By: Samuel Ayammah
The Bono East Regional Minister, Mr. Francis Owusu Antwi, says the completion of legacy projects at Sikaa Presby Basic School and Kronkompe D/A Basic School in the Nkoranza North District will go a long way to enhance teaching and learning in the district.
The Minister made the remarks during a monitoring tour of ongoing and completed projects in the Nkoranza North District.
At Sikaa Presby Basic School, the school had been grappling with inadequate infrastructure, with pupils forced to take lessons in a dilapidated three-classroom block that leaked badly during the rainy season and became extremely hot in the dry season. The situation worsened when a heavy rainstorm ripped off part of the roof, making teaching and learning unconducive and contributing to absenteeism.
Mr. Antwi disclosed that the team visited Sikaa where a three-unit classroom block, which is a legacy project executed under the District Assemblies Common Fund by the Assembly under the leadership of the District Chief Executive, has now been completed.
He explained that under the Common Fund there are several interventions including legacy projects, furniture and boreholes among others.
“I commend the District Chief Executive and his team for their hard work. I am convinced that the funds have been used for their intended purpose” the Minister said.
He noted that “the new classroom block will significantly enhance teaching and learning by improving academic performance, ensuring the health and safety of pupils and teachers and providing a decent and stable environment for effective academic work.”
He however advised school authorities and traditional leaders to ensure proper maintenance of the facility, stressing that “the DCE may not always be present to supervise. The responsibility lies with the school leadership and the community to maintain it through regular weeding, sweeping and communal labour.”
The Headmaster of Sikaa Presby Basic School, Mr. Benjamin Wecha, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Bono East Region and the District Assembly for coming to the aid of the school.
He said “the block was leaking during the rainy season and was very hot during the dry season because of its dilapidated nature. At a point, it got ripped off during a heavy rainstorm. It was a factor for absenteeism because when it rains, some children will say they will not come to school. Now that it has been completed, it will boost their morale to be coming to school always.”
In a related development, the Headmistress of Kronkompe D/A Basic School, Judith Afusaa-Kwarteng, has also lauded the government for completing a six-unit classroom block for the school as part of its legacy projects.
She said “the facility was not completed, it was abandoned and wasn’t roofed. Before then we used to sit under trees. Now it has been completed by the current DCE and the MP. We have six unit classrooms, each room having an internal office, and the headmistress office and the staff common room.”
Madam Afusaa-Kwarteng added that “now the teachers and learners will have effective teaching and learning delivery. We thank the current government, the President, the MP for Nkoranza North and the DCE for their good work done for the community.”
