Government spends more on Trainee Teachers

Hohoe, (V/R) July 30, GNA - More than 490 million cedis has been expended on the education of 350 teacher trainees by the Ketu District Assembly in various teacher training institutions across the country since 2000.

Mr Divine Ayidzoe, Ketu District Co-ordinating Director, speaking to the GNA in an interview said the gesture was achieved by setting aside two per cent of the district's common fund, which aimed at efficient educational delivery in the area.

He said under its train and retain by bonding policy, beneficiaries are bonded to serve a minimum of three years after graduation in order to stem its large intake of pupil teachers and to improve on standards. Mr Ayidzoe said the district could not meet its full complement of 250 new teachers annually, in addition to a teacher pupil ratio of a 1-64, as the situation pertains now.

He was however optimistic that a target for 1-45 teacher pupils ratio was within means of achievement and appealed to beneficiaries to respect the terms inherent in the contract.

Mr. Ayidzoe said in this academic year, alone a total of 108 teacehrs, who benefited under the scheme have graduated, with the assembly expending about 162 million cedis on their training. He gave the breakdown as; Akatsi Training College 44, Saint Francis College 12, Jasikan Training College 10 and Mount Mary 10. The rest are; Amedzofe Training College 8, Peki Training College 8, Saint Teresa's 8, Dambai training college 6 and Wesley college 2. The DCD disclosed that the assembly would this year extend the scheme to sponsor the training of eight trainee nurses with a programme to include two doctors by next year.

Mr. Ayidzoe therefore, entreated other district assemblies to emulate them to reduce the human resource inadequacies at their levels for the growth and development of their areas.