By D. Abraham Cooper
Grand Gedeh County – Once regarded as a promising secondary institution, Putu Central High School ~ Grand Gedeh’s second-largest government-run school after Zwedru Multilateral ~ now operates solely as a junior high due to a persistent shortage of students and qualified teachers.
Principal Kingsley O. Adiabu, who assumed leadership in 2020, confirmed that the school has not produced a single West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidate since 2019, when just one student sat the national exam.
“This is primarily due to the lack of qualified teachers, especially in key subjects,” Adiabu said. “After completing junior high, many of our students are forced to transfer to Zwedru or other urban centers to complete their education.”
Currently, the school’s enrollment has not exceeded 100 students in recent years. The teaching staff comprises just eight members ~ four on the government payroll and four volunteers. The school also faces challenges recruiting new teachers, as only holders of AA or BSc degrees are eligible to teach at the senior high level.
Despite these constraints, Putu Central continues to operate as an e-learning center, thanks to 21 laptops provided through the Ministry of Education and the IRISE program.
The school administration has submitted proposals to the Putu Apolebo Citizens Association in the United States, a diaspora group that has previously shown support. A response is expected in the coming days.
In the absence of sufficient government support, the District Education Officer has stepped in, personally funding volunteer teachers to help keep the school operational.
Principal Adiabu also highlighted several social and economic challenges contributing to low attendance and high dropout rates, including poor parental supervision, long travel distances, and student involvement in income-generating activities such as motorcycle taxi operations and artisanal gold mining.
Despite the difficulties, Adiabu remains optimistic. “With additional teaching staff and stronger community engagement, we are hopeful that Putu Central will once again produce 12th-grade graduates,” he said.
