Tongo (U/E), March 3, GNA - The Gbeogo School for the Deaf in the Talensi-Nabdam District has celebrated its first Open Day with a call on the government, non-governmental organizations and philanthropists to assist the school to enhance its academic work. The Headmaster of the School, Mr. Francis Andiiba, said the school, which was established in 1996 and now has a student population of 320 students, is the only institution for the Deaf in the Region. He the school is being confronted with numerous problems and mentioned some of the problems as lack of accommodation for the Headmaster and the teachers.

The others are difficulty in paying electricity bills, lack of computers, the need to complete the dinning hall, furniture, a fence wall and street lights. Mr. Andiiba said the school would not present candidates for the 2010 Basic School Certificate Examination (BECE) because of the introduction of the Information Communication Technology at the BECE. He said the school needed computers and time to prepare the students for the 2010 BECE and appealed to the Parent/Teacher Association and the School Management Committee to step up their efforts to raise funds for development projects and to generate funds internally by assisting the pupils to produce more vegetables and to assist them in basket weaving. On the academic achievement of the school, the Headmaster said the school had been performing well at the BECE since its inception and most of the students had gained admission to many Deaf Senior High Schools.

Mr. Andiiba commended the Tongo Area Development Project of World Vision for sponsoring the activities of the opening day celebration. He also paid tribute to Action Aid Ghana, the Catholic Relief Services and other individuals for contributing to the development of the school. The Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awini, said the government was committed to the education of children particularly children with special needs. She said government was putting up special facilities for special need schools and incentive packages for teachers who are attached to the Special Education Section. The Senior Programme Officer of the Tongo Area Development Project of World Vision International, Mr. Samuel Laary, assured Management of the School that World Vision would continue to support the school to improve upon its academic performance. 03 March 10