MP spends funds on education infrastructure

Accra, Aug 6, GNA - The MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, has spent almost half of his GETFund, HIPC and Common Funds on the provision of school infrastructure since he assumed office two years ago.

Notable among the projects were the repairs of the ceiling of three classrooms at the Bishop Girl School, provision of a computer laboratory for the Holy Trinity Secondary School and the roofing, electric wiring and provision of ceiling fans for the Independence Avenue '2' Basic school.

Other projects included the roofing and completion of a canteen at the Ayalolo Cluster of schools and assistance towards the building of a two-story building at the Bishop Mixed Junior Secondary School. Mr Tackie Komme gave financial assistance towards the construction of three classrooms at the Akwei Memorial School and provided part of the prizes for the speech and prize-giving day of the Holy Trinity Secondary School.

The MP also funded the holding of evening classes for students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2006 and 2007 in the area.

He provided assistance towards the Accra Metro Best Teacher awards, a library project at the Accra Royal School and a computer laboratory for the Accra Sempe '2' Primary School.

Mr Tackie Komme also awarded scholarships to a number of needy but brilliant students and said estimates for the paving of the compound of the school were ready for work to start.

The MP who was speaking at the Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Bishop Girls Basic School in Accra on Friday, said the theme for the occasion "Educating the girl child - A concern for All' was appropriate since social vices like teenage pregnancies and sexual promiscuity, which could lead to HIV/AIDS and drug abuse were on the increase. He commended the headmistress, the Parent Teacher Association, staff and students for the excellent academic record of the school. In an address read on behalf of the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Wood, she noted that if girls were well educated, they would grow into women with a variety of choices to make.

Mrs. Wood who is an old girl of the School pointed out that under the 1992 constitution it was unlawful for parents to refuse to send a child to school just because she is a girl.

The Chief Justice stated that the girl like any other child had the right to education, life, shelter and health and said that successive governments introduced policies that sought to make girl-child education a priority.

Mrs. Wood noted that even though there were more girls pursuing education at various levels than 20 or even 10 years ago, some of them for various reasons dropped out of school.

"There is more to education than getting the basic certificate. Girls like boys are capable of reaching the highest level possible," the Chief Justice said.

She advised parents not to limit their girl-child to basic education "thinking that at the end of the day, she was only fit for the kitchen and family making" she said.

The Chief Justice called for scholarship schemes for bright but needy girls at the District level and by traditional authorities, private enterprises and non-governmental organizations.

Mrs. Gloria Osei-Bonsu, Head Teacher, said the school had an enrollment of 600 from primary class one to Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 and a teaching staff of 20.

She said that apart from the formal teaching schedule, the school undertook extra curricular activities like sports, drama and debates.

Mrs. Osei-Bonsu called on parents to support initiatives to remove impediments that obstructed girls from getting to the top. The Head Teacher also urged them to ensure that their children observed personal hygiene and cleanliness and provided books to augment what the government supplied. Parents should also ensure that their children punctual at school and participated actively in Parent-Teacher-Association activities. On behalf of the management of the School, she congratulated Mrs. Wood for being the country's first woman Chief Justice. The Head Teacher commended the MP for seeing to the repairs of the ceiling of some classrooms, Barclays bank for providing the school with a water-tank and the past and present executives of the PTA for their support and guidance.

She also thanked the Anglican Church for its support describing it as "Our fathers".

At the Happy Days Academy at James Town in Accra, Mr Tackie Komme stressed the importance of good infrastructure, quality teaching materials, commitment, love and good relationship between the various stakeholders if quality education was to be achieved. The Odododiodoo MP called for the institution of scholarship schemes for bright and needy students at both the national and district levels. He said traditional authorities and private enterprises could also institute private scholarship schemes for children living within their areas and proximity.

Mr Tackie Komme appealed to parents to desist from lavish spending on social functions and to invest in the education of their children. The MP said children should be made to take their education seriously at the beginning of their schooling and encouraged to be strong, resolute and focused on their studies in spite of all distractions.

He promised to see how private schools could be assisted under the various government interventions to promote education in view of the important role they play in the communities.

The Principal, Mr Ben Okai, said the second speech and prize-giving day coincided with the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Academy. Mr Okai popularly known as "Teacher Nii-Nii" said through the efforts of the management he had secured library books, computers, a bus and a set of musical instruments from the Rice family in the United States for the Academy.

He said for the third time running the Academy obtained 100 per cent passes in the Basic Education Certificate Examination this year. Deserving pupils and members of staff were presented with prizes. 06 Aug 07