Source: Christian Ahodie
Students, management, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Volta Technical Institute are grappling with a severe water shortage and deepening infrastructure challenges, a situation they say is undermining teaching and learning on campus.
Speaking to Atinka TV’s reporter, Christian Ahodie, students and PTA executives expressed frustration over what they described as prolonged neglect and appealed to government, NGOs, benevolent organisations, and philanthropists for urgent intervention.
Background and Water Crisis
Established in 2013 by the people of the Matse community in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region, the school was absorbed by the government in 2016 under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.
Despite having three boreholes on campus, none is currently functional. As a result, students are forced to leave campus in search of water for drinking and domestic use. Some students revealed that they wake up late at night to fetch water from nearby streets, surrounding communities, and even streams — a practice they describe as unsafe and unhealthy.
Footage captured by our cameras showed students trekking at night to fetch water before preparing for school, a situation they say disrupts their academic work and overall well-being.
Severe Infrastructure Challenges
Beyond the water crisis, students also complained about an acute shortage of desks and chairs, forcing some to sit on bare floors during lessons. Several classrooms are being used for multiple purposes — including dormitories, ironing rooms, storage spaces, and even parking areas — due to limited infrastructure.
Some students said they are compelled to sleep in classrooms and open spaces, exposing them to discomfort and serious security risks.
PTA Raises Alarm
PTA executives warned that the situation is discouraging enrolment and affecting academic performance, despite the school being the second-best performing technical institute in the Volta Region.
Speaking on behalf of the PTA, Chairman Wonder Winner Adinkra described the conditions as worrying and unsustainable.
The PTA Treasurer further highlighted additional challenges, including the lack of facilities needed to attract and retain qualified instructors. According to him, the absence of a proper teachers’ common room hampers coordination, lesson planning, and effective academic supervision.
The school also lacks functional computers to support ICT training, weakening the delivery of practical and technical education.
Call for Urgent Support
Ironically, Volta Technical Institute has vast land suitable for expansion. However, inadequate investment in infrastructure, water systems, and teaching materials continues to stall its development.
Students and PTA executives are therefore appealing to government, NGOs, benevolent organisations, and philanthropists to urgently come to the aid of the institute to safeguard academic standards and student welfare.