Government to spend GHC20.2 million on educational infrastructure in B/A

Sunyani (B/A), Nov. 29, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday said that the Government would spend more th= an GHC20.2 million on educational infrastructure in the Brong Ahafo Region t= his year. He said the projects include the construction of classrooms, dormitories, science and computer laboratories and libraries for Senior H= igh Schools (SHSs) in the Region. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said additional, the Government through the GETfun= d and the Ministry of Education would spend more than GH¢5.3 million on t= he provision of six-unit classroom blocks for 20 SHSs in the Region under th= e phase-one project and that under the Fund, the Sunyani SHS would benefit from a 1,500-capacity Assembly Hall Complex and a sports room. The Regional Minister, represented Vice President Mr. John Mahama at=

the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Sunyani Senior High School, on th= e theme: "50 Years of Quality Education and Moral Excellence to the Youth -=

SUSEC Perspective", in Sunyani.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the introduction of 15 per cent professional allowance for teachers and 20 per cent allowance for those posted to deprived communities, by Government, were part of measures to improve education in the country.

He said the Government was committed to establishing a University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Region and that land had been acquired for the project.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the greatest asset of every country is its youth and there was the need to prevent them from vices such as drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, teenage pregnancy, abortion and armed robbery.

Mr Joseph Awuah, Headmaster of the School, commended Parent-Teacher Associations for contributing to the development of education in the country. He paid tribute to the founding father of the school, Dr Kwame Nkrum= ah, Ghana's first President, and pioneers of the school, including Nana Asor Nkrawiri 11, Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area for their contribution to the progress of the school.

Mr Awuah said the school obtained 100 per cent pass in the West Afri= can Senior Schools Certificate Examination from 2005 to 2009 and won the 48th=

National Inter-Schools Independence Anniversary Debate in 2005. He said that in 2005, a second-year SSS student, Master Seth Arthur,=

was adjudged the National Best Student in a Science Olympiad, held in Jakarta-Indonesia and Nana Doris Marfo, a tutor of the school won the Over-all National Best Teacher Prize.

Mr Awuah said in 2008, Miss Priscilla Abasi Mbama, a student of the school, was among five students selected to represent Ghana at an international junior Science Olympiad in South Korea. He said: "As we speak, Master David Oppong is in the United States o= n a Cultural Exchange Programme while Miss Sheilla Ntewusu has just returned from United Kingdom on an International Air Cadet Exchange programme." Mr Awuah said Mr Thomas Obour and Mr. Alexander, all teachers of the=

school, attended Mathematics and Science workshops in Uganda and Japan respectively. He appealed to individuals and organisations to help the school to build teachers' bungalows, computer laboratory and appealed for the early=

completion of a boys' dormitory project. Mr. James Ephraim, Vice Chancellor of Catholic University at Fiapre near Sunyani, called for an improvement of the educational system. 29 Nov. 10