Fifteen Basic Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis, have received a total of 200 boxes of assorted reading books, under the “Libraries for Schools Project” of the Oguaa Akoto Association, a US-based non-profit organisation.
The beneficiary schools are Apewosika M/A, Okyeso Archbishop Ammisah Catholic, St. Michael's, Amanful Catholic, AME Zion, Antem M/A and St. Monica's Anglican Girls Primary and Junior High Schools.
The rest are Ekon M/A, Kwegyir Aggrey, Cherubim and Seraphim, Church of Christ, Essuekyir M/A, Amanful Old Hospital Hill, Philip Quarcoe Boys and Wesley Girls Primary and Junior High Schools.
Each school received about 13 boxes of books, while in addition, five others received portable mobile library systems, expected to be moved from class to class during their respective reading periods.
The 1,200-dollar project, is to help raise the standard of basic education in the metropolis, which according to the association, had declined over the last 20 or more years, due to lack of reading books.
This brings to 18 the number of basic schools in the metropolis that have so far benefited from the project since it was piloted in 2011 by the association, made up of 20 Ghanaians from Cape Coast but currently based in Washington, USA.
Speaking at a ceremony in Cape Coast at the weekend, to distribute the books and library systems, Mr. George Williams, who represented the association, complained about the inability of many basic school graduates to qualify for admission into the prestigious Senior High Secondary Schools in the metropolis.
He said the association believed that offering basic students in the metropolis easy access to variety of reading books, would boost their interest in academic work and help reverse the trend.
Mr. Daniel Thompson, an educationist and mentor of the association, urged teachers to put measures, such as reading competitions in place, to ensure that the books were properly utilized.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta the second, Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, expressed worry that the prestigious second cycle institutions in the metropolis had been overtaken by students from other regions, and stressed the need to change the status quo.
He advised students to take reading seriously, since it helped in understanding other subjects, and commended the association for remembering their roots in undertaking the project, and pledged to support the course.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Ms. Florence Nkum, said the fallen standards in basic education within the metropolis was a source of worry to the directorate, and expressed appreciation to the association for complementing their efforts.
She said the directorate was working tirelessly to redeem the image of the metropolis, and promised to ensure that the books were judiciously utilized.
Ms Nkum called for more support from other philanthropists.
