Gomoa Afranse (C/R), March 25, GNA - The government has allocated 97,000 exercise books for distribution to pupils in public basic schools in the Gomoa East. The exercise books, which included Note 1, technical Drawing, Graph and those for Mathematics and Languages, was in fulfilment of President John Evans Atta Mills free exercise books for pupils pledged in the 2008 electioneering campaign.

The District Chief Executive, Mr. Isaac Kingsley Ahunu-Armah, presented the books to Mr. Francis Obeng Ampadu, District Director of Education, who in turn distributed them through the heads of the schools to the pupils. Mr. Ahunu-Armah appealed to Ghanaians to exercise patience for the government to deliver on the promises made to them during the electioneering campaign.

He assured that things were on course and that the 'Better Ghana' promised would come to pass by the end of the President first four-year tenure.

The DCE cautioned teachers against pilfering the books, saying "the books are strictly not to be sold to the pupils or anybody else." He called on headteachers to supervisory the distribution of the books to ensure that each pupil got the required number. "Both the teacher and the Head teacher will be severely sanctioned in case of malpractices in the distribution" the DCE stressed. Mr. Ampadu on his part, advised both teachers and parents to ensure that the children took good care of the books.

He said people often did not value things provided for free. "We don't take good care of things provided us for free", he said and added that the exercise books must not suffer the same fate. Nana Kojo Badu V, Benkumhen of Gomoa Ajumako, who represented the Omanhen Obrempon Nyanful Krampah XI, deplored the falling standard of education in the area and appealed to teachers, parents and traditional rulers to collaborate to find remedy to the situation.