Asokore(E/R), Feb. 3, GNA - The four diploma-awarding Teacher Training Colleges in the Eastern Region, have appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports to expedite action on the release of student allowances to help solve the acute feeding problem facing them. The Colleges comprise the Asokore- Koforidua based Seventh Day Adventist Training College, Presbyterian Training College at Akropong-Akuapem, Mount Mary Training College, Somanya and Abetifi Training College, Abetifi.

A spokesman for the Colleges, Mr Adomah Akumfi-Ameyaw, who is also the Principal of the SDA Training College, told the Ghana News Agency at Koforidua on Thursday that even though the schools were very close to the mid-term of the first semester, the feeding allowances of the students were yet to be received.

He said the school heads were going through hardships in feeding the students since food and other essential supplies were running short due to huge indebtedness to the suppliers.

Speaking on the newly introduced Diploma of Basic Education (DBE) programme, Mr Ameyaw-Akumfi said the SDA Training College had admitted 352 pioneer students.

He said applicants from the senior secondary schools were required to obtain aggregate 24 including three core subjects, while the post-secondary programme requirement was aggregate 25 from five subjects.

He commended government for implementing the DBE programme, which he noted would help provide qualified teachers to adequately meet the requirements of the envisaged educational reforms.