Sunyani (B/A) Nov. 27, GNA - The Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) in collaboration with Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has donated educational materials worth GHC 12,451 for 132 needy pupils of six schools in the Sunyani West District. The schools were Koduakrom Presby Primary, Amomaso Presby, Twumasikrom M/A, Kobedi AME Zion, Chiraa Seventh-Day Adventist Primary and Nsoatre African Faith Primary.

Each of the pupils received two sets of uniforms, footwear, two pairs of socks, school bag, Mathematical set, pens, pencils, text books and exercise books, erasers and rulers. Making the presentation in Sunyani, Mrs. Mary-Lou Donnelly President of CTF advised the pupils to take their studies seriously to enable them to acquire knowledge and skills needed for national development. She said that the promotion of quality education was a shared responsibility and advised parents to ensue that their children studied hard.

Mr. John Kwasi Nyoagbe, Deputy General Secretary of GNAT in-charge of Education and Professional Development, expressed concern about lack of infrastructure, quality teachers, parental and community support for schools and inadequate learning facilities. He said CTF and GNAT had put in place measures to ensure that children of school going age enrolled and remained in schools. Mr Nyoagbe said that the "SODEP/NKABOM Project", with professional development and community mobilization components, was launched in 2002, as part of the initiatives, to address problems affecting teaching and learning, especially in deprived communities.

He explained that the professional development component sought to tackle issues relating to curriculum, creative teaching, cooperative learning, acquisition of learning materials and support for schools. Mr Nyoagbe said the community mobilization module was aimed at strengthening the bonds between schools and communities through the revamping of dormant Parent-Teacher Associations and School Management Committees among others. He said 100 resource persons, 10 from each region in Ghana, have been trained to organise workshops in English language skills, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technology, childhood education and citizenship education for teachers, under the professional development component.

Mr. Felix Chaahaah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Director, commended CTF for complementing government efforts in promoting education in the country.

He said government alone could not ensure the development of education and asked all stakeholders to support the sector.

Mr. Chaahaah advised the pupils to learn hard to enable them to pass their examinations to justify the investments being made in their education.