Abandze | Aboase | Foso | Moree
Abandze
Abandze is located on the main Accra-Takoradi road. It has an estimated population of about 7,000, sheltered in about 500 buildings. Social amenities in the community include electricity, potable water, and public places of convenience. The school is about 300 meters from the center of the community. It has a very old school building, but the building is still strong due to constant maintenance. However, there are a few cracks on some parts of the walls. There is an office and a store attached to the classroom block.
During the PRA exercises in November 1998, the community members explained that while the school had had very impressive performance records in the past, standards had fallen considerably, starting as far back as the 1980s. A major cause sited for the poor standards was the necessity of using a shift system because of the high pupil population in the area. There were also inadequate supplies (teaching & learning materials, textbooks, furniture, etc.) to accommodate the shifts. Examples of other problem areas included:
- Pupil attendance was poor, especially during the bumper fishing season.
- Parents visited the school only irregularly and their attendance at PTA meetings was very poor.
- Pupils had difficulty doing homework because most of their siblings/parents were illiterate and could not help them.
- The SMC was not aware that they should have working relationships with the DA and the DEO and were receiving no assistance from them.
- Teachers had problems securing accommodation and options made available by the school were inadequate.
Abandze has realized considerable improvement in the past year, especially in the areas of empowerment, gender equity, participation, and partnerships. The PTA Chairman, SMC Chairman, and A-Stream Headmistress have provided leadership and motivation to the community. They are very active in organizing meetings, monitoring school children, and ensuring the success of school projects. New developments in the community include:
- The community has started contributing more toward their children's education in terms of school needs, school facilities, and supervision/monitoring of performance and attendance.
- Parents have started visiting the school to discuss children's school issues and performance. Interaction between parents and teachers has increased.
- The SMC and PTA are more active. They have scheduled meetings and implemented the decisions taken at the meetings. Attendance at meetings has improved.
- Community members have started patrolling the beaches to control truancy among pupils.
- The community has planted trees on the school compound for beautification.
