The Alpha Yaya Diallo Franco-Arabic High School in Kankan, Guinea, is grappling with significant infrastructure challenges. Despite being a public institution, the school accommodates over 3,200 students with a staff of 75 teachers. However, it only has 17 classrooms for 27 teaching groups, leading to a congested learning environment. The school's principal, Siaka Samaké, has expressed concerns about the situation, highlighting the need for additional classrooms and administrative offices.
The school's administrative offices are also facing space constraints. Due to a lack of suitable buildings, one of the classrooms has been converted into an administrative office, divided into several smaller rooms to accommodate the school's administrators. The principal's office measures just 2.5 meters by 5.5 meters, while the office of the school's disciplinary officer is even smaller, at 2.5 meters by 2.5 meters. This situation underscores the urgent need for a dedicated administrative building.
To manage the overcrowding, the school has had to adopt a half-day schedule and create additional teaching groups. For instance, some classes have been split into multiple groups to accommodate the large number of students. The school's principal emphasizes that this situation is unsustainable and requires immediate attention from authorities, partners, and well-wishers to improve the learning and working conditions for students and staff.
The school's infrastructure challenges are not limited to classrooms and offices. Despite these difficulties, the school has made progress in recent years, thanks to the commitment of its staff. In 2024, teachers pooled their resources to fund the construction of a perimeter fence around the school, a development that has enhanced security and improved the overall learning environment.
The school's principal, Siaka Samaké, has appealed for assistance to address the infrastructure gaps. He estimates that at least six to seven new classrooms and a dedicated administrative building are needed to provide a conducive learning environment. According to him, a plan for the construction of new infrastructure has already been drawn up by an engineer, but funding remains a challenge.
Despite the infrastructure challenges, the school has recorded notable achievements, particularly in national exams. The school's students have consistently performed well, with several students emerging as top performers in science and other subjects. The principal attributes these successes to the hard work and dedication of both teachers and students, who have managed to achieve impressive results despite the difficult circumstances.
The Alpha Yaya Diallo Franco-Arabic High School was established in 1963 and is currently the only public Franco-Arabic institution in the Kankan region. The school's principal and staff remain hopeful that their appeals for assistance will be heeded, enabling them to provide a better learning environment for their students. With a large student population and a dedicated staff, the school is poised to continue making a positive impact in the region, provided it receives the necessary support to address its infrastructure challenges.
Key points
- The Alpha Yaya Diallo Franco-Arabic High School in Kankan, Guinea, needs at least six to seven new classrooms and a dedicated administrative building.
