Kyebi, Aug. 30, GNA - Junior and Senior High Schools are to be introduced as part of the educational reforms policy recommended by the Presidential Educational Reforms Review Commission set up by the government.

President John Agyekum Kufuor who announced this on Monday said a White Paper on the recommendations would be published soon. He was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Akim Abuakwa Traditional Area at Kyebi, on the third day of his four-day official visit to the Eastern Region.

Giving details, President Kufuor said education would be made compulsory for every Ghanaian child who attained four years, saying from nursery to kindergarten would be two years, to enable the child begin primary one at age six and take six years to complete primary school at 12.

Upon completion of primary school, the child would enter the Junior High School for three years and by age 15, would have realized the talents and capabilities for the future, he stated. The President said after the Junior High School, the child would enter the Senior High School for four years where he could undertake a courses in technical, vocational or agriculture in line with the child's talents and capabilities.

President Kufuor said between the ages 18-19, the child would have been well trained to enter the university or any tertiary institution of his/her choice depending on the talents and capabilities. "This is to ensure that the child has been well-trained to take up every challenge in life and would not become a burden on society", he added.

On the upcoming elections, President Kufuor called on the Electoral Commission to uphold its independence and be impartial to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections that would be acceptable to all the political parties.

In a welcoming address, Kukurantumihene Osabarima Kena Ampaw the Second, who is also the Adontenhene of Akim Abuakwa Traditional Area, commended the government for the numerous development projects undertaken by the East Akim District Assembly saying they included roads, education, health and water supply.

President Kufuor addressing a similar durbar of the chiefs and people of the newly created Atiwa District at Anyinam and assured them that they would have their due share of the national cake for development.

He assured them that competent people would be posted to head Government institutions in the district and called for unity among the people.

"Accelerated development in the new district require unity among the people," he stressed.

President Kufuor appealed to the chiefs to release land for investors to embark on oil palm plantation in response to the President's Special Initiative (PSI) to help raise the cultivation of the product from the current 100 hectares countrywide to over 200,000 hectares.

He assured them that as a new district, a model Senior Secondary School would be built in the area to bring quality education to the youth.

the chiefs and people, the chief of Abomosu, Osabarima Amoyaw, commended the government for creating the new district, saying with the long neglect by past governments, the dispensation would enable them to enjoy their fair share of the national cake. He pledged their unflinching support to the government and assured the commitment of the people to work hard to speed up development of the area.

Osabarima Amoyaw said as mostly farmers, the people required food processing factories and the extension of the PSI to the area. 30 Aug. 04