Govt would improve infrastructure base of Swedru School of

Business

Accra, Oct 24, - The Swedru School of Business in the Central Region currently has its administration block, boys dormitory, dinning hall in wooden structures.

There is no sick bay, science laboratory and over aged bus, whilst a newly constructed one-storey classroom block has the top has been converted into girls' dormitories.

This was made known during the first visit by the Minister for Basic, Secondary and Girl-Child Education, Ms. Christine Churcher, to the school on Friday.

Ms. Churcher, who expressed concern, said government would improve the infrastructure of the school, adding, "as you can see they need a home science block, girls dormitory, and staff accommodation and government would do the little that it could, probably from the GETFUND, to save the situation in the school by next year."

Ms Churcher also said the district assembly would also need to construct a new toilet facility for the school because what is there now is not convenient.

She also presented a multi-function fax machine to the school to facilitate its operations and pledged government's support for the school.

She said her visit would open doors for development of the school in the near future and advised teachers to continue the good works they were doing and not to relent in their efforts to turn out best students. Ms. Churcher said she was proud that, despite the conditions in the school, a student from the school came out with seven As and one B and was adjudged the best the 2002 best student in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

She also advised the students not to indulge in sexual activities but to concentrate on their studies and strive hard for a better future. She gave the assurance that government was prepared to give scholarship to brilliant but needy students in the school. Mr Kojo Opare Essel, Headmaster of the school said there were 1100 students, most of whom were day students because of the accomodation problem.

He said this year only thirty students were admitted out of over thousand students who chose the school.

He said other problems were lack of a sick bay, assembly hall, science laboratory and a school bus.

Mr. Essel said most of the new classrooms were built by the Parent Teacher Association and urged the old students association to also assist.

Mrs Grace Coleman, Former Deputy Minister of Finance urged the teachers to maintain the standard set, despite the circumstances under which they were working.