REBIRTH OF ODUMASE PRESBY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, the full story

Isn’t it startling that for one hundred and twenty one years, a classroom block was left without any major renovation despite the warning signs of falling debris and imminent collapse? Why it should take the death of an innocent pupil and the injury of three others to reconstruct a 121-year-old school building not in any typical village but in the heart of a town like Odumase-Krobo could only be a manifestation of our lack of maintenance culture and, if you like, negligence of duty as a people. And yet, this happened; that was how Zain/Airtel Ghana found its way into the Odumase-Krobo community and rebuilt the old classroom block of the Presbyterian Junior High School in a typical Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) effort which has since proven beneficial not only to the community, teachers and pupils but the company as well.  

The state of the 121 year old classroom block which prompted the story in the Daily Graphic before Zain's intervention

Watch the full video via this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLVH07UUu1k&list=UU7ljxYzKiZJZYmrQI8c0nLA

The school after reconstruction and handover

On Thursday May 7, 2009, a story in the back page (pg. 72) of the Daily Graphic newspaper prompted the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team of Zain (now Airtel) to implement arguably the biggest of its CSR and Community Relations (CR) initiatives at the Presbyterian Junior High School at Odumase-Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region. The article, written by Henking A. Adjase Kodjo, reported that part of the roof on a visibly weak 1888-built classroom block flew off the building during a rainstorm on Wednesday December 3, 2008 and instantly killed a twelve-year-old class six pupil, Bernard Narteh, leaving three others injured.

After an investigation into the incident and the life-threatening condition in the school which had compelled teachers to desert their post, the team decided to go beyond the initial plan of implementing mere repair and build a whole new structure.

Barely three months after the report (May 7, 2009 to August 12, 2009), the death trap of a classroom block gave way to a magnificent six-unit classroom block consisting of a fully stocked 40-seater library, a 30-seater computer laboratory with internet access, new washrooms, a staff common room with a computer that has internet access, a printer and a fridge, as well as a headteacher’s office with similar facilities.

All six classrooms were fitted with both black and white boards and stocked with newly built desks, chairs and cupboards. The building was also connected, for the first time, with electricity and potable water and fitted with access ramp to facilitate movement of persons with disability. It was finally handed over to the stakeholders including the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly (LMKMA) and the Manya Krobo Traditional Council (MKTC) at an impressive ceremony on Wednesday August 12, 2009.

The school building which proudly stands in the community has since turned a model school in the municipality and a WAEC-approved examination center for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Zain’s motivation for the project could be put down to its “Build Our Nation” Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and strategy to enhance its Community Relations (CR) and or image at the grassroots.
       

 The first story titled:  DANGER ! ODUMASE PRESBY SCHOOL COLLAPSING

The Presbyterian Junior High School at Odumase-Krobo faces imminent closure if urgent measures are not put in place to rehabilitate the crumbling school building after 121 years of neglect.

The dilapidated structure does not only pose a danger to the lives of the students and their teachers but also does not provide a conducive environment for efficient academic work.

Parts of the roof of the original four-classroom block keep flying in all directions anytime it rains, to the extent that one stream of three classes has been affected and the students are putting up in a renovated primary school black, creating discomfort for the pupils and the children in the primary school.

A picture of the school when it rains

The school in its worse state

Already, one life has been lost and three other students sustained various degrees of injury during a rainstorm last year, compelling the teachers to issue threat of deserting their post for safety.

Narrating the incident that led to the death of one of the students, the Headmaster of the school, Nene Seth Ayertey, told the Daily Graphic that at about 2:30 pm on Wednesday December 3, 2008, a severe storm hit the school, ripped off part of the roof and instantly killed a 13-year-old- primary class six boy.

According to him, three other students, who together with the deceased were running to seek shelter under the roof during the storm, sustained various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Atua Government Hospital for treatment. The deceased, Bernard Narteh, has since been buried.

Bernard Narteh, the 12-year-old class six pupil who died during the rain storm

Nene Ayertey said ever since the incident, the school had been hit by several of such storms anytime it rained, the last of which was on Friday, April 24, 2009, adding that “the school was spared the worst form of the disaster because classes were not in session when the roof fell right on the assembly ground”. He wondered why the authorities concerned should neglect the school to that level.

Asked whether the attention of the authorities had been drawn to the plight of the school, the headmaster said all the major stakeholders including the Lower Manya Krobo District Assembly (LMKDA); the Ghana Education Service (GES); Presby Regional Education Unit, Koforidua; Presby Education Foundation and the Dangme-Tongu Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) have been notified as far back as December 2008.

He indicated that institutions such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Ghana Cement (GHACEM) were also served letters to extend their aid to the school but none of them had responded.

Nene Ayertey blamed the woes of the school on the district assembly, the church and the GES.

Commenting on the issue, the immediate past Chief Executive of the district, Mr. David Sackitey Asare, who was in office at the time, explained that the assembly could not offer any assistance because it was financially handicapped.

On his part, The District Minister in charge of the Zimmermann Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Samuel Atter Odjelua, who doubles as the local manager of the school, intimated that the church was looking for funds to build a three unit classroom block for the primary section.

He stated that the church would be compelled to organise itself to make an input if quick responses were received from other stakeholders and challenged the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school to be up and doing.

The PTA Chairman, Mr. Asare Mate-Kodjo, denied claims that the PTA had not been up to the task and said it could not help the situation because of lack of funds

A close-up shot of the building 

Front view of the school before the reconstruction

                        Below is the second story as published in the Daily Graphic of.. , pg  20

ZAIN RESCUES ODUMASE-KROBO PRESBYTERIAN JHS

Zain officials including the Chief Executive Officer of Zain Africa, Mr. Chris Gabriel, being conducted round the school building by the Headmaster, Nene Seth Ayertey on their first visit. 

The Presbyterian Junior High School at Odumase-Krobo in the Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region has finally found a rescuer.

Zain Ghana has restored smiles back on the faces of the pupils and teachers of the school after 121 years of neglect.

Mr. Chris Gabriel, CEO of Zain Africa (middle) being briefed on the storm that hit the school. Looking on are Mr. Philip Sowah, MD of Zain Ghana (first from left) and Rev Samuel Atter Odjelua, District Minister of PCG, Odumase-Krobo

Prompted by a report carried in the May 7, 2009 edition of the Daily Graphic, the management of the company has taken an immediate step to demolish the crumbling building originally built in 1888 to prevent a worse form of the disaster which hit the school late last year, claiming a life and injuring three others.

In its place, the company would rebuild a three classroom block with an office, a staff common room, a fully stocked library in addition to a well-furnished computer laboratory.

Five other adjourning classrooms which were later built after the original bock but which are not in a dangerous condition would also be renovated.

Zain officials touring the facility

Zain officials in one of the classrooms

The Headmaster, Nene Seth Ayertey, pointing the weak rafter on the building to Mr. Chris Gabriel

Work on the project would start immediately after the ongoing consultation with the stakeholders.

Explaining the rationale behind the project at a short ceremony with chiefs and people of Odumase-Krobo on the premises of the school, the Chief Executive Officer of Zain Africa, Mr. Chris Gabriel, said the project formed part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), fitting directly into  the “Build our Nation” activities lined up to help in the country’s development.

He stated that Zain was committed to making a difference in the communities in which it operates, adding “When we heard of the condition in which the children were being taught, we were moved to act promptly”.

“Having seen the structure, it seems to us that it is beyond repairs and so must be completely rebuilt”, Mr. Gabriel stressed adding, “Education is a basic human right; children should not have to face threatening condition just to get education”.

Mr. Gabriel also commended the teachers for making the effort to educate the children in what he described as a challenging situation, adding “The spirit with which you teach these children is a reflection of the core values of Zain”.

Mr. Chris Gabriel giving details about the project to the media

Zain Africa CEO addressing the media on the day of the first visit

In a speech read on behalf of the District Director of Education, Mr. Augustus Nii Lantei Cleland, he thanked the Management of Zain for the timely intervention to save the situation and promised Ghana Education Service’s support throughout the project.

For his part, Sipim Mate Kole who read the welcoming address on behalf of the Konor, Nene Sakite II, lauded the initiative taken by Zain and urged all stakeholders to emulate it, adding that your “assistance could not have come at a better time”.

Sipim Ossom Mate Kole addressing the gathering on behalf of the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II. Looking on is Otsiame Amlalo (with linguist staff) and Mr. Benjamin Ato Afful, External Affairs Executive of Zain Ghana

Sipim delivering his speech. Seated from right to left are Chris Gabriel, CEO, Zain Africa; Mr. Steve Torode, COO, Zain Central Africa, Mrs. Carmen Bruce Annan, Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs of Zain Ghana and Rev Samuel Atter Odjelua, District Minister, PCG Odumase-Krobo  who doubles as the Local Manage of Presby Schools

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Headmaster of the school, Nene Seth Ayertey, who vividly looked elated and relieved expressed his appreciation to the company for going the extra mile to do such a project as part of its CSR, adding that “this would go a long way to help provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning which has long eluded the school and to ensure the safety of both staff and pupils”.

When contacted for their comment, a representative of the teachers, Mr. Henry Mensah, told the Daily Graphic, “Our safety now looks assured” and he wondered if any of the teachers would still continue to issue threat to desert post for safety.

The Daily Graphic reporter who broke the story, Henking A. Adjase-Kodjo (in pink shirt with bag on the shoulder) touring the school compound the team

Zain, which started operating in the country barley six months ago and the first  to launch  the widest 3.5G network coverage (the fastest in the country and Africa) now has great presence in the Greater Accra Region with over 800, 000 customers.

A gathering of students being addressed by Zain officials

The students on the feet to welcome their guests

                            
         Below is the 4th story as published in the Daily Graphic of  Tuesday July 21, 2009 (pg..)

The 4th story as published in the Daily Graphic of Tuesday July 21, 2009

                                 PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL REHABILITATION BEGINS

Demolition begins

Reconstruct work on the crumbling Presbyterain Junior High School classroom block at Odumase-Krobo in the Eastern Region has begun

The project, which is being sponsored by Zain Ghana is expected to be completed in two months.

Earlier in the week, the dilapidated six classroom block, a staff common room and an office was razed down to pave way for the reconstruction work.

Time to raze down the old structure

Workers feverishly pushing down the walls of the adjourning classroom block

Demolition exercise in progress

Demolition almost complete

This follows an intervention by the management of Zain Ghana after a publication of the pathetic condition of the school by the Daily Graphic.

It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its May 7, 2009 edition, carried a story about the state of the school which was posing a serious threat to the lives of both teachers and pupils. The structure was reported to have killed a pupil and injured three others during a rains storm late last year.

Subsequently, the management of Zain was touched by the story and, as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, decided to rebuild the original part of the building which was built in 1888 and to renovate the rest.

At the moment, the entire JHS block has been demolished and work is ongoing to erect in its place a six-unit classroom block, a staff room and a headmaster’s office.

The block will include a fully stocked library, furnished computer laboratory with internet connectivity as well as a place of convenience for both teachers and the physically challenged who previously had no such facility.

Foundation works in progress

Explaining the rationale behind the total demolishing against the initial plan to rebuild only the original part and to renovate the adjourning classroom, Mr. Joseph Biga, Facilities Manage of Zain Ghana disclosed that their decision was informed by findings during the demolition exercise, adding that, “we thought the extension was strong enough to be renovated but discovered otherwise”.

“It was going to be a waste of time and resources to renovate the weak part which would end up negating the work done”, he stressed adding that “the project is expected to be completed by the first week of August for inauguration”.

In an interview, the Headmaster of the school, Nene Seth Ayertey, was very appreciative of the pace of the project and progress made so far.

He expressed the hope that the project would be carried through successfully in to time to provide the conducive environment for teaching and learning “which has for a long time eluded us”.

A teacher of the school, Mrs. Rosina Asare who could not hide her happiness, also expressed her gratitude to the management of Zain for their prompt response to the call of the school.

“Not only have they saved lives but have made a life-long investment which would go a long way to benefit the children and society in general”, she emphasised.

        Below is the fourth story as published in the Daily Graphic of Friday June 5, 2009 (pg..)

                         

Work nears completion

                      WORK ON ODUMASE PRESBY JHS ALMOST COMPLETE

Construction work on the Presbyterian Junior High School at Odumase-Krobo which started barely a month and half ago is fast nearing completion for the planned handover to Zain Ghana on August 5, 2009.

The block is expected to be inaugurated soon after.

At the time of the visit of the Daily Graphic to the site, the building was at its roofing stage, with workers busily at work to meet the set deadline.

Reconstruction work almost 90% complete

The new set of furniture being polished to be distributed into the classrooms

The new tables for teachers

The new facility which is also disability-friendly, is made up of six classrooms, a library and a computer laboratory.

It also has a headmaster’s office, a store, a staff common room as well as a washroom for the disabled and teachers.

It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic in its May 7, 2009 edition carried a story about the crumbling school block which claimed the life of a 12-year-old pupil and injured three others.

The story prompted the management of Zain Ghana to reconstruct the entire school building.

In a related development, Journalists for Human Rights-GIJ chapter, a human rights advocacy group, has offered to meet the authorities of the school to discuss some human rights issues in the area.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the group, Mr. Seth Joseph Bokpe, “other human rights institutions and groups have been brought on board”.

He also stated that as part of the activities of the group, a four-day sensitisation programme would be carried out in the early part of next month for some selected students of the school as well as youth groups in the area.