Anweaso (E/R), Aug. 17, GNA - Refusal of teachers to accept postings to schools in rural communities in the Kwaebibirem District is undermining teaching and learning in those schools. The teachers' refusal was as a result of poor or lack of good accommodation.

This came out when Mr Baba Jamal, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, visited some schools in the area to interact with pupils and teachers as part of "My First Day at School" programme. Some of the schools Mr Jamal visited were Anweaso Local Authority Primary School where at the time of the visit 150 children had been registered as first entrants.

At a small but impressive durbar by the chief and people of Anweaso to welcome the deputy minister, the assembly member for the town, Mr Emmanuel .K Osubroni, appealed to the assembly to give Anweaso area a Junior High School.

He said that had become necessary since there was no JHS in the area compelling pupils who complete primary six to travel about 15 kilometres to Asuboni to attend school. Mr Babal Jamal in response said the government would partner the district assembly to provide the area with a JHS before the next academic year.

At Nkwaakwaakrom also known as Number Four, the Catholic Primary School had registered 54 children at the time of the visit. Mr Jamal expressed his appreciation at the high number of children who turned to register to start school in all the areas visited. Other areas visited included Subi Primary and Asuboni L/A Primary schools.

At Birim Central Municipality he visited the Islamic School Complex and Presbyterian Cluster of Schools all at Akyem Oda. At the time of the visit, at 1620 hours, the schools had already closed for the day and only the teachers were waiting for the deputy minister and his entourage.

Mr Jamal addressing the teachers at separate meetings urged them to put up their best in order to improve academic performance in the region. He assured them that the government was putting measures in place to ensure that teachers were given incentives to motivate them to work hard.