Tongo (U/E), Jan 19, GNA - The Talensi-Nabdam District came first in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2008 out of nine districts in the region. The District Director of Education, Mr. Francis A. Ayaba, said this at the District Teachers' Day of Appreciation organized by the Directorate at Tongo on Saturday. He said the district scored 53.69 per cent and that 22 per cent of the 974 pupils made grades between 6 and 12 as against 15 per cent last year. He said there had been an improvement in enrolment in the district during the past three years and all the 62 primary schools now have Kindergartens attached to them.
Mr Ayamba said junior high schools had increased to 32 and for the next two years the district would have to open more than 10 JHSs to be able to absorb the high enrolment in primaries 4, 5 and 6. He said recent School Education Assessment showed that there had been a steady improvement in the performance of pupils at the primary level.
Mr Ayamba attributed the achievement of the District Directorate of Education to dedication, sacrifice and hard work by the teachers, especially the newly appointed ones, who had accepted posting to the most deprived parts of the district. He commended other teachers in the district for transforming the pupils' lifestyles, saying, "Many of you who used to drink heavily and come to school late have changed your habit".
In a Speech read for him the Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area, Naab Sabaalug Namalteng, said the most important thing a parent could bequeath to his children was education and appealed to parents to complement the efforts of teachers in the upbringing of children.
He urged the district assembly to build more schools and presented a cow for the preparation of meals for the occasion. Teachers from Sakoti Primary School were awarded certificates of appreciation for tree planting, Dasabligo Primary School was recognised for being the best in organization. Kongo Senior High School was cited for being the best in initiatives.
Mr. Robert Tunaba of Bolgatanga SHS and Ms Monica Ninimot were also awarded certificates for contributing to sports development and for the establishment of a community school in the District respectively. Ms Ninimot was also given a bicycle. 19 Jan 09
