Sekondi, Nov.26 - GNA - The Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) on Friday presented 20-inch Hitachi coloured television each to 17 selected Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the Metropolis in support of the President's Special Initiative on distance learning.

The total cost of the television sets was 39.5 million cedis. The beneficiary schools included West Ridge, Anaji M.A., Shama Catholic, Ahmadiyya, Reverend Osam Pinanko and Bethel Methodist Junior Secondary Schools.

The rest are New Takoradi Methodist, Nana Nketsiah, Mpintsin, Aboadze-Abuesi, All Saints Anglican, Apremdo Catholic, Wellroad Methodist, Services, Anto/Aboso and Nasiraya Junior Secondary Schools. Speaking at the function, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the assembly would do everything within its means to raise the standard of education in the area.

He asked teachers to help solve teaching and learning problems facing schools in order to achieve this objective.

Mr. Nkrumah said the television sets would enable pupils to take advantage of the President's Special Initiative on Distance Education, especially in subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science.

Mr Nkrumah said the Assembly presented 20 schools with television sets last year and is making another presentation this year because of the impact last year's presentation made. Mr Nkrumah said the Assembly intends to supply all the Junior Secondary schools in the Metropolis with television sets under the distance education initiative.

He said the Assembly would provide recording equipment such DVD and Video Decks to enable teachers to record some of the programmes in order to explain parts that pupils do not understand.

On behalf of the beneficiary schools, Mrs Patricia Asamoah, headteacher of Apremdo Catholic JSS, said the schools would use the television sets to educate pupils and communities on HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and other social vices.