BOLGATANGA: Poor infrastructure and inadequate teaching materials in basic schools across Ghana's Upper East Region are significantly hindering early childhood education and development, as reported by the Upper East Regional Early Childhood Development Committee. Many nursery and kindergarten pupils are forced to learn in unsafe structures or even outdoors, creating hazardous conditions that threaten both their health and educational progress. According to Ghana News Agency, the Committee highlighted these challenges during its third-quarter meeting in Bolgatanga. The Committee's findings revealed that numerous schools in the region are plagued by severe structural issues, including deep cracks in walls and floors, leaking roofs, and broken doors and windows. Such conditions not only disrupt the learning process but also deter pupil enrollment. Additionally, the lack of basic furniture forces children to lie on their stomachs during lessons, increasing their risk of contracting pneumonia and other cold-rela ted illnesses. The report also noted a critical absence of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, which compels students to resort to open defecation and urination. The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council organized the meeting, with financial backing from Children Believe, a child-focused NGO. The Committee includes representatives from various regional departments and civil society organizations. Mrs. Georgina Aberese-Ako, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Children, emphasized the dire need for improvement, citing specific examples such as the Pelungu basic school in the Nabdam District, where pupils endure deplorable conditions. Despite parents providing plastic mats to compensate for the lack of furniture, the school's overall infrastructure remains inadequate. Similar conditions prevail at Yakote primary school in the same district, although a philanthropist's donation of furniture has somewhat alleviated the situation there. Mr. John Nyaaba, Regional Early Childhood Develop ment Coordinator for the Ghana Education Service, acknowledged the widespread infrastructure and staffing challenges affecting early childhood education. He noted that some schools misuse kindergarten classrooms for upper primary levels, relegating younger children to outdoor learning environments. He also pointed out issues with teacher postings, as some educators refuse assignments to certain schools. Mrs. Yvonne Wonchua, Assistant Director at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, underscored the region's overall deprivation and encouraged continued collaboration among stakeholders to address these educational challenges, aiming to foster early childhood development in the area.