Wa, May 23, GNA - Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister at the weekend stated that the government's policy to upgrade at least one school in every district was an on-going programme and should not be misconstrued as a political gimmick.

He said it was extremely difficult to upgrade all the schools at the same time and urged districts yet to benefit from the facility to exercise restraint and utilise what was currently available. Mr. Dery stated this at Wa when he addressed the 36th speech and prize-giving day of the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary.

He said the upgrading was to sustain and improve the fairly reasonable pool of qualified professionals and the middle level skilled human resource to enhance rapid agricultural and industrial development. Mr. Dery commended the management and staff of the school for their excellent performance over the years, adding, "in an institution such as Xavier where every student is a success by training, this occasion brings out the best of the best."

He renewed his call on the youth to guard themselves against the HIV/AIDS pandemic by abstaining from premarital sex. The Rector of the school, Reverend Father Cletus Segtub, announced that since 1993 the school had recorded 100 per cent in the final Senior Secondary School Examinations.

He said in the 2004 results that were recently released by West African Examinations Council (WAEC) the school scored 100 per cent with the worse grade being aggregate 19.

Rev. Fr. Segtub appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to consider assisting the school to increase infrastructure and provide equipment.

He said currently the school had only 123 students from form one to three due mainly to inadequate infrastructure. The Rector also appealed for modern books to stock their library and other laboratory equipment that could facilitate the practical work of the students.

The Regional Minister during a silver collection organised at the ceremony donated 1.5 million cedis and promised to get them some sporting facilities to enable them to actively participate in sporting activities.