Agogo, Sept. 14, GNA- The Asante Akim South District Assembly (AASDA) has made part payment totalling GHC 4,500 to the Agogo Presbyterian Training College on behalf of 205 teacher trainees from the district pursuing a 4-year diploma course at the college. The Assembly has so far presented a total of GHC 10,400, on the beneficiaries, who are in their second year.

The college has since last year been training a total of 541 teachers drawn from Ejisu Juaben, Kwabre, Asante Akim North and South districts, under the Untrained Teachers Trainee for Diploma in Basic Education (UTTDBE) programme of the Ghana Education Service. Dr Lord Justice Gyamfi Fenteng, District Chief Executive for AASD, said the assembly was committed to the promotion of quality education hence the support for the teachers.

He noted that the move was to address the increasing number of untrained teachers in the district, which he said could adversely affect the area's academic performance at the basic level. The DCE entreated the teachers to take advantage of the programme to upgrade themselves and also to contribute meaningfully towards the district's academic performance.

He charged them to be role models to their pupils. Mr Fabian Belieb, District Director of Education, said the UTTDBE was designed to equip untrained teachers to upgrade their teaching skills and charged them to avail themselves to the programme. He said teachers played crucial role in human resource development and needed to be adequately resourced to effectively contribute to the national cause.

The District Director implored untrained teachers presently not pursuing the course to enroll saying, they stood the risk of losing their appointment in some years to come.