ASWAJ SHS: Bono East’s first Islamic SHS faces furniture & accommodation challenges—MP pledges 200 desks

When the ASWAJ Islamic Senior High School opened its doors in 2024, it made history as the first and only public Senior High School in the Bono East Region.

With an initial enrollment of just 50 students, it was a humble beginning for what has quickly become a beacon of hope for the community.

Two years later, that hope is reflected in the school’s soaring population. The institution has admitted over 450 first-year students this term alone, raising its total student population to nearly 600.

However, this phenomenal growth has come at a cost, exposing significant infrastructural gaps that threaten to undermine the school’s academic ambitions.

A School Bursting at the Seams

The school, which currently operates as both a day and boarding institution, is facing a severe shortage of adequate structures for both tuition and accommodation. To manage the influx of students, authorities have erected a makeshift pavilion to serve as classrooms for the first-year cohort.

While the pavilion provides a temporary shelter for learning, the lack of basic amenities remains a daily struggle. According to the headmaster, Issah Sumaila Bahesi, the school’s most pressing needs are furniture and bunk beds.

“The infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the enrollment,” Mr. Bahesi told Joy News. “We have the students, but the lack of mono desks and bunk beds is a critical challenge. We are calling on philanthropists and the government to help us address this.”

A Surprise Visit, A Promised Relief

Fortunately for the school, the Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, paid a surprise visit to the campus to witness the progress and challenges firsthand.

The MP, who was instrumental in the establishment of the school, expressed excitement at its rapid growth but acknowledged the teething problems that come with such expansion. To help alleviate the immediate pressure, he made a generous pledge.

“I am impressed by the numbers, but I see the challenges,” Mr. Korsah said. “To address the sitting issue immediately, I am pledging 200 mono desks to the school. We will help tackle these pressing needs.”

Investing in Discipline Through Faith

Beyond the pledge of furniture, the MP underscored the strategic importance of the school within his constituency. He noted that faith-based institutions play a crucial role in instilling discipline—a virtue he says is becoming increasingly rare in many schools today.

“Discipline is more prevalent in faith-based schools,” he noted. “I expect the authorities will go by the teachings of Islam to achieve that standard. This school will go a long way towards helping address the rising issues of indiscipline in our schools.”

A Grateful Student Body

The MP’s visit has given the student body a renewed sense of hope. Senior Boys Prefect, Abdallah Mohammed, expressed the gratitude of the students for the visit and the promise of support.

“We thank the MP for coming to see us and for the support he has promised,” Abdallah said. “We are grateful on behalf of the entire student body.”

The Road Ahead

While the pledge of 200 desks is a significant step forward, the headmaster is urging other stakeholders to step in. The school is still in dire need of bunk beds to accommodate its growing boarding population.

The ASWAJ fraternity, which took the bold initiative to establish the school, remains hopeful that this visit will open doors for more support. With the right infrastructure, they believe the school can live up to its potential as a centre of academic excellence and moral discipline in the Bono East Region.