Amadum-Adankwame(Ash), July 26, GNA - Reverend Dr William Addai, a citizen of Amadum-Adankwame resident in Maryland in the United States of America (USA), has spent over 360 million cedis towards the construction of a school block for the Amadum-Adankwame Basic School estimated at over 750 million cedis.

The block is consists of three-unit classrooms, staff common hall, a library, an office and a store.

Mr Isaac Nyame, head-teacher of the school announced this at its speech and prize-giving day at Amadum-Adankwame near Mfensi in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district on Tuesday. It was under the theme, "The Value of Quality Education in Computer Age".

Mr Nyame said Rev. Addai had in addition, provided books for the library and a four-seater KVIP place of convenience each for the primary and Junior Secondary Schools.

Rev. Addai also renovated the dilapidated old primary and kindergarten school blocks and sponsoring three brilliant but needy students from the community at Nkawie Senior Secondary/Technical School. Mr Thomas Ofori-Donkor, Atwima-Nwabiagya District Chief Executive, said a country that denied its citizenry of quality education could not progress.

He explained that this formed the basis for the Government to institute programmes including fee-free education, free meals and distribution of television sets to schools to improve quality teaching and learning.

The DCE said the assembly was constructing school blocks in 44 communities within the district to meet the 20 per cent increase in enrolment from the Capitation grant.

Mr Ofori-Donkor said the assembly was sponsoring 27 students in various senior secondary schools in the country in addition to two students in the universities.

The DCE later presented 100 bags of cement to support the community's educational programmes and asked the residents to initiate self-help programmes to improve their living standard.

Very Reverend Okontomene Mensah-Bonsu, Ashanti Regional Manager of Methodist Schools, asked parents not to shirk their responsibilities in the provision of basic needs for their children because of the grant and endeavour to instil discipline in the children.

Baffour Asare-Bediako, Assistant Director of Education in-charge of Human Resource Management and Development at the district education directorate, said child education should not only be focused on academic knowledge but also the harnessing of sporting, cultural, moral values and potentials of the child.

He said school communities should not be hostile to teachers but rather make the communities friendly by providing decent residential accommodation and other needs to entice teachers to accept postings to the rural areas.

Mr Robert Ofori-Arhin, a businessman and a citizen of the area, expressed concern about most of the children of school-going age roaming about in spite of the government's fee-free education policy. Mr Ofori-Donkor on behalf of the chief and people of the town honoured Rev. Addai with an award for his immense contribution towards education and development in the area. Mrs Margaret Sakyiama-Marfo, a relative and a teacher of the school, received the award on his behalf. 26 July 06