Kpando, Aug. 11, GNA - Disparity in the provision of educational facilities is a hindrance to the nation's progress, Mr Erasmus Kwaku Kosipa, Presiding Member of Kpando District Assembly said on Saturday. Launching the 50th Anniversary of Kpando Secondary School at Kpando, Mr Kosipa said the urban child has almost all amenities at his disposal in contrast to the rural child.

He lamented that the student in the rural area learn in dilapidated building, lack qualified teachers and the requisite books and lack accommodation.

These, Mr Kosipa said have contributed to many school drop-outs among whom could be found potential scholars to lead the country in future. Mr Kosipa said there is therefore, urgent need to bridge the gap between the urban and rural schools as highlighted by the theme for the celebration, "Quality education in the 21st century: Bridging the gap". Mr Geoffery Bissi, Headmaster of the School said children from remote parts of the school's catchments are offered admission though, with low aggregates to expose them to the good facilities and quality teaching, which might elude them in a rural school.

Mr Bissi said successive governments have placed a high premium on the development of education and tried to improve upon existing facilities in order to give quality education to students.

He however, regretted that the educational reforms rather led to increase in access to education at the expense of quality education. He said the government is putting emphasis on quality education for our children. This, he said, "is not meant for any particular group or section of the Ghanaian community but is meant for all citizens". Mr Bissi said quality education implies the training of students to become productive citizens in the future, employment of good and responsible calibre of teachers and the provision of adequate educational infrastructure and equipment, among others.

He therefore, called on stakeholders in the education sector, especially the government to do everything possible to unearth and harness the potential in the students of the rural schools so as to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

The launching ceremony was attended by a group of old students, who described their presence as a prelude to the grand celebration in November, this year and a "homecoming".

An appeal for funds in aid of the 50th anniversary celebration yielded 7.9 million cedis.