Regional News of Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Source: GNA

Amanchia chief condemns teachers' refusal to stay in the community

Amanchia (Ash), May 17, GNA - Nana Afrifa Boasah, the chief of Amanchia, has expressed concern about the refusal of the majority of teachers in the area to stay in the town in spite of the community's efforts to provide them with decent residential accommodation. He said only two out of the 10 teachers in the junior secondary school live in the town while the rest commute daily from Kumasi, Abuakwa or Nkawie to school.

Nana Afrifa Boasah expressed the concern when Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Director of Education, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace after paying a surprise visit to schools in the area on Tuesday.

Only Mr James Boateng, the Headmaster, and Mr Simon Asiedu, were at school when the Director went to the school at about 1100 hours. Nana Afrifa Boasah said the community was making serious efforts to provide adequate infrastructure and other vital facilities to improve teaching and learning but was afraid that the efforts would not yield the desired results if the teachers failed to perform satisfactorily. He said the community provides incentives including cash awards, stationery and free decent residential accommodation to motivate the teachers to stay in the community yet they do not appreciate the gesture and rather come to school late and irregularly.

Mr Obeng-Darko said the directorate has stepped up the monitoring and supervision of schools to raise the standard of education in the district. He gave the assurance that the allegation would be critically investigated and the defaulting teachers sanctioned.