Amasaman(GAR), Sept. 15, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tackie, Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, on Tuesday said more schools would be included in the school feeding programme to encourage more children to attend school.

He said currently, the programme was available in 13 schools, mostly in urban areas within the municipality. Mr Armah Tackie disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency at Amasaman on Tuesday after interacting with pupils in the municipality to mark this year's 'My First Day in School' programme. The programme observed on the first day of the new academic year of basic schools, is an initiative by the Ministry of Education to whip up enthusiasm among the new pupils and encourage them to stay in school. Fresh enrolment statistics available at schools visited are; Mayera Presbyterian School 29, Amamoley Methodist School 42, and Odumase-Amanfro Municipal Assembly School five. The rest are; Achiaman Municipal Assembly School 46, Amasaman Municipal Assembly School, 35, and Otsirikomfo Municipal Assembly School which did not receive any new pupil.

The school authorities described the level of attendance as an improvement but added that it could have been much higher if incentives to entice the pupils were available.

In reaction, Mr. Armah Tackie said although there was an improvement, the attendance was not encouraging therefore, the school feeding programme would be introduced in deprived communities to motivate more pupils to attend school.

He said plans were underway to rehabilitate roads linking some of the schools to enable teachers and pupils to attend school on time. Mr. Armah Tackie who was accompanied by Mr Daniel Budu Asiedu, Municipal Director of Education, and Mrs Francisca Ansah, Assistant Director in-charge of Supervision, distributed biscuits and fruit drinks to the new pupils. 15 Sept. 09