Jema (B/A), April 2, GNA - The authorities of Jema Senior High School in Kintampo South District have appealed to non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to support the institution with infrastructure and other educational materials to help improve academic work.

Mr Costers Nketia, Headmaster, noted in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that "the school currently appears to be the last option for students who do not gain admission into other schools due to its deplorable state". He said the school lacked adequate classrooms, hostels for students from other regions, a science resource centre and computers, as well as staff accommodation.

"Apart from the headmaster and senior housemaster who have accommodation in the school, all other staff members look for their own accommodation elsewhere," the headmaster said. Mr Nketia noted that government alone could not "shoulder" the responsibility of education hence there was the need for other stakeholders to assist schools in need to enhance education. "The school has a lot of prospects and can become one of the leading second cycle schools in the country, if its problems are adequately addressed," he said.

In a related development, personnel under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the district have expressed concern over the undue delay in the payment of their allowances. A section of them comprising rural teaching assistants, health extension workers and sanitation guards, told the Ghana News Agency that they had not yet been paid their February allowances; a situation they said was "extremely worrying".

The personnel who refused to disclose their names "for fear of losing their jobs" appealed to the national secretariat of the NYEP and the government to ensure that the problems were solved as soon as possible.

"We received our November allowances on December 17 last year, the December allowances on December 24 and that of January on February 17 this year. Up till now we have not received our February allowances", they said. The personnel appealed to government to mechanize the allowances so that they would be paid through the Accountant General's Department. 2 April 09