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06.06.2004 Education

Gov't secures C702 billion for more educational projects

06.06.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Ajumako-Mando (C/R), June 6, GNA - Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, on Saturday said the government has secured 702 billion cedis from the World Bank for the implementation of more projects at all levels of education, under the 'educational sector project'.

He said the government's promise to upgrade a secondary school in each district was also on course and that 48 billion cedis had been released to improve the first batch of 31 less endowed school in the country, two of which, were in the region.

These were contained in a statement read for the Regional Minister at the fourth speech and prizing giving day of the Mando secondary technical school at Ajumako-Mando.

The occasion, which was under the theme "academic excellence for future prospects" coincided with the inauguration of a bungalow and hostel valued at 335 million cedis constructed by the school's Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

Mr Edumadze called on district assemblies, traditional rulers, non-governmental organisations and PTAs to complement government's efforts at raising the standard of education in the country. He noted that education formed the foundation for the development of every nation and appealed to traditional authorities to assist in the promotion of education.

Mr Edumadze also said education was the greatest legacy that one could bequeath to his or her children, and called on parents to invest in the education of their children.

He commended the school for placing 95 at the national level and 10 at the regional level in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) results and urged the students to work harder to enable them pass their examinations.

The Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Professor Kwesi Andam, said the nation could only achieve the status of a middle-income country through the development of science and technology.

In a speech read for Prof Andam, he urged the government to increase its investment in science and to provide laboratories and equipment at the basic and secondary school levels, to facilitate the teaching and learning of science.

He said: "today the nation stands at the threshold of making it into the respectable middle level income league of a nation, but we can only reach this economic paradise through science and technology". Prof. Andam, commended the school for performing creditably in the last SSSCE and promised that the KNUST would in the next academic year offer places for 500 students from less endowed schools. He expressed regret that the nation was plagued by indiscipline and asked the youth not to give in to peer pressure, but to strive to uphold morality and honesty so that they become good citizens. Prof Andam also advised the youth against pre-marital sex and sexual promiscuity, to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and urged parents to assist their children to acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development

Mr Archibold Fuah, Headmaster of the school, said although the school has chalked a lot of successes, it was saddled with problems, such as the lack of a hostel for the male students and an assembly hall, and appealed to the government for assistance. Deserving students and staff were presented with prizes.

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