NYEP saves kindergartens at Dormaa

Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A), April 23, GNA- The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has resuscitated many ailing kindergartens in the Dormaa District by providing it with teachers.

Mr. Henry Kofi Oppong, District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that before the inception of the Programme almost all pre-schools in the area lacked teachers. He said a total of 115 teachers had so far been posted to schools in the district to augment the pupil-teacher ratio and that most of them, particularly the girls, were prepared under the Programme to handle the pre-schools.

The NYEP co-ordinator explained that pre-schools had not been part of the normal school system and this made it difficult for them to survive in the district.

"Later this academic year the government would add them to the normal system to benefit from the Programme so that the situation where communities had to struggle to pay the salaries and wages of the attendants from their own resources would be curtailed", he said. Mr. Oppong noted that the situation did not allow for the smooth running of the schools, adding that, the NYEP had saved the situation. He stated that 311 young men and women had been employed under the Programme in the district, with 70 of them under-going a six-month training in auxiliary nursing.

"One hundred others have been engaged in agriculture to cultivate maize and vegetables, whilst 26 of them have been employed under the District Assembly-Zoomlion collaboration", the co-ordinator said.

Mr. Oppong said so far only three co-operative farming groups had benefited from the scheme in the district, being Danyame-Nsesereso Tomato Growers Association, Nyamebekyere Farmers Union at Kwameasua and God Dey farmers Association at Amasu.

In a related development, the students undergoing six months training as auxiliary health nurses at Jaman South district have expressed their appreciation for the immense support of the district co-ordinator of the NYEP, Thomas Wilberforce Tuah and the District Chief Executive, Mr. Apraku Tanor. Mr. Collins Acheampong, course prefect, said the students appreciated the continued contributions of the two officials towards their training.

Ms Diana Nsia, secretary, noted that the performance of the officials would assist the students to excel in the examinations and in their work.

The students, in high spirits commended the government for the programme, which they said was very beneficial and called for its sustenance.