Asuboi, (E/R), Oct. 7, GNA - Mr Michael Kofi Mensah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Suhum Kraboa Coaltar, has expressed worry about the continued decline in the standard of education in the area. He said the issue should be a serious source of worry to all stakeholders in the educational sector who must take steps to address the situation before it got out of hand.

Mr Mensah, who was inaugurating a four-unit classroom block for the Asuboi Community Kindergarten school, urged parents to pay particular attention to their children's education.

The 21,347.00 Ghana Cedis project was jointly financed by the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District Civic Union, the Small Grant Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Asuboi Community.

Mr Mensah said the government, having realized the importance of education for sustainable development, implemented the new educational reforms to give the Ghanaian child quality education. He said as part of the new reforms, early childhood education had been identified as a crucial initial milestone in the life of the child. "It is for this important reason that the kindergarten has been absorbed into the main stream of the educational system in the country," he said.

Mr Mensah said the formative years of every child was very important since it was the determining factor of what became of him or her when he grew up. "We therefore have as a national responsibility to pay more attention to the child at the kindergarten level and support him or her to build a strong foundation on which to develop as he or she grows up." The DCE therefore appealed to all stakeholders' including parents, teachers, the youth, religious bodies, non-governmental organizations and traditional authorities to uphold that noble course and get the children into school.

He said they must support the children to develop their interest, which would propel them onto higher levels. Mr Mensah expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed in diverse ways towards the early completion of the project and called for the adoption of the culture of maintenance to ensure its longer lifespan.

Mrs Cynthia Adu Boafo, President of Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District Civic Union, said in 2006 during the inauguration of the union at Obesua, it was found out that majority of children were not attending pre-school due to lack of facilities and therefore decided to put up the block.

He said the Royal Netherlands Embassy upon a request supported the project with 18,127.00 Ghana Cedis with the union providing 1,219.00 Ghana Cedis and Asuboi community supporting in the form of labour, land, water and some roofing sheets. 07 Oct. 08