Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, has stated that it is the vision of the District Assembly to promote education in the district by encouraging and supporting the youth in pursuing education.
He emphasized the need for parents to invest much of their resources in their children’s education and support them to aspire to higher levels in order for them to access gainful employment and also to become responsible citizens.
This was contained in an address read for him at the presentation ceremony of some incentive packages to selected teachers and pupils.
The incentives were pieces of wax-print to about 88 hard-working teachers and those serving in very deprived communities, as well as school bags for 91 needy school children.
Mr. Agyekum announced that the Assembly would construct teachers’ bungalows especially in the very deprived communities to encourage teachers to accept postings to such areas.
The DCE disclosed the District Assembly was mobilizing resources towards the organisation of a ‘Teachers Awards Day” so that the best and hardworking teachers as well as education workers would be awarded to boost their morale.
Mr. Agyekum appealed to teachers in the district to intensify their efforts to improve education in the district.
Madam Philippa Banson, Nkoranza South District Director of Education, said the incentive packages were aimed at encouraging the teachers as well as showing concern for children’s education.
The incentives were donated by Ghana Education Service (GES) funding projects known as the Pilot Programmatic Scheme (PPS) and the Department for International Development (DFID), she said.
The District Director of Education commended the Government for arranging a number of programmes towards the growth of education in the country.
Madam Banson cautioned school children against pre-marital sex and advised them to take their education seriously so they could achieve the dream getting into tertiary institutions.
The Adontenhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, Nana Okofo Agyapong III and the Nifahene, Nana Kwabena Ohene Tetteh, who jointly presided, called on teachers to live above reproach since they were role models in the communities.
In another development Madam Banson has attributed the causes of teenage pregnancies and school drop outs among girls to the negative attitudes and parental neglect ad over indulgence.
She stressed that the training and education of children were the joint responsibility of the government, teachers, parents, opinion leaders of the school communities and the children themselves.
Madam Banson was addressing a School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) of stakeholders of Education from Nkoranza East and West Circuits at the weekend.
She expressed regret about how some Junior High School (JHS) girls become pregnant before they complete their basic education and advised that parents should be very mindful of the movements of their children and check them against bad peer groups.
Madam Banson appealed to traditional authorities and religious leaders to educate the people on the importance of education and the roles expected to be played by parents so they would be responsible in bringing up their children.
The District Director of Education urged teachers in the district to offer selfless and dedicated services to improve the fallen standard of education in the district.
In an address read for him, the Nkoranza South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum announced that the Government had placed high premium on education, which was the bedrock of every country’s development.
Mr. Agyekum said the construction of school blocks and teachers’ bungalows as well as the provision of free school uniforms, text books and exercise books and furniture for schools were a clear manifestation that the Government was fulfilling its responsibility as a stakeholder in the country’s education.
He appealed to other stakeholders to offer the necessary support to complement the efforts of the Government.
Mr. Agyekum commended teachers for their invaluable role towards the development of education, saying the general public acknowledged their efforts and urged them to continue to work harder to enhance the country’s manpower development.
Reverend-Father Emmanuel Korsah of Nkoranza Roman Catholic Church and member of Nkoranza South District Education Oversight Committee, called on parents to bring up and train their children according to the word of God so they would lead modest lives and eschew social vices.
He urged the youth to allow the teachings of the Holy Bible and the life of Jesus Christ to guide them so they would become useful and responsible citizens.
Nana Okofo Agyapong III, Adontenhene of Nkoranza, who presided, stressed the need for parents to collaborate with teachers and to encourage them to instil discipline among the children to enhance the growth of education in the district.
Nana Agyapong advised parents to minimize their huge expenditure on expensive funerals and clothing and to invest the resources in their children’s education.