Ashaiman, March 28, GNA - The Ministry of Education (MOE) would spend about one-third of its estimated total budget on Education this year. Mrs Doris Gyedu-Nuako, Deputy National Co-ordinator of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) of the Ministry, who made this known said donors and development partners would also contribute about GHC89.2 million, to supplement government's efforts at ensuring quality education in the country.

She was speaking at the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of the Agape School Complex at Ashaiman-Lebanon at the weekend, under the theme: "Investing In Quality Education: The Weapon Against Poverty." Mrs Gyedu-Nuako, who represented the Minister of Education, as the Special Guest of Honour, reiterated that, Education indeed was a huge investment for any nation that sought to develop.

She, therefore, urged the major stakeholders to directly or indirectly invest in quality education so that the nation's fight against ignorance, which was the breeding ground of poverty in the society could be won. The Deputy National Co-ordinator of ECD appealed to parents to invest in quality education for their wards, by promptly paying their fees, and providing their needs.

Numo Adinortey Addison, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) observed that, quality education had the tendency to liberate society of the shackles of poverty and promote good health and sanitation. Numo Addison charged educational institutions within the Municipality to play meaningful roles in ensuring that Ashaiman became a modern business enclave, and indeed a 24-hour peaceful city.

He announced that the Municipal Assembly was constructing six classroom blocks and one junior secondary school block under the Social Investment Fund (SIF), in addition to a six-classroom two storey blocks from the GET-Fund.

These infrastructures, the MCE hoped, would cater for the overflow that would result from the elimination of the shift system in the Municipality. He assured private educational institutions within the Municipality to count on the support of the Assembly through the SIF. Numo Addison commended Agape School Complex for its splendid performance in last year's BECE Examinations, and urged the teachers and pupils not to be complacent, but to put in extra efforts to achieve greater heights.

Pastor Kennedy Kortiah, Director of the School, said it was out of the desire for love and compassion for the idling kids in the community, that Agape was established on March 20, 2,000 with two pupils and three dedicated staff.

Pastor Kortiah said non-payment of children's school fees by parents and guardians; inadequate provision of pupils' needs by parents; and absenteeism, were the major challenges facing the school. He however said, despite all these challenges, the school authorities were doing their best, to achieve the ultimate goal of providing quality education for the pupils.

Prizes were presented to deserving staff and students.