National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary hopeful for the December 7 polls, Dr. Clement Apaak has demonstrated his commitment in promoting quality education through good policies and programmes in his constituency.
That was evidenced when the NDC’s parliamentary nominee who is vying for Builsa-South seat in the Upper East Region paid for about 744 pupils who attended vacation classes organised in August this year at seven centres in the constituency.
The centres included Fumbisi Gbedema, Kanjarga,Uwasi, Kadema Wiesi,Doninga and Bachongsa.
In an interview with this reporter via telephone over the weekend, the Coordinator of the programme, the co-coordinator of the programme Adum Augustine noted that ,the development and implementation of early childhood care was essential for the development of children in the country particularly, the marginalised in society so as to enable them to become useful citizens in future.
He however disputed the assertion that, Dr. Apaak purposely initiated the programme just to win the sympathy of the constituents in the area to vote for him in the December elections as their Member of Parliament (MP).
He disclosed that Dr Apaak had in the past supported some Senior High School (SHS) students in the constituency long before dreaming of becoming an MP.
According to him, Dr. Apaak’s desire for access to quality education was not limited to school pupils alone as the teachers were also motivated to give off their best.
He said, the NDC’s parliamentary aspirant knew teacher motivation was key to improving quality education hence his (Dr. Apaak’s ) commitment in motivating teachers to enable them play their roles effectively towards the attainment of this goal in the constituency.
In this regard, the coordinator expressed optimism that, Dr. Apaak would continue to deliver on its responsibility to assist needy students to improve their educational standards through the provision of school structures and teaching materials in the constituency.
Nevertheless he said, quality education was not the responsibility of teachers alone but parents and the communities as a whole, and therefore, called on parents to supervise the homework of their wards.
“Parents must not shirk their responsibilities so that together we can have a holistic development of the child in a congenial atmosphere,” the coordinator said.
For his part, the co-coordinator for the programme, Asoalla Charlson, lauded Dr. Apaak for his contribution to education in the area.
“We are happy to have a true son of our land supporting such a laudable venture”, he said.
To this end, he urged other sons and daughters of the place to do same so as to help halt the falling standard of education in the area.
A total of 2000 branded exercise books with Dr Apaak’s picture embossed on them and three boxes of chalk, according to the coordinator were distributed to the 7 centres where the pupils attended the classes to facilitate their academic work.