TMA to abolish shift system-MCE

Tema, Dec. 16, GNA - Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), on Thursday, announced that plans wer= e underway to abolish the shift system in all basic schools in the Metropol= is. This was contained in a speech, read on his behalf, at the durbar of=

school children, teachers and parents, to climax the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Twedaase Junior High School in Tema. Mr Ofosuware said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) would underta= ke the construction of nine-six classroom blocks with funds from the GETFund= to eliminate the shift system. He said the theme for the anniversary: "Basic Education; the Bedrock= of National Development," was appropriate, since the government was committe= d to the development of the human resource base of the country. He said with the stiff competition from the private sector at the ba= sic level, it required committed and hardworking teachers to be able to maint= ain high standards in the public basic schools.

Mr Ofosuware urged the staff of the school to reflect soberly on the=

past 50 years, since the inception of the school, and come out with a new=

vision and direction. The MCE stated that his outfit would identify and demarcate all scho= ol lands before constructing concrete walls around them. A pledge of GHC200.00 was made on behalf of TMA towards the anniversary. Mr Kwesi Hutchful, Metropolitan Education Director, called on parent= s to pay attention to the education of their children at the basic level, since it was at that stage that they build a good foundation for learning= .. He advised the students to stick to their books to enable them to secure a better future. He appealed to the TMA and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to=

help fence the school to enhance discipline and create a congenial atmosphere for teaching and learning. Mr Hutchful said he would support the school with a computer centre if it was fenced.

Miss Juliana Danso, Headmistress of the School paid a glowing tribut= e to the founding fathers and past head teachers of the school. She said the school started in 1960 with 21 girls and 29 boys and ha= s since recorded a huge population over the years. She enumerated the past achievements of the school in the fields of sports, academics, and cultural activities, among others. Miss Danso said a number of challenges had be-devilled the school ov= er the years, and said since it lacked a fence wall, miscreants, lunatics an= d squatters often invaded the premises. She said the various attractions around the school, often led to distraction and truancy during studies. The Headmistress made an appeal to the TMA and TDC to put up a compu= ter laboratory for the school. Master Daniel Sadey, Senior Prefect of the School, said discipline w= as the hallmark of the school and this has led to the impressive results obtained by students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE= ). Mr Christopher Andoh, a business man and a past student of the schoo= l, appealed to the staff to ensure the maintenance of discipline and improvement in the academic performance of the school. Mr David L. Abrukwah, a Director at TDC and a past student of the school, who chaired the function, pledged to give the school a computer. Deserving students were given prizes.