Government will continue to invest in the Educational Infrastructure - Mahama Ayariga

Mr Mahama Ayariga, a Deputy Minister of Education, on Thursday reiterate Government’s commitment as part of its Better Ghana Agenda to continue to invest in the educational infrastructure of the country.

He said enrolment was significantly on the rise in the basic, secondary and tertiary levels of the education which needed more infrastructure to meet the demands of students.

Mr Ayariga was speaking at a ground breaking ceremony of the Municipal office complex for the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Ghana, in Accra.

He said government had already provided fully its counterpart funding of the project, adding, “The contractor should in no way stop work and say I have not been paid for the certificate raised.”

Mr Ayariga said the education ministry had put in place several measures to ensure that quality education was provided to Ghanaians and assured the public of the Government’s diligence to ensure growth in the educational sector.

He said education was a priority on government agenda and that the education ministry has established a National Inspectorate Board to monitor and supervise the performance of schools as well as a National Teachers Council which will oversee the performance of teachers.

“A National Curriculum and Assessment Board have also been established to carry out a relevant curriculum assessment in the educational sector.”

Ms Julie Furuta-Toy, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Accra, said the Municipal office complex was one of the 15 new districts education offices funded by the USAID for the Ministry of Education and the GES.

She said America, through the USAID was investing over 19 million US dollars in building and furnishing of the 15 new education offices, 49 Junior High Schools, 50 Kindergartens and 45 toilet facilities in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the GES across the ten Regions of Ghana.

Ms Furuta-Toy said through the USAID, the U.S. government has provided 2.3 million US dollars to government through the Accra Metropolitan Assembly for the construction of four-three-story classroom complexes on four different school compounds in Accra.

“Since 2010, through implementing partner PLAN/GHANA, USAID has built seven new classroom blocks and completed major repairs on 19 Junior High Schools. The rehabilitation of over 100 school blocks will be completed in 2012.”**