Government awards 276 educational projects in UWR

The Government has since January 2009 to February 2012, awarded 276 educational projects on contract in the Upper West Region to expand education infrastructure, to boost teaching and learning.

One hundred and twelve of the projects had been completed and were being put to use by the beneficiary schools while 140 of them had reached various stages of construction.

Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, disclosed these during the 2012 Annual Education Sector Review meeting held in Wa on Tuesday.

The 2012 Education Sector Review of the region was on the theme: “Education, our priority for sustainable development”.

Alhaji Sulemana said Government was also putting up two new Senior High Schools (SHS) at Gwollu and Funsi in the Sissala West and Wa East Districts respectively.

He called on the education authorities to intensify monitoring and supervision in all schools, to ensure that both teachers and students worked hard to produce corresponding results.

The Regional Minister charged Municipal and District Assemblies to hold district review sessions to identify areas that needed to be tackled to improve on quality education at all levels.

Alhaji Sulemana said Government recognised teacher motivation and discipline as key ingredients for success in the education sector, and would continue to improve the service conditions of teachers.

Mr. Ayivi Toshu, who represented the Acting Director- General of Education, said education was vital to a thriving society.

He urged the participants to focus their discussions on how to expand and improve early childhood care and education so that by 2015 all children, particularly those in difficult circumstances, would have access to quality basic education.

Mr Toshu asked them to discuss issues on how the elimination of gender disparity, provision of learning needs of school children, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society through equitable access to appropriate teaching and learning materials, among others.

He reminded Ghanaians that “an ignorant society would become a breeding ground for violence and intolerance, but an educated society would be breeding ground for tolerance, peace, justice, understanding, innovation, advancement and positive self-sustaining growth.”

Mr Toshu appealed to civil society not to relegate the improvement of the educational system to Government alone.

Mr. Mahama Iddrisu, Acting Upper West Regional Director of Education, expressed gratitude to the Government for giving the region its fair share of the free school uniforms and exercise books, school infrastructure and means of transport to some schools.

He appealed to Government to provide transport for SHS at Piina, Jirapa and Lassia Tuolu, to enhance the teaching and learning.

Mr Toshu also appealed to the authorities to construct new administration blocks for the Regional Education Office as well as the Sissala West and Lambussie-Karni Districts.**