Mampong (Ash), Dec 10, GNA - Fifty non-formal education facilitators in the Sekyere West District were on Friday presented with prizes for pushing the frontiers of education beyond the classroom. The incentives included ghetto blasters, sewing machines and bicycles and were a token of appreciation from the government to the volunteers who have completed their 21-month literacy cycle. Making the presentation at Asante-Mampong Mr Haruna Oppong-Boateng, the District Chief Executive, commended the facilitators, saying their effort was to promote a more enlightened society necessary for good governance.

He urged them to continue to put in their best to reduce illiteracy in the district for rapid socio-economic development. Mr Oppong-Boateng said the government attached importance to the National Functional Literacy Programme and would continue to seek funding from its development partners to improve the coverage of the programme.

Mr Noah Atta Afrifa, the District Co-ordinator of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED), said the facilitators had trained 1,175 learners in the district between 2001 and 2004. He said the NFED would recruit about 80 functional literacy facilitators next year to expand its coverage. Mr Afrifa commended the district assembly for providing funds for the rehabilitation of the NFED offices, pledging to put in their best to reduce illiteracy in the area