A Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that the Ministry is working to prioritize the employment of National Service Personnel who accept postings to remote areas.

He said the Ministry is designing two incentive packages which would allow the retention of service personnel serving in remote areas and offer them scholarship for further studies.

Mr Ablakwa announced this during a visit to personnel serving in the remote areas of the Abura/Aseibu Kwamanksese and Assin South Districts in the Central Region.

The visit took the Minister and his team to Asuansi D/A A and B Basic and Junior High School (SHS), New Abu St Simons Catholic Basic and New Abu Methodist Basic Schools and the Abakrampa Health Centre in Abura/Aseibu Kwamankese District.

The others were Assin Ochiso D/A Primary School, Hawsodze D/A Primary and JHS, Assin Asamankese T.I. Ahmadiyya Basic and Banchiase T.I Ahmadiyya JHS schools in the Assin South District.

The National Service Scheme (NSS) post an average of 70,000 service personnel to the various institutions across the country every year through a computerise system.

Mr Ablakwa said the posting of service personnel to remote areas was not a punishment but rather an opportunity for them to help develop the human resource of the localities they find themselves.

“The rural parts of Ghana also need development and service personnel are to help in the development process,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa urged the personnel to take advantage of the Ministry’s package to be retained in their various areas of service.

Mr Augustine Akaah Enim, a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from University of Cape Coast (UCC) and service personnel at the Abakrampa Health Centre expressed satisfaction to serve the facility after the tenure of his service ends.

Ms Fati Nuhu, also a graduate of UCC Distance Education and service person at Assin- Asamankese T.I Ahmadiyya Basic School said, she is enjoying teaching in the school and would like to be retained.

Ms Sarah Adubah also a graduate of the university posted to New Abu Methodist Basic School said although she would have loved to be retained, her major concern is that she uses more than 60 per cent of her allowance on transport.

The Headmaster of the Assin Asamankese T.I Ahmadiyya School, Mr Adam Saeed Kofi and Mrs Deloris Inkoom, Headmistress of Asuansi D/A (A and B) JHS explained that the major problems facing the service personnel are accommodation and transportation.

The Heads also complained about lack of good structures and the delay of teaching materials as one of the problems facing them in the remote areas.

Mrs Sefa Afua Forson, Senior Medical Assistant at the Abakrampa Health Centre, expressed her willingness to retain Mr Enim, who she said is hardworking, punctual and sociable.

She called on the Service Directorate to send more personnel to her outfit as she needs more staff to cater for the needs of the community.