Nkoranza (B/A) Dec. 22, GNA -- The Nkoranza district directorate of education has since the introduction of the capitation grant received about 2 billion cedis for disbursement among basic schools. Mr. Kwabena Agyemang-Badu, district director of education, disclosed this when he addressed 150 cultural teachers at a meeting to plan next year's cultural activities in schools. He said the capitation grant had increased enrolment of pupils and commended the government for the programme.

Mr. Agyemang-Badu appealed to teachers to re-double efforts to help raise the standard of education in the district to commensurate the government?s gesture. The director cautioned head teachers to make judicious use of the funds by initiating programmes to enhance academic work. He warned that with the provision of the grant, it was wrong for head teachers and teachers to collect any fees from the pupils. Mr. Agyemang-Badu urged school heads to help educate pupils about the causes and effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Reverend Kubi Asuamah Yeboah, District Assistant director in charge of finance and administration advised head teachers to prepare school performance improvement plans to serve as a guide in the utilization of the capitation grant.

Mr. James Appiah, district cultural officer, announced plans to visit schools to educate teachers on how to prepare lesson notes on teaching of cultural studies to make the subject relevant.