5,000 beds for BA schools

Eighteen Senior High/Technical Schools in the Brong-Ahafo Region have received 5,000 bunk beds and 5,000 student mattresses, being the first tranche of beds and mattresses to be allocated to various educational institutions in the region by government.

The gesture formed part of government’s plan to supply 10,000 bunk beds and 20,000 mattresses to the various educational institutions in the region.

Sunyani SHS, St James Seminary/Senior High School, Odumaseman SHS and Chiraa SHS received 250 beds and 500 mattresses each, while fourteen others including Goka SHS, Ahafoman SHS, Yefri SHS and Dormaa SHS also received 200 beds and 400 mattresses each.

Speaking at a brief handing over ceremony in Sunyani on Tuesday, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, said the move, which is another crucial milestone in the education sector, is expected to enhance effective teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools.

“Education has been a trusted and strategic tool for national development. Indeed, as a social democratic government, we believe that it is a right and not a privilege for every child to have access to quality and affordable education to be able to earn a living,” he stressed.

According to him, government has not reneged on its promise to improve the quality of education at all levels in Ghana.

Mr Opoku indicated that the past three years have seen massive infrastructural development in the education sector, saying, “These unprecedented huge infrastructural developments in the education sector across the country are in preparation towards the introduction of progressively Free Senior High School Education in Ghana as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution under Article 25.”

He disclosed that government is hoping to begin its progressively Free SHS education for all day students by September this year.

The minister entreated the beneficiary students and schools to take good care of the beds and mattresses.

He warned heads of the schools to stop charging bed user fees since the beds had been provided by government.

The Paramount Chief of Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, commended the government for the gesture.

He advised the students to take advantage of the various facilities being provided by government in their schools and learn hard.

The headmistress of SUSEC, Georgina Boakye, on behalf of the beneficiary heads, noted that the beds would go a long way to ease the accommodation problem faced by the schools.

She promised to adopt proper maintenance culture to preserve the items.