Sekondi, March 1, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankomah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi, on Monday launched the Constituency Education Support Scheme a= t Sekondi in the Western Region.

In a speech, he said the scheme was aimed at improving teaching and learning and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results in the constituency. Papa Ankomah said an estimated amount of GHc10,000 a year would be spen= t on the scheme for the next five years.

He said the scheme would be financed from his own personal resources an= d not from the MP Common Fund. Papa Ankomah said beneficiaries must be resident in Sekondi and Senior High School pupils who would apply should have at least aggregate 20 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He said plans were underway to introduce a local Best Teacher Awards Scheme and to award three pupils in the area who obtained aggregate five in the BECE as well as the best BECE School annually. Papa Ankomah urged parents and guardians not to shirk their responsibilities towards their children. He also called on the government to put in place policies that would bridge the gap between schools in urban and rural areas and public and private schools.