Community undertakes school complex project

Atorkor (V/R), Nov. 30, GNA-The people of Atorkor near Anloga in the Keta District on Friday cut the sod for work to begin on the construction of a six billion-cedi modern school complex for the Local Authority Basic schools.

The project, which would take three years to complete to allow for the running of a double stream, includes three storey buildings comprising a total of 22 classrooms, an administration block, a library, a canteen, workshop, playing fields and an Information Technology (IT) centre.

The occasion coincided with the first Speech and Prize-Giving Day, which was organised by the Atorkor Development Foundation (ADF)-Union of Atorkor citizens which is funding the school project.

A total of 30 people received certificates, books and school bags for excelling in academic work.

Treve Commander, Gifty Abotsina and Patrick Amedzorge, received 1 million, 750,000 and 500,000 cedis respectively under the Dufia Award, which is financed by the Chief of the town, to award good performance in the BECE examinations.

The ADF also presented 2.6 million cedis to the school management as scholarship for 51 needy but brilliant pupils for the year, while another three first year JSS students would have their fees paid by ADF for periods ranging between one to three years.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Deputy Volta Regional Minister said the initiative of ADF and the people of Atorkor is indeed laudable as it falls in line with government's efforts to develop the requisite manpower of the nation for economic development.

He said in the light of falling standards of education, it would be out of place for parents and communities to sit down unconcerned only to apportion blame, stating that all communities must emulate the people of Atorkor.

Mr Dzamesi said government was putting a number of interventions in place, including massive construction of school structures, to off-set the deadline. He pledged 600,000 cedis for the payment of water bill, which led to the closure of a stand pipe that served the school and a section of the community. Mr. Dzamesi also promised that a five-unit water closet toilet facility would be constructed under HIPC funds for the school.

Mr. Raymond Okudzeto, a citizen of the town, resident in the United Kingdom, said the ADF hoped to transform Atorkor within two years and pledged six computers to the school next year and also extend telecommunication to the town. Mr Okudzeto later led dignitaries to a building, including six residential apartments financed by ADF for a Police Station.

Togbe Akume Gelli 111, Chief of Atorkor said development of the community was dear to his heart and urged all citizens to play their roles to make their dream come true.

Mr Desire Agbetepe, Headmaster of the school said from a poor showing in the BECE examination, years back, the school this year, was the sixth best in the district, from the 59th in 2001 to 18th in 2002, among 66 schools, due to the hard work of the community, teachers and pupils.

He thanked ADF for instituting a 100,000-cedi annual allowance for each teacher and promised that the teachers would move the school to "higher grounds".