Kukurantumi (ER), March 27,GNA- Six students who excelled in last year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were on Friday presented with cash awards by the Kukurantumi Education Trust Fund at a ceremony in the East Akyim town.

Master Ernest Gyimah and Master Ofori Clinton Boateng, both formerly of the Ofori Panin Junior High School (JHS), who obtained aggregate 08 in the BECE, had a total cash prize of GHC 800 with Master Ntiamoah Rachael of the same school with aggregate 09 getting GHC 400. Miss Gertrude Mawutor of Ofori Opanin JHS, who obtained aggregate 11 had an amount of GHC 300 as her prize, Master Obeng Marfo and Master Kwabena Boadi, both of the "God Almighty" JHS who had aggregates 11 and 12 respectively had GHC 300 each.

The Ofori Panin JHS was presented with a cash prize of GHC 700 while God Almighty JHS had GHC 300 for maintaining high academic standards. Mr. Grant Ohene Kesse, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the fund, called for concerted efforts from all to raise the standard of education in the area.

He expressed worry about the absence of School Management Committee in the schools to enforce discipline among both pupils and teachers alike. Mr. Ohene Kesse was also not happy about how some parents were failing to provide the requisite support for their wards and also not care about how they spend their time after classes.

He urged stakeholders of education in the area to pay regular but unannounced visits to the schools to interact with the teachers and pupils to know at first hand their problems and help solve them. Mr. Isaac Osei, Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, who was the guest of honour, said education was a key to open doors to progress. He therefore challenged parents to strive to let their children to attain high educational standards.

Professor Samuel Amoako, MP for Abuakwa North, spoke of plans to establish an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in the town. He charged teachers to give of their best assuring them of incentive packages to boost their morale.

The Tema Rotary Club, led by Mr. E. Appiah-Korang and Mr. Kwasi Addo Nyarko, later donated assorted books and Science equipment to schools in the area.

Meanwhile, the fund had decided to give scholarship grants of GHC 200 each to native brilliant second year students in the country's universities while those in the Polytechnics get GHC 150 each.