Member of Parliament for Sekondi in the Western Region Andrew Egyapa Mercer has expressed his unwavering commitment to creating a conducive environment for pupils in his constituency for them to be able to enjoy the full benefits of the education policies introduced by the Nana Addo administration.
He explained that there has been a significant increase in enrollment since the president introduced the Free Senior High School programme and therefore there should be a corresponding response in terms of infrastructure and the provision of educational materials.
“This government has started building school blocks across the country. Even in Sekondi-Takoradi, if you go to GSTS, Sekco and St. Mary’s you will see work at advanced stages. You have heard that even in some places the double track has been abolished.
“As a Member of Parliament, I am also committed to create the necessary environment to promote effective teaching and learning. So, I did not hesitate at all when the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro Office of Education wrote to me asking for support.”
Following the request, the MP has presented 200 dual desks, three office chairs, laptop computers, and a motor bicycle, totaling GH¢93,000 to the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Education directorate.
The items presented was funded with the MP’s share of the GETFund allotted for educational needs of constituencies.
He is confident that the items will also help with the monitoring and supervision of officers at the education directorate.
“The benefits of education are not in doubt. Had it not been for education some of us will not have been where we are today. So, I am committed to working towards the long term vision of creating the right human resource for Sekondi-Takoradi, the Western Region, Ghana and beyond. In order to achieve this, there is the need to give the necessary support so we can have lawyers, teachers, doctors, engineers among the school children in Sekondi. My joy will be that some years to come I will be able to look back and say I also contributed to the human capital of Sekondi.”
Through the instrumentation Andrew Egyapa Mercer, the Ghana National Gas Company has voted funds for the construction of a six-unit classroom block to replace the old and dilapidated Aggrey Memorial School at Bakaekyir in his constituency.
“We will pull the old structure down and put up a new one. Processes of awarding the contract is already ongoing. The Funds are ready and so work will commence very soon. There is a programme to add the students from Aggrey Memorial School to surrounding schools. We are doing that to ensure that the construction will not affect the academic calendar of the students at Aggrey.”
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Akuoko, applauded the Member of Parliament for responding to their request, stressing that the items will ensure effective teaching and learning as well as complement their monitoring and supervision.
“We have quite a number of school children who don’t have any furniture at all. And you know how uncomfortable that is; not to be sitting while teaching is ongoing. So, these desks will help our children to be comfortably sitting and be able to concentrate on what the teacher is teaching. He also gave us a motorbike which we will use for supervision and monitoring especially in the hinterlands. You know with the roll out of the new standard base curriculum, we need to really go out and find out how teachers are coping with the change. So, the motorbike has come in handy. The new structure for the Aggrey Memorial School is very urgent. Anytime there are rains we have to close down the school. So, we are grateful for that intervention.”
By Eric Yaw Adjei|3news.com|Ghana