A teacher serving in a deprived rural community has spoken out about the recurring challenge of student absenteeism, revealing that on a day scheduled for examinations, not a single student showed up to school by 9:00 a.m., forcing her to travel from house to house to call them in.
“It’s almost 9:00 a.m., yet not a single student has reported to school. This has become a recurring situation.
We are scheduled to write examinations today, and the question papers have already been printed, but no student has arrived. I now have to go from house to house to call them to school,” she said.
The teacher, seen in an accompanying video navigating muddy, rural roads to reach the school premises, described the situation as part of a broader pattern of challenges facing educators posted to under-resourced communities, where poor infrastructure, long distances, and inconsistent student attendance complicate efforts to deliver basic education.
The exact location and identity of the teacher have not been independently confirmed. It also remains unclear what ultimately caused the mass absence on the day in question, or whether the scheduled examinations were eventually rescheduled or conducted later than planned.
The account adds to ongoing public conversations in Ghana about the disparities faced by teachers posted to deprived and rural communities, where challenges around infrastructure, transportation, and student engagement remain persistent barriers to educational outcomes.
Watch the video HERE.
