This, the minister said, is to “ ensure that more of our children enrol, retain and complete their basic education.”

Ms Djaba said these last Saturday when she represented President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the fourth speech and prize-giving day of Kinbu Senior High Technical School, which also marked 143 years of existence of the school and 25 years of being turned into a senior high school.

She added that government is putting in all the necessary efforts to deal with the challenges in the educational sector, which include issues with infrastructure, provision of accommodation for teachers and students and teaching and learning materials.

Ms Djaba pointed out that government was aware of all the challenges and was committed to collaborating with various partners to expand physical infrastructure, provide free core subject textbooks and continue with the Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP).

Enhanced teaching

She emphasised that government would ensure that under the Free SHS education policy, teachers were given the necessary tools, motivation and proper supervision to enhance teaching and learning.

“As further demonstration of our commitment towards education, this government has lifted the ban on recruitment of teachers clearing at least 22,000 teachers and has also restored the teacher trainee allowance with a commitment of 144 million Ghana Cedis to be paid to trainee teachers every academic year,” she added.

Human Resource

Touching on the theme for the occasion, which was “143 years of resourcing the nation”, Ms Djaba commended the school for standing the test of time and for the quality human resource it had produced for the country.

“The history of this school is as old as the Gold Coast and this is quite unique,” she stated and cited many great statesmen and women in academia, politics and other spheres of life, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr Evans Anfom, a renowned Educationist and scientist, the late Mr Harry Sawyer, Nii Armah Ollenu, Justice and Speaker of Parliament 1969, Nii Kwabena Bonney, Emmanuel Joseph Cobblah, Sir Emmanuel Quist, the first Speaker of Parliament in the first Republic, among others, as products of the school.

Responsible parenting

The gender minister admonished the students to stay away from drugs and other social vices and study hard to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

She also charged parents to take responsible parenting more seriously in order to raise disciplined children who would not engage in drugs, alcoholism, premarital sex, unwanted pregnancy and peer influence.

Appeal

The Headmistress of the school, Ms Gloria Adukunu, said the school had a population of over 1,600 and appealed for the construction of an assembly hall and a canteen for the students.

She also called on the government and the traditional authorities to assist the school to reclaim its lands that had been encroached upon by nearby communities.