Kade (E/R), June 11, GNA- Three teaching assistants under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the Kwaebibirem District have been dismissed.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Yaw Yiadom-Boakye announced the dismissal at a meeting with all the Teaching Assistants at Kade. He explained that the three had been persistently absent from school and mentioned their names as Appiah Evans, Omane Isaac and Forson Aniagyei all from the Koka L/A Primary School. He described the behaviour of the three Teaching Assistants as a disgrace to the programme, which was set up to give employment to the youth.

However three others, Owusu Bright, Awinpanya John and John Boadu all teachers at the Essenkyem L/A Primary School were highly commended by the DCE for their high sense of duty, neatness and love for the children, which had won them great admiration from the community. Mr Yiadom-Boakye said the three had even embarked on fund raising activities to help improve conditions at the school. Another teaching assistant, Maxwell Dogbatse, who was said to have vacated his post but appeared at the meeting, which also coincided with the payment of their April allowances, was told that he had abandoned his job and was not paid.

Mr. Yiadom-Boakye told Mr Dogbatse that his allowance was being sent back to "chest".

Mr Forson Aniagyei, another teaching Assistant who misbehaved during "pay day" last month, was however pardoned after the co-ordinator of the programme Mr. Seth Birikorang and the other teaching assistants had pleaded for him. Aniagyei also regretted the incident and pleaded for mercy.

The District Chief Executive warned that he would not tolerate any indiscipline and absenteeism, and urged those who absent themselves from school on grounds of ill health to produce their medical report or be fired.

He warned head teachers who condone and connive with the teachers to absent themselves from classes to change their attitude or face the consequences of their action.

Mr Yiadom-Boakye said he would regularly visit schools where the teaching assistants have been posted to see if they were at post. The DCE urged the teaching assistants to register with the Kwaebibirem Mutual Health Insurance Scheme for their own interest and that those who are yet to would be registered and the cost deducted from their allowances in two installments.