Release of subsidies and grants to school to be regular-Vice-President

Anloga, May 31, GNA-Vice-President John Mahama on Saturday gave the assurance that that government would henceforth ensure the prompt and regular release of scholarship grants and subsidies to educational institutions.

He said this would bring to a stop the inconveniences and disruptions suffered by the institutions as a result of delays in the release of such facilities. This was contained in an address read on his behalf by Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Minister of Education at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebration of the Anlo Secondary School (ANSECO) at Anloga under the theme; "Championing Academic Excellence in the Anlo Land: 50 Years of Quality Education in ANSECO". The Vice-President said government was working to quickly fix the problems of infrastructure, teacher education and motivation in the educational sector because it recognized that education was the key factor for a better Ghana.

"Policy measures would be taken to improve general conditions of teachers through competitive remuneration, decent accommodation and enhanced retirement benefits," he stated. Mr Mahama said government in partnership with the private sector would improve pupil and student access to ICT education. He therefore asked private individuals and corporate bodies to sustain their support in partnering government in view of budgetary limitations.

The Vice-President commended the founding fathers, management and students of ANSECO for their roles in founding and building the school till now and assured that government would assist the school resolve some of its infrastructure limitations. Mr Joseph Amonowode, Volta Regional Minister urged authorities of the school to make their students ready for the current competitiveness in the job market.

Mr Wilberforce Azumah, Headmaster, said discipline in the school was good but complained about inadequate teachers and lack of office accommodation. He said the school also needed additional dormitories, a library and classrooms. Mr Azumah said the school which started with 30 students in 1959, as a community school and absolved into the public system in 1963, now had 1,322 students with steady progress in both academic and extra-curricula activities. He said the school had launched an all-round five-year development plan in January this year and appealed to government to implement the model school project which included ANSECO. Master Olive Kelvin Meno, School Prefect said lack of staff accommodation was seriously affecting teacher student contact after school.

An 8,000 Ghana Cedis Hyundai Mini bus bought by the school Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was presented to the school. Forty-Five students and number of both present and former staff received awards for academic performance and good leadership roles, while portraits of four personalities were unveiled. They are Togbe Adeladza II, late Awomefia of Anlo, James W.K. Doe, Cephas Kofi Fiagbe and S. D. Sorkpor-Headmaster from 1963 -87, for their various roles in founding and managing the school.