Regional News of Wednesday, 3 November 2004

Source: GNA

NGO builds 24-unit teachers' quarters at Nator

Nator (UWR), Nov 03, GNA - Sustainable Integrated Development Services Centre (SIDSEC), a Wa-based non-governmental organisation, with assistance from Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) organisation, on Tuesday inaugurated a 500 million-cedi teachers' quarters at Nator in the Nadowli District.

The facility, which has 24 bedrooms, a common hall with entertainment facilities is a strategy adopted by SIDSEC to entice and retain teachers in Nator.

Mr Boye Bandie, Executive Secretary of SIDSEC, said SIDSEC had also provided bicycles, textbooks and school uniform for teachers and students respectively to encourage high teaching and good performance. He said school blocks and clinics have been built in other communities in the Nadowli District to improve on enrolment and general performance in schools.

Mr Bandie said primary school enrolment at Nator had increased from 256 students from the 1998/1999 academic year to 484 this year.

Mr Bandie said girls' enrolment has increased from 110 in 1998/99 academic year to 243 and denounced early marriages, child labour and girl elopement as impediments to girls' education.

Mr Martin Dassah, Nadowli District Co-ordinating Director, said the district would organise a consultative meeting for all development partners and non-governmental organisations to evaluate their performance.

He commended the management of SIDSEC for its support for education, health and agriculture and called on other development partners to emulate it.

Mr. Jim Dahl and Madam Carthy Johnson the two officials of CFTC who came from Canada took turns to commend SIDSEC for implementing what they have proposed to do over the years.

They also commissioned a clinic put up by SIDSEC at Goli in the Nadowli District.