Afigya-Kwabre gets new education office complex

A District Education Office Complex built for Afigya-Kwabre through the support of the United States (US) Government has been inaugurated.

It comes with 14 offices, conference hall, washrooms and a car park, and took about two-and-a-half years to complete.

The project was funded from the 19,671,000-dollar assistance package received from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in support of the construction of education offices, junior high school (JHS) and kindergarten blocks across the country.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, who was on hand to perform the inauguration, said the provision of education office blocks was meant to strengthen education management.

He said this was in line with the ultimate goal of decentralizing education management and planning to ensure quality at all levels.

The government together with its development partners would continue to provide the infrastructure, and it was up to the people to take advantage of this to put their children through education.

Mr. Ablakwa spoke of government's determination to strengthen teaching and learning in schools, and said a National Teaching Council was being established to supervise the effectiveness of classroom work.

This, he noted, would significantly augment the work of the National Inspectorate Board.

He said curricula development was also undergoing a review, to make sure that teaching and learning became responsive to the changing trends in education.

He reminded the people to see to it that the block was properly maintained and kept in good shape at all times.

Ms. Marisol E. Perez, USAID/Ghana Education Office Director, said the office was one of the 150 education projects in 34 districts they had supported.

She hinted of plans to build 15 additional district education offices, and said this was in appreciation of the critical role the district education offices played in ensuring quality education.

“Our over-arching goal is in partnership and in support of Ghana’s goal to help increase access to education, and to assist the government to improve educational infrastructure.”

Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Ashanti Regional Minister, said education development was a major priority of government, and praised the USAID for the assistance.

Mr. Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, District Chief Executive (DCE), said it was a dream come true.