Regional News of Sunday, 22 February 2004

Source: GNA

World Vision International adopts school

Wayamba, (N/R), Feb 22, GNA- Madam Faustina Melody Tietaah, Acting Area Development Programme Manager of the World Vision International (WVI) has noted that investment in education of children would help society. Madam Tietaah was speaking at the inauguration of the adoption of the Wayamba A.M.E. Zion Primary School as a model school by the WVI at Wayamba in the Tolon/Kumbungu District on Friday.

She called on Ghanaians, especially those in the Northern Regions to send their children to school.

She noted that children bear the brunt of poverty and inadequate access to basic services such as education and mentioned the girl-child as the most vulnerable.

The Programme Manager said the WVI was deeply committed to finding appropriate ways to help children to develop their values and talents. Madam Tietaah said as part of its social commitment to the people, the WVI was encouraging parents to send their children to school and providing teaching and learning materials to enhance quality education in the area.

The WVI, she said was also providing uniform and sandals for schools children and support the Ghana Education Service (GES) to train pupil teachers.

Mr Bonzali Isaac Alpha, the Tolon/ Kumbungu District Director of Education reminded the people that the WVI efforts was only an assistance and urged them not to do away with their responsibilities. He advised the people to give farmlands to teachers who were willing to farm, provide them with accommodation and take interest in their welfare to motivate them to give of their best.

He commended the WVI for its enormous support to the improvement of education in the district.

Mr. Alpha said last year, the WVI recruited 30 volunteer teachers under its Community Education Volunteer (CEV) Programme to augment the teaching staff in the area.

The WVI, he said also spent 80 million cedis within the same period to provide school uniform for 1,460 primary school children. Mr Alpha said the Tolon and Kumbungu Senior Secondary Schools had received four computers each while 261 basketballs were donated to basic schools to promote sporting activities.

The Regional Manager of the A.M.E. Zion Education Unit, Rev. Winfred Atsu Abormegah appealed to parents to take advantage of the adoption of the school to send children of school going age, especially the girl-child to school.