Mampong (Ash), March. 7, GNA- Mr Haruna Oppong-Boateng, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere-West, on Thursday said the Assembly is mindful of the key role education plays in the development of every nation.

He said because of the important role education plays in every country, the assembly expends about 35 percent of its budget on educational project and programmes annually.

Mr Oppong-Boateng said the Capitation Grant programme has led to an increase in enrolment in Public Basic Schools from 38,332 to 41,251, representing an increase of 2,919 in the district last year. He said a total amount of about GH¢9,92,000.00 was released by the government to be allocated to all Public Basic Schools in the District during the 2006-2007 academic year. The DCE made this known in an address during the 51st independence anniversary parade, at Mampong, Ashanti.

This year's celebration was under the theme," Ghana after 50-looking forward into the future with hope". Mr Oppong-Boateng announced that a total amount of GH¢58,000 was released last year by the government to the Assembly for the School Feeding Programme at Atonsuagya D/A Primary and Ankamatoa R/C Primary Schools in the District.

According to him, assurance has been given by the Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat that 15 additional schools in the district would be incorporated into the programme in the next academic year. He pointed out that the Sekyere West District Assembly in its desire to assure high academic performance at the basic level also released a total amount of about GH¢2,400.00 to the District Directorate of Education last year to organize mock examinations in the district.

The DCE stated that the Assembly last year released to the District Directorate of Education an amount of GH¢3,200.00 for the purchase of 14 table-top LG fridges and 5 LG 14 inches colour televisions in support of "The District Best Teacher Award Ceremony".

He appealed to the District Directorate of Education, parents, teachers, pupils and all stakeholders to work hard to justify the Assembly's support for education to raise the standard of education in the district.

On the parade, Saint Monica's Junior and Senior High Schools from Mampong, Ashanti placed first in their respective categories among 36 primary, junior and senior high schools, which took part in this year's anniversary parade.

Grace Junior High and Andrews Junior High Schools also took the second and third position respectively, while the Mampong Midwifery Training School was second and Saint Joseph Seminary also third in the Senior School Division.

In the primary category, Grace Presbyterian primary was first, Mountec primary placed second with Methodist primary taking the third position. The first three schools were presented with quantity of books and stationery as their prizes.