor also urged the beneficiary schools to properly maintain the furniture to ensure its longevity.
Receiving the desks on behalf of the Metro Education Directorate, the Head of the Planning and Statistics Unit, Mrs Judith Mensah-Bamford, who represented the Metro Education Director, David Oppong, expressed appreciation to the KMA for the intervention.
She said the furniture would help reduce pressure on existing desks and improve comfort for students.
Mrs Mensah-Bamford noted that inadequate furniture and other infrastructure challenges continued to affect effective teaching and learning and called for increased investment in education.
Headteachers of the beneficiary schools also welcomed the donation, saying the new desks would contribute to a more conducive learning environment.
They assured the Assembly that the furniture would be properly maintained to prevent premature damage and reduce the need for frequent replacements.
The KMA said it would continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to provide resources needed to improve the quality of education in the metropolis.
