Nkawie (Ash), Jan. 2, GNA - Enrolment and retention in Atwima District basic schools increased from 31,925 in 2003 to over 41,200 in 2004, an increase of about 25 per cent.

Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, Atwima District Director of Education, who disclosed this said girl's enrolment also increased by eight per cent while school drop out rate reduced by two per cent in the same period. Speaking at the annual get-together of the officers and other staff of the directorate at Nkawie on Friday, he attributed the modest achievement to the active involvement and participation of the communities in the development of education in the District. The District, he said, placed 15th in 2004 against 24th in 2003 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the national order of merit table and all the five public second cycle schools in the District also significantly improved upon their academic performance. Mr Obeng-Darko advised the officers and heads of basic schools to intensify supervision in schools and cautioned them against inefficiency, mal-administration and any acts and attitudes that would erode the respect, dignity and credibility that the District had carved for itself over the years.

He also warned the officers occupying sensitive positions against divulging vital and confidential information, which, he said, tended to tarnish the district's image.

Mr Baffour Asare-Bediako, an Assistant Director of Education in-charge of Human Resource Management and Development at the directorate, advised the staff to soberly and critically reflect and review their activities for the year and plan adequately to improve upon their performance for the New Year.

He explained that the get-together was not only for merry-making but also aimed at creating healthy platform for them to interact, share ideas, discuss educational issues to improve efficiency.

Mr S. Aguri-Amanfo, Headmaster of Nkawie Secondary/Technical School and Mr F.C.K. Ntim-Gyakari, Atwima District Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), assured the officers that they have initiated a move to discuss with the management of the Atwima Mutual Health Insurance Scheme on the need for the refund of the teachers accumulated salary deductions of one per cent monthly from December 2003 to December 2004 towards the scheme. 2 Jan. 05