By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

Despite the government effort in making sure that they provide a serene learning environment by extending and building more classrooms to accommodate more children, but yet still overcrowding in government and government assisted schools still remains a big challenge for the government.

During the launch of his flagship project, President Bio promised to build more classrooms for the enrollment of more children into school and to also do away with the double shift system of schooling.

However, the 2021 Auditor General’s report has disclosed that overcrowding is still a problem in all government and assisted schools are still bothering with overcrowding.

The report indicates that 51% of schools are highly overcrowded with 34% insufficient learning materials in classrooms. The report informed that 41% of schools lack sanitation facilities ranging from no pipe borne water supply, inadequate and poor toilet facilities while 43% of schools lack school libraries and science laboratories, adding that there are 61% of volunteer teachers that are not regularized on the government payroll.

According to the report, there is 25% overstatement of pupil’s enrollment for WASSCE and BECE and payment of school fees subsidies. The report indicates 99% of late remittance of approved school fee subsidies and 10% continuous assessment for WASSCE and BECE candidates is not provided.

The report disclosed that 57% bank reconciliations were not done and 20% payment was done with no supporting or adequate supporting documents while 34% of no fixed assets register and fixed assets not updated with codes or numbers. And the report indicates that 7% cash was withheld instead of being banked and 2% NASSIT deduction for support staff was not paid.