Nobi (ER), March 22, GNA- Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, on Saturday reiterated the commitment of the Government to ensure that conditions in rural schools are improved to help bridge the gab between them and their counterparts in urban areas.\ He said it was against that background that government would be providing school uniforms for needy school pupils and had directed that funds for the school feeding programme be increased as well as improvement in infrastructure development. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said this in a speech read on his behalf when Ghana Water Purification Fund, a non-governmental organization, handed over a head teacher's bungalow it renovated at the cost of GH¢ 10,000.00 to the Nobi School Complex in the East Akyem District. He took the opportunity to appeal to parents not to send their children to farms during school hours or to the market to trade but rather send them to school to benefit from those educational interventions.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo commended the positive attitude of the NGO to renovate the bungalow and said it was their commitment towards enhancing the quality of education in the area. Professor Samuel Amoako, Member of Parliament (MP), for Abuakwa North, called for concerted efforts from all to help develop the area. He said the provision of the facility would enable the head teacher to perform her duties with maximum efficiency and appealed to the school management to take good care of it to prolong its life span. Mrs. Rene O. Boakye-Boaten, Regional Director of Education, observed that most teachers feel reluctant to accept postings to some communities because of inadequate residential accommodation. She said the facility would motivate both teachers and pupils to work harder to achieve results. Mrs Boakye-Boaten said the regional office would closely monitor the use of the facility and advised teachers who would use it not to leave it to rot.

She advised parents to provide the needs of their wards promptly and to visit schools to find about their progress. Mr. George Antwi, Fund Trustee Chairman of the NGO announced that the organization, which aimed at providing potable drinking water for rural communities in the country had constructed rain water harvester to allow rain water to be collected for drinking purposes in the community. On health, he said the group was registering 55 financially disadvantaged inhabitants of the community free of charge under the National Health Insurance Scheme. A set of football jerseys and footballs were later donated to the school. 22 March 09