Kumasi, March 28, GNA - The Ejisu-Juaben Office of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has commended the Juaben Development Association, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), for its immense contribution to promoting educational development at all levels in the Municipality.

Mrs Agnes Okyere Gyamfi, the Municipal Director of Education, said the office was particularly satisfied with the regular donation of books, school bags and different kinds of stationery to underprivileged pupils and students by the Association. She cited a recent scholarship scheme rolled out by the Association in collaboration with Vanguard Life Assurance Company Limited to cater for the tertiary educational needs of brilliant, but needy students, noting that her office was optimistic that this would go a long way to enable the youth to develop their inherent potentials. This was contained in a speech read on her behalf at the closing ceremony of an Inter-Basic School Quiz competition held at the Juaben Methodist Church for nine schools in the Municipality. It was organized under the auspices of the Accra/Tema branch of the Juaben Development Association, Vanguard Life Assurance Company Limited and O.B Supplies, dealers in fruit drinks and other consumables.

The participants answered questions on Mathematics, English Language, Cultural Studies, Religious and Moral Education (RME, Science and Social Studies. Anglican Junior High School (JHS) placed first with 44 points and received a trophy, exercise and reading books, mathematics sets, school bags and a cash prize, while the Methodist JHS amassed 37 points to place second and took home exercise and reading books, school bags, mathematics sets and a cash prize. SDA JHS had 34 points and took home exercise and reading books, school bags, stationery and cash prizes.

The other participants including Juabenman, Mother Smith, Municipal Assembly, Roman Catholic, Islamic and Presbyterian also received variety of books donated by the organizers. Mrs Gyamfi said achieving a breakthrough in education called for a shared responsibility and therefore all should help to contribute their quota raising the educational standards in the country. Mr Kwame Boakye Yiadom, an Executive Member of the Juaben Development Association, appealed to Juaben residents abroad to be supportive of projects initiated by the Association for the sustainable development of the area. He commended the participating schools for the discipline they exhibited and said the Association would not relent in its efforts to organize more of such competitions to broaden the knowledge base of the students. Mr Tweneboah Koduah, Secretary of the Accra/Tema branch of the Association, disclosed that since last year the Association had donated about two thousand exercise books to needy pupils and students at Juaben to support their education. 2