Koforidua — Teachers and school children of St. Agnes and Rev. Father Limens Primary Schools located at Srodai, a suburb of the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, are living in a state of fear, following the activities of drug peddlers who have turned the school into a smoking haven.

This development has placed the education of the children in a balance, and they have decided to boycott classes. Speaking to The Chronicle, the Assistant Headmistress of St. Agnes Primary School, Mrs. Esther Adjei stated that not only have these drug peddlers turned the school into a smoking place, but also defecate in the classrooms.

As if that was not enough, Mrs. Adjei also said the Assembly woman for Old Estate West Electoral Area, disclosed that the unscrupulous people occasionally break into the school cupboard and steal learning materials.

"We fear them because their activities are posing serious danger to our lives, since we cannot tell when they will go loose on us", she indicated.

The problem came to light last Thursday, during an inspection of development projects in the Municipality by the Municipal Chief Executive of the New Juaben Assembly, Alex Asamoah.

According to the Old Estate West Assembly woman, the situation has heavily contributed to truancy among the school children, and in some cases withdrawal of children to other schools where the environment is good for teaching and learning.

According to her, the school is sometimes compelled to close before the mandated Ghana Education Service time, due to the activities of the drug peddlers. Apart from the problem posed by the drug peddlers, the school infrastructure has also become a death trap, due to its dilapidated nature.

The Assistant Headmistress expressed grave concern over the inability of city authorities to rehabilitate the school since its construction many years ago.

Mrs. Adjei appealed to the conscience of the MCE to immediately come to the rescue of the school and contended if nothing was done about the situation, she should not be surprised to meet an empty class during the next academic year.

Responding to the concerns of the teachers and the children, the MCE asked them not to entertain any fear, as his outfit would deal with the situation.