Winneba (C/R) July 4 GNA - A-500 million cedis six classrooms block financed under the HIPIC and GETFUND for the Winneba District Council Junior Secondary School was commissioned on Monday. A computer laboratory centre equipped with 30 computers and other accessories costing 70 million cedis and a library stocked with books and chairs and tables valued at 11.5 million cedis was also commissioned.

The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Mr. Solomon Quarshie Abban-Quaye, who commissioned them, said the government would continue to spend greater portion of the national budget on education because it is the key to development.

He said the district assembly has decided that within the next two years most of the old school buildings in the district would be rehabilitated before new ones are built.

The DCE urged PTAs to include rehabilitation of school buildings into their programme because the government alone would not be able to shoulder such responsibilities.

Mr. Abban-Quaye said the government, recognizing the important role teachers play in the development of the nation, has been putting in more efforts to address problems facing them.

He mentioned the construction of teachers' quarters and others as some of the things being done to help teachers. The headmistress of the school, Miss Phyllis Benneth in her welcoming address, said the school was among the best in academic excellence, sporting activates and discipline in the district. The Deputy District Director of Education, Mr. Ekow Ayamful said that under the new Education Reform Programme, which starts in 2007, every child would be required to enter Kindergarten before entering primary one.

He therefore, appealed to the district assembly and PTAs to help put up those structures to ensure the success of the programme. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. John Ato Ampiah, Managing Director of the Apex Computer System, owners of the computer Laboratory, said a student is expected to pay 30,000 cedis per term.

He said that the fee is the lowest in the area since others charged between 50,000 cedis and 70,000 cedis, adding that he would pay the security and instructors who would be teaching the children. 04 July 05