WB gives 30 billion cedis to Otumfuo Education Fund

The World Bank has donated five million dollars (30 billion cedis) to the Otumfuo (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II) Education Fund to boost education in the Ashanti egion.

Nana Akyena Nuama Kwagyan II, Esuowinhene, at the weekend said a committee has been formed at the instance of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, to identify critical problems impeding education in Ashanti and to address them on pilot basis.

Nana Akyena Kwagyan was speaking at the 10th Anniversary and First Speech and Prize-giving Day of Kumasi Secondary-Technical School. The chief, who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu as the Special Guest of honour, said the bank would monitor and evaluate the scheme to ensure its viability and later extend it to other parts of the country.

He said the package would be used prudently so that Otumfuo's vision of promoting education in Asanteman and the country in general would be achieved.

Education Minister Ekwow Spio-Garbrah said the government would continue to initiate measures that could assist in enhancing pre-tertiary education by reviewing and updating the curriculum of basic schools to include more career-oriented programmes.

He said the country requires skilled manpower to improve upon the quality of goods and services to enable it to earn more foreign exchange for development.

Mr Kwame Amoateng, Headmaster, regretted that 10 years after installing shaper and milling machines for technical training, they are not operational due to lack of cutting tools and appealed for assistance.