The Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS) last weekend handed over a two-storey classroom block to the management of Rashidiyya Islamic School at Nima a suburb of Accra. All two-storey buildings consist of 10 classrooms, an office for each block and a total of five toilet facilities for each apartment block.

Speaking at the commissioning of the classroom blocks, the Chairman of ICODEHS, Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim asserted that inadequate classrooms among factors hindering socio-economic development in the community, and compelling others to drop out of school. If the learning environment is not condusive, it affects the performance of students in the long run since most pupils cannot fully concentrate in classrooms.

According to Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim, despite a significant number of pupils in the school; there was only one classroom which was built by Red Crescent Organization, UAE under the supervision of ICODEHS. Thus, his organization felt compelled to collaborate with international donors such as the Dubai Charity Organization to sponsor the construction of the two-storey building of 10 classrooms to come in and bail-out the situation. The support is in line with the organisation’s efforts of improving the standard of living of people in deprived communities and creating a conducive environment for learning in every community across the country.

Given a brief history about the school, a member at office of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Gado revealed that the school was established in 1963 with only three students by late Sheikh Haruna Rashid, a childhood friend of the National Chief Imam. More than five decades later, Alhamdulillah there are over 200 students in this institution. He commends ICODEHS for putting up such a wonderful edifice to make teaching and learning easier for both students and the teachers adding that ICODEHS has embarked on numerous developmental projects such as  construction of schools, boreholes and among others in almost all the regions across the country.

Quality education is the foundation for any country’s development; however, adequate classrooms, learning and teaching materials and enough teachers and of course conducive learning environment. Hence, the need to commend ICODEHS and its development partners for their contribution to the community.

The headmaster of the school, Sheikh Salisu Abdul-Karim expressed his sincere gratitude to ICODEHS for their immense effort in changing lives in Zango communities and referred the construction of the School block as a “big relief” to pupils of Rashidiyya Islamic School and the community at large. Adding that the new classroom block would encourage many pupils to attend classes, improve on quality and standard of education at the school and bring an end to the shift system currently active.

Source: wadataonline.com/Muhammed Faisal Mustapha