University Head attributes falling standard to inadequate infrastructure

Abetifi (E/R), May 30, GNA - The Principal of the Presbyterian University College (PUC), Professor Kofi Sraku Lartey, has attributed the country's falling standard of education to poor infrastructure and inadequate facilities to enhance effective teaching and learning at all levels of the nation's educational institutions.

He said since the purpose of education was to impart knowledge and train the human resource for national development, adequate infrastructure and facilities should be provided by educational stakeholders to attain those needs.

Pro. Sraku-Lartey was addressing 48th anniversary Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Abetifi Presbyterian Secondary School (APSEC) at Abetifi on Saturday.

Speaking as a Guest Speaker on the theme: "Provision of school infrastructure needs for academic excellence", he urged the government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to use the GETFund, the District Assembly Common Fund and other donor assistance to improve facilities in all educational institutions to promote academic excellence in the country.

Pro. Sraku-Lartey called on Parent/Teacher Association's (PTAs) to play their roles effectively by raising and soliciting funds to provide some of the needed projects instead of placing everything on the parents, while the alumni, most of whose schools were established by the missionaries over 40 years ago, should also contribute towards the provision of the facilities.

The Principal urged school authorities to be innovative by going into crops and poultry farming on their vast lands as well as commercialising their visual arts sectors to raise funds to provide some of the needed facilities.

The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, said no educational institution could function well without physical infrastructure such as building, furniture, equipment, transport, communication facilities, water and power supply.

He announced that under the government's programme to enhance infrastructure in the educational institutions, all the Polytechnics and the five Public Universities are receiving their fair share of funding to put up lecture theatres, halls of residence, library, laboratories, bungalows and recreational centres.

The Education Minister said 500 billion cedis from the District Assembly Common Fund, HIPC, GETFund and the Social Investment Fund (SIF) were being used to construct a six-classroom block, office and store each in all the 110 districts, 4.4 billion cedis was also been released to award scholarships to pupils in 40 deprived districts, while 49 billion cedis had also been voted for basic schools.

Mr Baa Wiredu said over 500 billion cedis was being spent on the first phase of the programme to upgrade at least one Senior Secondary School in each district under the HIPC Fund, while vehicles were provided to some second-cycle schools under the GETFund.

He urged all educational stakeholders to co-operate in educating school children to avoid negative tendencies such as drug abuse, drunkenness, pre-marital sex and rioting in the schools to ensure discipline among the youth.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Francis Osafo Mensah, urged students in the second- cycle schools to consider the sacrifices being made by their parents, teachers and the government and concentrate on their studies for them to complete their education successfully and become responsible future leaders. country.

The Headmaster of the school, Mr Africanus Anane, said the school would need a six-classroom unit to accommodate the expected intake of 1,200 students next academic year to avoid over-crowding students in the classrooms.

He appealed for the provision of means of transport, bungalows, dormitories and the rehabilitation of road network in the school. The function was chaired by the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoa Boateng, II. May 30, 04