Mankessim (C/R), May 24, GNA - The Mankessim Programme Area of Plan Ghana, has awarded its sponsored schools which have performed creditably in 2009 Basic Education Certificate Examination, Spelling Bee and Performance Monitoring Test (PMT). The schools were presented with books in addition to cash prizes to be given to pupils and teachers whose classes performed creditably to motivate them. In a speech, Mr. Jacob Turkson, Manager of Plan Ghana in Southern Ghana, said the vision of the NGO was to help children to realise their potentials in a conducive environment. He said the organisation having realised that education held the key to the child's development decided to provide infrastructure and furniture for the schools. Mr. Turkson, who was the former manager for the Mankessim Programme Area, said after realising that their efforts were not making the needed impact on the performance of the pupils, they had decided to support the Ghana Education Service in human resource development.

He appealed to stakeholders in education in the Central Region to come together to find solutions to problems that affect education in the region. Mr. Sulemana Gbana, Mankessim Programme Area Manager, dilated on measures put in place by the organisation to remove fears and to encourage children to learn but regretted that they hardly come across children who deserve to be awarded scholarships based on their performance in BECE. Mrs. Grace Adu Appiah, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Director of Education, said the awards had shown that any teacher who worked hard could receive an award on "earth before going to heaven to receive the proverbial teachers awards packed over there".

Ms. Vivian Etroo, Mfantseman Municipal Director of Education,said reading was the "axis on which education revolved" therefore, teachers must intensify teaching of reading in schools. Mrs. Efua Allan, Headmistress of Baifikrom Junior High School, a recipient of the award, commended Plan Ghana on their efforts to improve standards of education in the area. Plan Ghana, a child development-oriented non-government organisation (NGO) operates in 54 communities in the Mfantseman Municipality, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Districts of the Central Region.