Education stakeholders from Borabu constituency have raised an alarm over increasing habits of using school fields by area residents to conduct funeral programmes.
According to them, the habit has led to the loss of many academic hours for pupils as teachers are compelled to pave way for funerals to take place due to continued portioning of land, making it impossible for residents to find a conducive place to conduct the funerals.
Speaking on Thursday at Nyansiongo, area educational officer Fred Monda warned of poor performances if the trend continues but promised to find an amicable solution to the menace.
“I have seen many of our students being locked out of school on Fridays to pave way for funerals in the community. This trend has escalated and the education standards may diminish if we don’t find an amicable solution urgently,” he said.
He said that the education office had summoned parents and school managers to discuss the issue but hinted of banning funerals from being held in schools unless in weekends.
“I have already spoken to parents and school managers in the region and we will have a meeting soon to discuss the issue. However, my stand still remains that the institutions should be spared of funeral ceremonies unless it is on a weekend,” he added.
Bereaved families from the region have been using institutions to conduct funerals services, arguing that schools belong to the community.