By Jones Anlimah
Koensim M/A Primary and Junior High School in the Jasikan Municipality of the Oti Region has witnessed a remarkable transformation following interventions by Plan International Ghana. The school, which previously struggled with poor sanitation facilities, a lack of potable water, and low student enrollment, has seen significant improvements in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking to GBC News, the headmaster of the school, Mr. Benoni Nyasorgbor, highlighted the dire conditions before the intervention, particularly for female students. “When I came to this school, I met a student population of 79. There were no proper toilet facilities, so students, especially girls, had to go into the bush to relieve themselves, exposing them to infections and snake bites. Teenage girls often skipped school during menstruation due to the lack of changing rooms,” he said.
To help achieve SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), Plan International Ghana, under its Integrated Package for Sustainable Development (I-PADEV) project, partnered with the Koensim community in the Jasikan Municipality of the Oti Region to construct a gender-friendly latrine with separate sections for boys and girls, as well as a dedicated changing room for menstruating female students. These improvements have led to increased school attendance, particularly among female students, and have driven enrollment up from 79 to 224 students within two years.
The intervention also addressed water scarcity in the community. “Children had to walk for about two hours to fetch water from a stream, making them late and exhausted for classes,” Mr. Nyasorgbor explained. Under SDG 6, Plan International Ghana provided a borehole that supplies potable water to the entire community and the school, reducing lateness and improving hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing. “Now, waterborne diseases have reduced, and students no longer have to miss school because of water shortages,” the headmaster added.
A student from Koensim M/A Primary and Junior High School, Adjei Naomi, shared her experience before and after the intervention. “We used to go into the bushes to urinate and defecate. When we had our periods, we had to go back home, and sometimes we didn’t return to school. But now, with the latrine and changing room, we stay in school and attend classes regularly. The potable water also helps us stay in school without missing lessons,” she said.
Beyond sanitation and water supply, Plan International Ghana has also provided teaching and learning materials to improve academic work, aligning with SDG 4. “With the introduction of the new curriculum, we lacked textbooks, and teachers had to download learning materials from town due to poor network access. Plan International Ghana supplied textbooks, making teaching and learning easier,” Mr. Nyasorgbor noted.
The impact of these interventions is evident in the school’s academic performance. The school’s first Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2023 recorded a 70% pass rate, which improved to 90% in 2024.
The transformation at Koensim M/A Primary and JHS serves as a testament to how targeted interventions in education, water, and sanitation can drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring inclusive and quality education for all.
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