I’ll address challenges confronting basic education – Okoe Vanderpuije

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South Constituency, Mr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije has promised to address challenges confronting basic education in the constituency.

He said education was of major concern to him and he would ensure that every child of school-going age was found in the classroom.

Mr. Vanderpuije said this on Monday when the heads of basic schools in the constituency paid a courtesy call on him to congratulate him for winning the parliamentary seat of the Ablekuma South Constituency and also discuss the problems affecting education in the constituency.

He said he was aware of the challenges affecting education and would continue work to address them.

The MP assured the heads that he would work with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to build millennium schools and address the infrastructural needs of the schools.

Mr. Vanderpuije said issues of the toilet and refuse disposal within the educational system would be adequately resolved to enhance teaching and learning.

He said that the drainage system at the St. Mary’s Basic School and Chemunaa Basic School would be looked at adding that they will “also work with the incoming mayor of Accra to put up a millennium school Chemunaa”.

According to the MP, there was the need for continuous academic activity to chart the growth of academic performance within the constituency.

He said he would put in place an award system to reward the best three schools in the constituency to enable both teachers and students to make education very competitive.

Mr. Vanderpuije spoke against absenteeism by both teachers and students and urged that the practice is halted henceforth adding that “student have to know that when they step in school they mean business”.

He bemoaned the fact most students were often found loitering around with the excuse that “teacher has sent me,” while others were dropping out of school as a result of teenage pregnancy.

Mr. Vanderpuije assured the head teachers that he would find resources to boost education in the constituency.

The secretary of the Headteachers’ Association of Ablekuma South, Mr. Alhasssan A.M. Debone, said basic schools within the constituency were facing challenges such as lack of potable water, toilet facilities, flooding of some school compounds, lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres, poor drainage system, and inadequate infrastructure.