MTN Foundation inaugurates learning facilities at Ekumfi

Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Ghana Foundation has said it would continue to make huge investments in the education sector to help improve accessibly to enable the youth to attain greater heights in education.

The Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, Mr. Robert Kuzoe, said this when he inaugurated a GHC 180,006.65 six-unit classroom block and a 20-seater ICT centre constructed by the Foundation for the Ekumfi Srafa/Immuna Islamic Basic School in the Ekumfi District.

MTN Foundation had since its inception undertaken several projects with a large number of the youth benefitting.

Among the projects that are on-going is the construction of six and three unit classroom blocks in many parts of the country including 18 ICT centres for various schools and a 16-unit boys’ dormitory block, ICT facility and a 33-seater school bus for the Akropong School for the Blind.

He urged the school children to utilize the facility to acquire the necessary skills to secure them a brighter future because “what you are learning in school today will determine what you will become in future.”

Mr. Kuzoe was full of praise for the chiefs and people of the two communities as well as the headmistress for their immense support and interest to get good facilities for the school that aided the early completion of the project.

Investigations by the Regional Directorate of Education had revealed that about 80 percent of children of school going age in the Ekumfi District are out of school due to the poor education infrastructure and bad roads and many of them attended the function.

The Regional Planning and Statistics Officer of the GES, Mr. John Ekow Hayford, said it was wrong for children to walk aimlessly around when schools are in session and urged parents to educate their children.

He commended the MTN Foundation for the project that has helped to improve access and appealed to the teachers to encourage and admit more children and ensure that they are retained in school.

The headmistress of Ekumfi Srafa/Immuna Islamic Basic School, Madam Eva Assibi Awuni, gave a brief background of the school saying it was established in 2003 by one Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim from Immunain with 30 pupils to provide circular education for their children.

She said the standard of the school was worrying due to lack of infrastructure and the Parent/Teacher Association did its best by starting the projects with its own resources and later sought assistance of the MTN Foundation.

She said the attendance before was not encouraging but since the facilities were provided, it had improved and appealed to parents to send their children to school and that she was optimistic enrolment would increase next academic year.

She expressed gratitude to the MTN Foundation and also thanked GHACEM for contributing cement to support the school’s projects.