Teacher Shortage Crisis Leaves One Man Teaching 12 Classes Alone in Northern Ghana
- Samuel Donkor, a trained teacher, is currently the only permanent teacher at Kakpeni D/A Primary and Junior High School in the Northern Region
- Mr Donkor is responsible for teaching all 12 classes in the school, ranging from Kindergarten to Junior High School
- Despite the challenges, Samuel Donkor remains hopeful for improved staffing and better learning conditions
In the remote Kakpeni D/A Primary and Junior High School in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region, one man is quietly carrying what many describe as an overwhelming educational burden.
He is Samuel Donkor, a government-trained teacher who has, for more than three years, been the only permanent teacher handling the entire school population of 448 pupils.
Source: Facebook
His daily routine has earned him the nickname “one man teacher” among residents, as he single-handedly manages 12 classes spanning from Kindergarten to Junior High School.
Every morning before the first school bell rings, Samuel Donkor is already at post preparing for a demanding day ahead.
He arranges his lesson notes, checks his limited teaching materials, and mentally prepares to teach multiple classes across different levels.
At Kakpeni D/A Primary and JHS, he is not only a classroom teacher but also the acting headteacher, effectively managing both academic and administrative responsibilities.
According to him, the workload is intensified by the lack of permanent staff, with only occasional and unreliable support from two community volunteers who are often unavailable due to personal commitments.
To manage the situation, classes have been merged beyond standard practice. Kindergarten through Basic Three share a single classroom, Basic Four and Five are combined, while Basic Six and Junior High School classes are taught separately.
This arrangement, while necessary, has created a strained learning environment where pupils at different academic levels are taught together despite varying syllabi and learning needs.
Samuel Donkor moves from one class to another throughout the day, teaching core subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Science, and Ghanaian Language.
He admits the system is far from ideal.
“I do what I can, but I know it is not enough. These children deserve more,” he said.
He added that while he is engaged in one class, others are often left unattended or resort to playing due to a lack of supervision.
“By the time I reach the last class, the first class has forgotten what I taught them,” he lamented.
Infrastructure and safety challenges
Beyond staffing shortages, the school is also battling serious infrastructure deficits. Some Junior High School pupils are forced to sit under trees due to a lack of proper classrooms, exposing them to harsh weather conditions.
Source: UGC
Furniture and basic learning materials are also insufficient, further affecting academic performance.
Samuel Donkor’s challenges extend beyond the classroom. Travelling for official duties to Kpandai requires crossing a river by canoe, often without life jackets, a journey he describes as dangerous, especially during the rainy season.
He recalled a frightening incident where a canoe he was on capsized, though fortunately, no lives were lost.
Community concern grows
Residents of Kakpeni say the situation is affecting educational outcomes in the community. Some pupils, particularly in lower primary, are reportedly struggling with basic literacy and numeracy due to inconsistent teaching.
“There are more days without lessons than days we are taught,” one pupil said.
Parents and community members are increasingly worried about the long-term impact, warning that the lack of structured learning could contribute to rising social issues such as teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
“We are also Ghanaians. Our children deserve quality education like others,” said resident Abel Makiwi.
Calls for urgent intervention
The community is calling on the government, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently post more teachers to the school. They have also appealed for the inclusion of Kakpeni D/A in the School Feeding Programme to improve attendance and retention.
Official response and cautious optimism
The Kpandai District Education Directorate has acknowledged the challenges and confirmed that two additional teachers have been posted to the school and are expected to report soon.
Education authorities say ongoing recruitment efforts could help reduce teacher distribution disparities in rural areas.
Despite the difficulties, Samuel Donkor remains hopeful that sustained government intervention will ease the burden and improve learning conditions for pupils in the community.
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Students below JHS3 barred from taking BECE
YEN.com.gh previously reported that the government had taken steps to restrict Basic Education Certificate Examination registration to only those in Junior High School 3.
The Education Minister blamed poor results on unprepared students sitting for examinations too early.
The new policy aimed to ensure that only qualified candidates take the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Source: YEN.com.gh
