Begoro, Feb. 8, GNA - The Fanteakwa District Assembly has so far spent 252 million cedis on the construction of blocks of classrooms at Osino, Ahomahomasu, Bepoase and Feyiase towards the improvement of education in the area.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Ebenezer Ofoe Caesar who announced this at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly at Begoro on Friday, said the projects were been implemented under the Quality Improvement in Primary Schools (QUIPS) with sponsorship from USAID. He appealed to beneficiary communities to intensify the communal spirit so that the projects could be completed on schedule.

The DCE said the assembly had spent a total amount of 55 million cedis for the training of the third batch of 111 teacher-trainees for the 2002-2003 academic year.

Mr Caesar said the assembly had already paid 8.2 million cedis as a settlement allowance to the first batch of 41 qualified teacher-trainees who reported for posting to the district this academic year. He, however, expressed regret that three of teachers had refused to return to the district for postings.

Mr Caesar said the assembly attached importance to education by providing education infrastructure with the HIPC relief fund, the GETFUND and assistance from international donors.

He added that consequently, the district place 22nd nation-wide and second out of the 15 districts in the Eastern Region in the 2003 Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The DCE suggested to the assembly to institute sponsorship for nurses to pursue further training and should be made to return to work at the district hospital at Begoro.

He said three clinics would be built at Asrebuso, Nkomkama and Addokrom while schools would be built at Akumesu and Nsuapemso, under the Social Investment Fund.

Mr Caesar commended individuals, organisations and other stakeholders for contributing to he development of education in the district.