Mr Alexander Kyeremeh, a Deputy Minister of Education, has said the proposed $150 million World Bank loan is intended for massive infrastructure development in education.
He said they include the construction of 14 teachers’ bungalows, 23 vocational and technical institutions across the country as well as the rehabilitation of 50 dilapidated schools.
Others are provision of well stocked laboratories and libraries, providing 10,400 school children with accessible education and learning aids like bicycles and textbooks to retain them in school.
Mr Kyeremeh said this at an Educational Forum jointly organized by the Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly and Dormaa Central Municipal Directorate of Education to devise strategies and develop a blue print and road map to improve education.
The forum on the theme, “Enhancing Quality Education in the Dormaa Central Municipality: The Role of Stakeholders” was attended by teachers, the clergy, selected basic schools, heads of departments and the security services.
He appealed to parents to assist the government to realize its objective of creating equal opportunities in education by investing in their children’s education.
Mr Kyeremeh said traditional rulers could complement the efforts of circuit supervisors by undertaking unannounced visits to schools to check on absentee teachers since provision of quality education is a shared responsibility among stakeholders.
Mr Kyeremeh said Regional Directors of Education would be held responsible for authorities of Senior High Schools (SHS) that charged unapproved fees before admitting students.
Dr George Adjei-Hene, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Education, called on School Management Committees (SMCs) to play their roles effectively, especially with the management of the Capitation Grant.
He advised teachers to stop using instructional hours to pursue their own interest at the expense of the pupils and show love and commitment to their work, while encouraging parents to visit the schools regularly to check on the performance of their children.
Dr Agyei-Hene appealed to traditional rulers to release lands to build schools and institute measures to prevent encroachment on them.
Mr Bernard Adu–Afram, Dormaa Central Municipal Director of Education, said although the municipality achieved remarkable success in the performance at the basic level, there was the need to find out how many of the students progressed from Junior High Schools to Senior High School and those who progressed to the tertiary level.
He said the Municipal Directorate of Education was determined to ensure the elimination of illiteracy from the communities and transform the youth into useful and well-behaved citizens capable of contributing to the socio-economic development of the municipality and the country.
Mr Adu-Affram said since 2001, about 1,279 brilliant but needy students had received scholarships for Senior High School and the tertiary level estimated at about GH¢119, 949 under the Dormaa Education Fund (DORMEEF).
He said the assembly was constructing a two–storey building for the directorate and urged the Ministry of Education to construct an office for the directorate.
Mr Adu–Afram said accommodation has been provided for teachers at Kyekyewere Municipal Authority Primary School and recommended incentive package for teachers posted to rural areas.
