Child-Speak project launched at Akyem Awisa

Akyem Awisa (E/R), July 18, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Minister of Education and Sports on Tuesday urged parents to take advantage of the capitation grant to send their children to school. He said Government had long recognised that it could not afford to see the citizens of the country wallow in ignorance, when they could be educated, hence the introduction of the scheme to ensure that every child got access to good quality basic education.

Mr Osafo Maafo, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda, said this in a speech read for him at the inauguration of "Child-Speak" project at Akyem Awisa Presbyterian Primary School.

The project is children's Literacy and learning exchange programme through which, pupils of the school would be linked up with their counterparts in Calgary, Canada.

They will exchange ideas and share experiences of their feelings and opinions on issues pertaining to their environment. In addition, modern methods of teaching in Calgary will be imported to Ghana and vice versa.

Mr Osafo Maafo cautioned head teachers to guard against undermining the capitation grant scheme, adding that, those, who would indulge in any malpractices, would not be spared.

Mrs Margaret Okoh, National Co-ordinator, Child-Speak Project said teachers were also beneficiaries of Child-Speak, adding that, school co-ordinators and teachers, who attended Child-Speak workshops had been using the good practices they learnt in their instructional hours. She said the school was among eight schools selected out of over 900 Presbyterian schools in the country for the project and urged the school co-ordinators, child co-ordinators, pupils and all others involved in the programme to count themselves privileged and continue to participate fully in all its activities.

Mrs Sandra Ryan, International Co-ordinator Child Speak Project called for proper protection of children in order to unearth their hidden potentials.