Agbagorme (V/R), Nov. 24, GNA - Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister has asked all stakeholders in education to be involved in efforts at improving basic education in the rural areas. Mr. Dzamesi said government has remained focused on the provision of the requisite infrastructure facility and other inputs to remove the inadequacy to enable progress in education in the rural setting. He held that many students who enter Senior Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions with average grades from rural based schools from the region complete with excellent grades and noted that society is not preparing the rural based students well enough to succeed at the next level.

He stated this in an address read for him by Ms Kate Aglah, South Tongu District Chief Executive at separate ceremonies marking the presentation of incentive materials, mainly exercise books and playing kits to public basic school each at Agbagorme, Hikpo, Avegorme, Vume and Kpotame on Thursday.

Mr. Dzamesi noted that infrastructure input alone can not do the trick and therefore, enjoin parents who and the communities to play their parts by ensuring the right environment, protection and guidance to the rural based child.

The 50 million cedis worth of package made up of 1,600 exercise books, footballs and cash incentives for pre-school teachers was sponsored by Vision 2000 Lotteries to its affiliates, Vision 2000, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to help fight deprivation among rural based pupils and street children. The DCE cut a sod for the construction of a library for the Agbagorme Basic Schools to be sponsored by Vision 2000 which has planned to assist a number of communities including Avegorme to construct teachers' bungalow.

Mr. Dzamesi urged the people to take advantage of government interventions including the Capitation Grant, commended the Vision 2000 for the donation and asked other NGOs to assist in building the required manpower to accelerate the country's development goals. Mrs. Victoria Boafo, Administrative Manager of the NGO noted that majority of the sad stories of the youth who flood urban centres for greener pastures originate from the rural areas and described them as the product of "preventable problems". Mr. Samuel Ahiadeke, Chief Executive Officer of the NGO and the Vision 2000 Lottery in an interview urged government to avoid strikes at the educational sector as its repelling effects are enough to prolong the cycle of illiteracy and poverty among the people.