General News of Monday, 22 September 2008

Source: GNA

Teachers turn home verandas into classrooms

Agona Ofoase (C/R), Sept. 22, GNA - Primary and kindergarten school teachers at Agona Ofoase District Assembly, have turned their quarters' verandas into classrooms due to lack of adequate school infrastructure. Some private houses in the villages in the district were also serving as classrooms for pupils because of the same problem.

This came to light, when Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, the District Chief Executive for Agona East and Mrs Janet Chinebuah, Agona West Municipal Director of Education toured some selected schools in the area.

The tour, which was also attended by Nana Kwaw Ponsi III, Presiding Member of the Agona East District Assembly, gave the opportunity to the delegation to know the problems facing schools in the district. Mr Spencer Takyi Somoah, head teacher of the Agona Ofoase DA Primary and Kindergarten school told the delegation that the school needed additional six classroom block to accommodate primary two and six pupils.

He also expressed the worry over the limited number of teachers at the school and said though the Member of Parliament for Agona East had built teachers quarters, teachers still refused postings to the school. Mr Armah-Frempong assured the head teacher that the assembly would construct six-classroom-block for the school.

He said the needed facilities would be provided to all Primary and Junior High Schools in the district adding that, teachers' bungalows would also be provided to enable teachers to accept postings to the area.

At the Seth Okai DA Kindergarten and Primary School, Mr Christian Egyir, head teacher, appealed to the authorities to see to it that the teacher enrolment was improved.

He said the kindergarten class for instance had no teacher and noted that the difficulties had compelled some parents to withdraw their wards from the school.

Other schools the delegation visited were the Agona Duakwa Methodist KG and Primary and the Agona Duotu Primary and Junior High Schools. Mrs Chinebuah urged teachers to show commitment and dedication in the profession to ensure quality performance of their pupils and students.

She promised the Agona Ofoase DA School two bicycles as an incentive for hard working teachers.