The Sissala West District Director of Education, Mr. Dramani Chakura, has revealed that the district is currently grappling with a significant deficit of 247 teachers, a situation he described as a “precarious staff shortage” threatening the quality of education in the area.
Delivering his welcome address at the maiden Sissala West Best Teacher and Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 1, 2026, the Director highlighted the urgent need for stakeholder intervention to stabilize the education sector in the district.
While expressing profound gratitude for recent investments in the sector, Mr. Chakura was candid about the hurdles remaining. Beyond the vacancy of 247 teachers, he noted a non-teaching staff gap of 10 and a severe shortage of basic school furniture.
“We respectfully appeal to our Honourable Member of Parliament and all stakeholders to support us in lobbying for the posting of more trained teachers to the district,” he stated. He specifically requested a special allocation of 1,000 mono desks for BECE and WASSCE centers, noting that existing dual desks are often damaged during transportation to examination halls.
The Director lauded the Member of Parliament for Sissala West, Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu, for what he termed “visible and impactful” support. He credited the MP with the provision of GH₵ 50,000 toward the directorate’s recurrent expenditure and operational needs, Funding mock examinations for BECE candidates, Donating laptops, printers, and conference hall chairs to the education office, and Facilitating the construction of an ultra-modern office complex and library infrastructure.
Mr. Chakura noted that these interventions contributed to an impressive leap in the district’s BECE performance, which rose from 28% to 43% in the last academic year.
Outlining his vision for the district, the Director called for a multi-stakeholder approach to renovate the district library and revamp ICT centers in communities such as Sorbelle, Pulima, Jeffisi, Gwollu, Zini, and Fielmua. He also stressed the need for “Back-to-School” campaigns, citing that 286 learners had dropped out at the start of the academic year due to elopement, early marriage, and the allure of the “motorking” transport business.
The ceremony served as a platform to reward 20 teachers who have demonstrated resilience despite teaching in classrooms often lacking adequate furniture or textbooks. Winners in categories including KG, Primary, JHS, SHS, and SISO received motorbikes, laptops, and television sets.
The event also saw the disbursement of GH₵ 560,000 in scholarship cheques to 365 tertiary students, a move Mr. Chakura believe will significantly reduce the financial burden on parents and encourage academic excellence among the youth of Sissala West.
