Education receives attention in Asante-Akim South

Juaso (Ash), Aug 10, GNA - A chunk of the Asante-Akim South District Assembly's resource has, in the last two years been invested in the promotion of quality education as part of measures to improve standard of education in district.

The district, whose academic performance at both basic and senior secondary levels leaves much to be desired, has embarked on infrastructure development in schools as well as providing sponsorship packages for deserving students.

Plans are also underway to establish a vocational institute and Information Communication Technology Centre at Obogu and Dampong. These were captured in the sessional address of the District Chief Executive, Dr Lord Justice Gyamfi-Fenteng, during the assembly's first ordinary meeting of the sixth session at Juaso on Tuesday. It was evident in the address that aside the assembly's internally generated revenue an appreciable percentage of funds from sources such as the District Assembly's Common Fund, HIPC Fund, MP's common fund were invested in education.

Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said GH=A2102.184.88 (over one billion cedis) had so far been disbursed to 572 students in the form of sponsorship since January 2006.

He said 505 pupils from Yaw Bronya Presbyterian Primary and Ahyiresu D/A Primary were benefiting from the National School Feeding Programme in the district and that GH=A29,126 (91.2 million cedis) had been received for the first half of the year.

On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said 60,202 people representing 62 per cent of the population of the district had registered with the scheme. He said 42,959 subscribers of the scheme had been provided with identity and health facility attendance cards and urged the assembly members to sensitise their electorate on the need to patronize the scheme.

Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said 322 youth had been employed under the National Youth Employment Programme.