Regional News of Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Source: GNA

China assists 14 schools with new buses

China in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has presented 14 buses to schools across the country to enhance the movement of students for academic work as well as social gatherings.

The beneficiary schools are Savelugu School for the Deaf, Kibi School for the Deaf, Sekondi School for the Deaf, Gbi Kledjo Special School at Ho and Navrongo Special School.

The rest are Mowere Secondary Technical in the Central Region, Salaga Senior High School (SHS), Tuobodum SHS, Nyarkrom SHS, Aveyime Bator SHS, Yilo Krobo SHS, Garden City Special School, Tumu SHS and FIC St Louis Educational Complex in Kumasi.

Speaking at the presentation on Monday, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, the Minister of Education, expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for the handing over of the 32-seater Zhongtong buses.

She also lauded the Chinese for their assistance to the IT Centre at the University of Ghana and the continuous development of the University of Allied Sciences at Ho.

Prof Opoku Agyeman pledged the readiness of Government to continue with its efforts at the teacher training colleges across the country to ensure quality education at the basic level.

She pledged Government's commitment to the special schools hence the handing over of some of the buses to them to enhance the movement of students.

She said the buses would enhance the movement of the students to field trips, excursions, social gatherings as well as boost their pride in their schools as the names of their schools would be boldly embossed on the buses.

Mr Lee Jian, Economic and Commercial Chancellor, Chinese Embassy, said China has continuously assisted Ghana after the two countries agreed on diplomatic ties for more than 50 years ago.

He cited Chinese concessional loans, furniture to schools in the country and financial support for the fight against malaria as some of the latest assistance to Ghana.

Mr Justice Kojo Frimpong, Head teacher, Mowere Secondary Technical School, on behalf of the beneficiary schools, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Government for the buses.

He called for more assistance to the various departments of the schools by equipping them with the needed equipment.

“We will be most grateful if more assistance would be channeled to the various practical departments of our schools such as the vocational, the technical and our science departments,” he said.