Ghana benefits from 24 billion-cedi British book donation

Tema (Greater Accra), 2nd June 99 ?

The British Department for International Development (DFID) on Tuesday donated 4.5 million supplementary readers, worth 24 billion cedis to the Ministry of Education at a ceremony at Tema.

The books, which are a collection of foreign and African writers series were selected by head teachers, pupils and communities in the various regions at special exhibitions organised for publishers and writers to display books for selection.

Dr Digby Swift, Senior Education Adviser of DFID, who presented the books, said the DFID decided to donate books because they serve as the key to education.

He said knowledge could not be transferred without books, while books could not be used effectively without teachers.

Dr. Swift said the potential for the next generation to write books are in the hands of teachers and, therefore, called for collaboration between all partners to achieve good results.

Dr. Stephen Ayidiya, Co-ordinator for Development Partners, Ministry of Education said the donation of the books is a manifestation of the collaboration, which could exist between the Ministry and relevant agencies.

He said the books would supplement materials required to improve the standard of teaching and learning in schools.

The Tema district would be the first to receive her consignment of books.

Mrs. Hannah Amoah, Tema Municipal Director of Education said the donation has coincided with the introduction of the universal reading technique in Ghanaian schools and this would help improve the reading ability of children.

Tema, which has school enrolment of 31,700 children, would receive 50,000 books and the GES has already constituted a monitoring team to ensure that the books are properly used and kept.