Sirigu (U/E), June 17, GNA - Some 525 Senior High Schools including technical institutions are to benefit from the government's crash infrastructure programme.

This has become following an increase in the duration of the senior school programme from three to four years, starting in September. Seventeen schools in the Upper East Region are to benefit from the project and constructional work has already begun in those schools. Launching the Programme at Sirigu Senior High School the Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo, said parents should not panic about school infrastructure.

He said contractors were on the sites working to beat the deadline to enable schools admit fresh students in September. Mr. Tettey-Enyo said the first phase of the project was the construction of six-unit classroom blocks and some dormitories for 214 schools.

Another set of six-unit classroom blocks for 140 schools would take off in the next few weeks and this would be undertaken by the use of "Quick Build Technology" by contractors who had agreed to pre-finance the construction.

The Minister of Education said the rush by the previous government to increase the duration of SHS programme without first putting infrastructure in place.

Mr. Tettey-Enyo said all contractors and consultants involved in the programme had been cautioned to adhere strictly to the programme schedule. The Ministry would not hesitate to abrogate any contract that falls behind schedule and consultants would be held responsible for lapses. He said school administrators would be tasked with the responsibility of taking good care of the facilities by ensuring their regular maintenance. "The Government is determined to reverse the poor maintenance culture of second cycle institutions which create financial challenges for Government and conditions of insecurity for students," he said.

The Minister appealed to traditional authorities and people of the area to help keep all facilities provided by Government in good shape and treat them as community property that must serve in the interest of the people for a long time.

He and his entourage visited some of the project sites in the beneficiary schools. Some of the beneficiary schools include the Sirigu SHS, Navrongo SHS, Chiana SHS, Bawku SHS Technical and Tempane SHS, among others.