Plan Ghana, USAID open ICT centre, library at Samsam Odumase
Plan Ghana in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has donated an Information and Communication Technology centre and a library facility to the Municipal Authority Junior High School at Samsam Odumase.
The project cited in the Ga West Municipality was funded by the USAID at the cost of over $132,000.00, which covers Information and Communication Technology (ICT) construction, ICT repairs, minor repairs, latrine upgrade, furniture, and in kind scholarship and pedagogy training.
The cost excludes other expenses such as free school uniform, exercise books, mathematical sets, and bicycles for pupils leaving at far distances from the school.
Mr Prem Skula, Country Director of Plan Ghana, in a speech to formally hand-over the facilities to the community and the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Tuesday, said his organization in partnership with the USAID Junior High School (JHS) project, focused on quality basic education with emphasis on improved retention, performance and completion.
He noted that the areas of interventions included promoting gender and disability-friendly school facilities, good governance and supporting the GES to enhance monitoring and supervision.
The Country Director said the $11.2 million three-year USAID JHS project in partnership with Plan Ghana, sought to increase JHS enrolment and completion rates in 156 JHS in 13 districts selected from Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and the Greater Accra regions.
“The strategic objectives of the project are to increase the number of improved spaces available for the JHS enrolment in targeted districts, increase JHS enrolment, improving teacher quality, strengthening district level GES oversight, providing more diverse and innovative educational opportunities for children,” Mr Skula stated.
He said Plan Ghana was seeking to build on the achievements of the Transition and Persistent project. To this end, he added, the organization was seeking new funding opportunities, especially the “Safe the Future Programme” through the schools and the “educate a child initiative” in order to maximize reach to the marginalized and the vulnerable in society.
He congratulated Municipal Assembly School for being the best school in the 2012 BECE results in the Ga west District in year 2012.
Ms Cheryl Anderson, USAID–Ghana Mission Director, advised the children to attend school regularly, study hard and read wide to broaden their minds.
She said USAID was in Ghana to help; and that the American people were committed to working with the Ministry of Education, the GES and all other stakeholders to strengthen and improve Ghana’s education system.
“This work at the JHS level with Plan Ghana is one part of USAID’s commitment to ensure that every child gains the opportunity to get an education and succeed,” she stated.
Mr Daniel Budu Asiedu, Municipal Education Director, lauded the Plan Ghana and the USAID, for their timely initiative to enhance basic education in the Municipality.
Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tachie, Municipal Chief Executive, said government welcomed assistance from its development partners aimed at prosecuting the national agenda.
Nii Kwame Perbi II, Chief of Chiribra-Odumase, appealed to the government, civil society organizations and stakeholders to come to their aid by providing residential facility for the teachers in order to facilitate smooth teaching and learning.
He assured that land was available for the construction of teachers’ bungalows.
Plan Ghana presented awards to teachers, who had distinguished themselves in the projects areas within the Greater Accra Region.
Source: GNA