Tema July 30, GNA - The Minister for Aviation, Madam Gloria Akuffo, has commissioned a 1.1 billion cedis hall for the Tema Parents Association School (TEPAS), as part of its 43rd speech and prize giving celebration.

The multi purpose hall was constructed with the school's internally generated funds.

In an address she said the establishment of TEPAS was a positive manifestation of partnership between the public and private sector especially in the development of education.

She stated that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility in the educational sector and stressed the need for all including parents and stakeholders to support.

According to the Minister the introduction of the capitation grant and development of educational infrastructure were intended to make the Millennium Development Challenge Goal a success.

She noted that partnership of parents, teachers and the society in the development of the child was very important because human beings behaved differently depending on the environment they found themselves. The Minister stressed the need for parents to take some time off their busy schedule and visit their wards' schools to know their performance.

She advised students to develop the culture of maintenance to ensure that all facilities at their disposal were well taken care of. "As we celebrate our 42nd speech day lets reflect on the challenges that face us as an institution and as a people and develop on it for the future," she said.

The Headmistress of the School, Mrs Lydia Nsakie-Kassim, said the school had a student population of 1,754 made up of 862 boys and 892 girls with a staff of 103.

She said the school recorded a 100 per cent pass in the 2004/2005 Basic Education Certificate Examination and had been selected to represent the Greater Accra Region for this year's Science and Maths Quiz.

The Headmistress said programmes including Arts and Crafts had been incorporated in the school's curriculum to help unearth the talents of students in different areas.

The School's Prefect, Master Isaac Opoku, in his report mentioned indiscipline on the part of students, lack of science laboratory and library as well as the school's teacher ratio as some of the problems facing the school and appealed to past students to support the institution with a bus to facilitate field trips.

The School's Board Chairman, Mr Richard Akpokavie, gave the assurance that efforts would be made to ensure that the school was staffed with enough teachers for each child to get the best attention from them.

He announced that plans were far advance for the construction of two science laboratories, a well-stocked library and a staff common room and advised the students to take advantage of the facilities to study hard.

Awards and prizes were presented to students who excelled in various disciplines as well as long serving staff members.