Nkoranza (B/A) Jan 3, GNA - Mr. Kwabena Agyeman-Badu, Nkoranza District Director of Education, has commended teachers in the district for their efforts in helping to raise the standard of education in the communities. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday, the Director expressed satisfaction that the teachers had heeded to his advice since he assumed duty. He noted that the district was among the poorest academically in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but the situation had changed remarkably for the past three years.

"The district obtained 34 per cent and placed 106th out of the 110 districts in the examination in 2003 but scored 53 per cent and among the best 50 districts in the 2006 examination", the district director said. Mr. Agyeman Badu praised the teachers for their hard work and commitment to duty that enabled the district to chalk the success but appealed to them not to relent on their efforts. He urged School Management Committees and Parent Teacher Associations to continue to support teachers in the moral and academic training of the students and pupils. "Teachers should also live above reproach and render selfless services towards development programme and win the respect and support as good role models from the people", Mr. Agyeman Badu added.

Mr. Agyeman Badu commended Mr. Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports who is also the MP for Nkoranza South and Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, District Chief executive for their contribution to the promotion of education in the district. The District Director recalled that Mr. Amporfo-Twumasi on behalf of the government presented a bus each to Nkoranza Secondary technical School and Busunya Secondary School last year. The government also donated a pick-up vehicle to Nkoranza Shalom School for mentally handicapped children.

Mr. Agyeman Badu noted that the DCE ensured the smooth take off of the government's school feeding programme in some selected schools in the district, which had increased enrolment. The District Assembly provided decent accommodation to promote quality teaching and learning in the three schools, he added. The District Director disclosed that more than 100 youth, mainly Senior Secondary School leavers, had been engaged under the national youth in employment programme as teaching assistants at communities that lacked teachers.