Tontro (E/R), June 16, GNA - Mr Peter Simon Asirifi, East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, has presented school uniforms to 261 pupils at Tontro Municipal Assembly Primary School, near Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region.

The presentation was under the Government Free School Uniform Programme, launched by the First Lady, Mrs Naadu Mills.

Mr Asirifi, who handed over the school uniforms at a durbar on Wednesday, said every pupil at a public school would benefit from the free school uniforms.

The smiling pupils quickly changed into the new uniforms amidst singing and dancing.

The programme was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress campaign promise to provide free school uniforms to pupils in deprived areas of the country.

Mr Asirifi said the provision of the uniforms would help improve academic standards in the area and also enhance school enrolment, which would serve as the foundation for the academic development of the pupils.

He appealed to parents to be responsible for the welfare of their children and not capitalise on lack of money as an excuse to renege on their responsibilities.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Kate Agyemang Badu expressed concern about the lateness to duty and deviant behaviour of some teachers in the area, which she said was not promoting teaching and learning.

The Chief of Tontro, Nana Owusu Opoku-Manu, lauded the programme and expressed gratitude for the choice of the town for the start of the distribution of the uniforms.

He said it would go a long way to improve the standard of education in the area.

Mr Asirifi said one major problem confronting the town was lack of accommodation for teachers, which compelled a number of them to commute from New Tafo to teach.

Nana Opoku-Manu appealed to the Municipal Assembly to extend the School Feeding Programme to pupils in the area.