400 billion cedis to upgrade 31 selected schools

Accra, Dec. 8, GNA - The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has so far released a total of 403.133 billion cedis to the Ministry of Education and Sports for the upgrading of 31 selected senior secondary schools.

A release issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry on Thursday said work on the schools, which was ongoing, was about 71 per cent complete.

The release said the Government since the inception of the project in 2004, released 49.373 billion cedis as advanced mobilization to contractors; 309.612 billion cedis as payment to contractors for work done and 17.016 billion cedis as consultancy fees. It said schools, which were not selected but were in dire need of certain facilities and services and needed urgent attention, were given 2.129 billion cedis all from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) resources.

It said between 2004 and 2005, a total of 59.087 billion cedis was allocated to six schools in the Ashanti Region for the upgrading programme while 49.725 billion cedis was given to four schools in the Brong Ahafo Region and 17.069 billion cedis went to two schools in the Central Region.

Three schools in the Eastern Region had 21.859 billion cedis; two schools in the Greater Accra Region had 21.383 billion cedis and two schools in the Northern Region had 19.254 billion cedis. Two schools each in the Upper East and Upper West Regions were given 27.645 billion cedis and 24.452 billion cedis, respectively, while four schools each in the Volta and Western Regions had 31.850 billion cedis and 37.283 billion cedis, respectively.

The Government on assumption of office initiated a programme of upgrading facilities of at least one model senior secondary school in each district with the aim of improving access to quality secondary school education while avoiding the perennial problem of Basic Education Certificate Examination students flocking to the very few endowed senior secondary schools in search of admission. 8 Dec. 05