New Abirem (E/R), Oct. 20, GNA- Ms. Esther Obeng Dapaah, the Minister for Mines, lands and Forestry, on Friday inaugurated 1,800 Ghana cedis computer laboratory for the New Abirem D/A Model School in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region. Ntiamoah Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO), built the facility and equipped it with 40 computers and accessories. The NGO also awarded scholarships to 47 brilliant but needy students in the area to enable them to further their education in the second cycle institution, nursing college, teacher training college and the university.

Ms. Obeng Dapaah, who is also Member of Parliament for New Abirem, commended the Foundation for contributing to the development of education in the area. He urged the students to study hard to enable them to pass their examinations to justify the investment being made in their education by their parents and government.

She appealed to parents to provide their children with the necessary learning materials to enhance their studies. Mr. Robert Kenneth Appiah Asante, executive chairman and founder of the Foundation said it would assist educational institutions in the area to improve on their infrastructure including libraries, classrooms. Mr. Asante said the NGO last year donated 10 million cedis to the national basic school excellence award, renovated some school buildings in the district and donated 26.5 million cedis worth of items to the district directorate of education.

Mr. Emmanuel Nana Acquah Frempong, the District Chief Executive, appealed to the Foundation to extend its assistance to cover financial support for teachers who were perusing distance education programmes in tertiary institutions.

Nana Amo Kyeretwie, the District Chief Executive, advised parents to support teachers in their work and to guard against assaulting those who would discipline their children.