The partners of St. Theresa Parish and friends of Fr. Martin from Paderborn Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to improving educational infrastructure in the Savannah Region by donating 300 dual-desk furniture and rehabilitating a mechanised borehole for St. Anne’s school in Damongo.
The intervention, which benefited St. Theresa and St. Anne’s Schools, was made possible through the support of the Friends of Fr. Martin from Paderborn, Germany.
The furniture was officially handed over by the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Very Rev. Fr. Martin Mousayir, on behalf of the Bishop of Damongo, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier.
Addressing teachers, students, and stakeholders during the presentation ceremony, Fr. Martin revealed that the Diocese responded to appeals from school authorities regarding the severe shortage of furniture and the breakdown of a mechanised borehole serving the schools.
According to him, the Diocese’s partners in Germany immediately responded to the request after learning about the plight of the pupils, particularly the challenges they faced in accessing drinking water during the hot weather conditions.
“We could not imagine children coming to school in this heat and struggling to get water to drink,” Fr. Martin said.
He disclosed that a medical doctor from Germany, Dr. Reiner, personally provided funds to ensure that water was supplied to the schools through tanker services while arrangements were made to replace the stolen borehole pump and undertake the necessary plumbing repairs.
Fr. Martin announced that the borehole has now been fully repaired, with a new pump installed to restore water supply to the schools.
Beyond the water project, the Diocese donated 300 dual desks capable of accommodating 600 pupils. Of the total, 100 desks were allocated to St. Theresa School to support its newly established Junior High School, while the remaining 200 desks were given to St. Anne’s School for distribution among its primary and junior high departments according to need.
The Vicar General noted that each desk cost approximately GH¢490 to produce, bringing the total value of the furniture donation to about GH¢147,000.
He, however, challenged school authorities to cultivate a strong maintenance culture to ensure the longevity of the furniture and other school facilities.
“Our friends from Germany were concerned about the number of broken furniture they saw. We must develop a culture of maintenance to protect these investments and ensure they serve generations of pupils,” he stated.
Fr. Martin proposed the formation of school maintenance teams comprising teachers and students to monitor the condition of the furniture and coordinate repairs when necessary.
He also commended all stakeholders supporting education in the municipality, including government, politicians, development partners, and faith-based organizations, emphasizing that quality education requires collective responsibility.
“Education remains the foundation for national development. While government has the primary responsibility, partnerships with churches, communities, and development partners are crucial in ensuring quality education for our children,” he added.
The presentation was witnessed by education officials, school authorities, teachers, students, and community leaders, who expressed gratitude to the Catholic Diocese of Damongo and its international partners for the timely intervention.
The donation is expected to significantly improve teaching and learning conditions in the beneficiary schools while providing pupils with a more conducive learning environment.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
