When we think about our childhood, we may be met with mixed memories, good or bad. But one thing no child should face is the anxiety that comes with a lack of school supplies when heading back to school for a new term or academic year.
In Ghana, the shortage of school supplies and teaching materials directly affects the quality of education for school children. A 2022 survey conducted by the Ghana Education Service revealed that only 45% of Junior High Schools received the necessary textbooks for the new curriculum. This has led to teachers and students relying on outdated resources, and in some cases, having no resources at all. Without these resources, students may struggle to engage and participate in class, while teachers face challenges in delivering high-quality lessons and creating an interactive and engaging learning environment.
This is why our team has shared their childhood and personal memories from basic school to raise awareness about the issue of inadequate school supplies and its impact on young learners’ education.
Rhoda
Founder and CEO Rhoda Agilinko fondly recalls shopping for school supplies with her father and siblings.
One of my cherished memories from primary school is shopping for school supplies with my siblings and my dad. He would spare no expense to ensure we were well-prepared for the upcoming term.
I was that kid who had an extra pen and pencil on hand for friends, a fresh set of coloured pencils and a big school bag at the start of each term. I was ready to learn!
Mavis
Social Media Lead Mavis Aygemong cherishes the memory of a teacher who significantly boosted her confidence.
I went to three different primary schools. I have great memories of my social and creative arts teacher who helped me discover my talents in sports and singing. One of the highlights of my primary school experience was leading songs with my friend every Wednesday.
Kirsten
Executive Kirsten Fletcher formed strong friendships during her elementary school years.
This is me in Primary school. My best friend was called Katherine so we used to call ourselves the KitKats.
Farouk
For our program coordinator, Farouk Yakubu, school was an adventure with friends.
My most memorable primary school memory is the time my friends and I found an old abandoned local house hidden behind bushes at school. We explored it and found a dusty comic book, a rusty tin box with marbles, and a tattered map, which we thought was a treasure map. We spent days searching for the treasure and finally found a buried box with a note and chocolate coins inside. The house became our special spot where we shared stories and snacks.
Sita
Our Sita Youth Engagement Officer gave him access to books he couldn’t find elsewhere.
One day, my friend and I went to the school library and found an interesting book called “Town Mouse and Country Mouse.” We couldn’t finish it there, so we went to the district library to continue reading. We took the book without realising we needed to register and pay a fee. When my friend’s mother found out, she made us return the book. The librarian was surprised that we had taken the book without registering and thanked us for returning it. Since then, we made it a habit to visit the library often to study and read new books.
If you believe that education is a fundamental right, and every child deserves access to quality learning materials, then please consider donating. With your support, we can bring access to quality education to the lives of hundreds of children in rural Ghana.
