Dabogshee (N/R), Aug. 25, GNA - The Northern Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid, Mr Yakubu Mohammed Saani, had indicated that, the NGO had spent GH¢301,000 to provide classroom infrastructural facilities for six communities, and are ready for use by students.

He said funding for the projects were from partners, adding that, the facilities were expected to provide access to education for about 600 pupils in the Northern Region.

Mr Saani was addressing a gathering at Dabogshee, a suburb of Tamale Metropolis, during which a three-unit classroom facility was commissioned, to provide classroom

accommodation for pupils of the community.

The infrastructure, which is yet to be furnished, was put up by the Centre for Active

Learning and Integrated Development (CALID) and ActionAid, both NGOs, at an

estimated cost of GH¢58,000.

Though the community is closer to the Tamale Metropolis, students prior to the

project, had to travel for long distances to attend school, with the rains sometimes

truncating their travels.

Mr Saani noted that teacher's absenteeism, especially in the remote communities,

was very serious, saying that, 93We work in more than 100 communities in the Northern

Region and the situation is affecting the quality of education of the already poor in

society".

He said the introduction of ICT as an examinable subject in the BECE would affect

students in rural communities since most of them do not have electricity, let only access

to a computer.

Mr Saani called on the government and the Ghana Education Service to reconsider

the decision of making ICT examinable, else it would further increase the number of

drop-outs, due to the inability of them to be placed on the computer placement.

Mr Sam Nasamu Asibigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister told the people that it was the intention of the government to provide educational facility for school going age

pupils and is committed to ensuring that the Free Compulsory Basic Education(FCUBE) was fully implemented.

He commended ActionAid and partners for their wonderful philanthropic gesture, adding that, he hopes the collaboration would continue to make life better for the people.

Madam Elizabeth De-Souza appealed to NGOs, which are involved in building classrooms for students, to consider also, the building of teacher's accommodation, to

enable the teachers to stay in the communities.

She said accommodation was one of the major reasons why teachers absent themselves from schools.

Madam Elizabeth said about 90 percent of GES's budget was spent on teachers' salaries, making it quite difficult to address its needs.