GOVT URGED TO REWARD SCHOOL HEADS (MIRROR, PAGE 13, APRIL 17, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Barekese.

THE President of Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies, an environmental NGO in Kumasi, Nana Kwabena Dwomoh Sarpong, has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to collaborate with the government to reward committed and hard working headmasters at the national teachers’ award day.
He said rewarding hardworking heads of second cycle institutions would motivate their peers to initiate moves that would improve and sustain high academic standards and moral discipline in the country.
Addressing students and staff of the Barekese Senior High School (SHS) during their maiden speech and prize giving day, Nana Sarpong expressed concern about the failure of the state to recognise heads of second cycle institutions whose initiatives have helped transformed deprived schools into well-endowed ones.
Nana Sarpong commended the Headmaster of Barekese SHS, Nana Taa Asiakwa Agyemang III, for his sense of initiatives and commitment to the effective development of the school since he assumed office five years ago.
He pointed out that within the five-year period, the headmaster had collaborated with stakeholders to develop the needed infrastructure to enhance enrolment of students.
He said adequate infrastructure in the school was also impacting positively on teaching and learning, thereby enhancing high academic standards.
He said it was important to note that as other institutions go around soliciting for help, the administration of Barekese Senior High School had concentrated on their resources and used them judiciously to come to this level.
Nana Sarpong suggested to the Ministry of Education to expand its award category to include the best administrator or the best headmaster, as some of them were doing very well.
In his report, Nana Taa Asiakwa Agyemang III said from just a classroom block to accommodate 81 students five years ago, “the Barekese SHS can now boast five classroom blocks, four dormitories, a multi-purpose building for assembly hall, a master’s bungalow accommodating eight teachers, a science laboratory and a sports field”.
He said the student population also stood at 2,098 with permanent teaching staff of 87.
He said in spite of the large student population “discipline is synonymous with our school and the standard of discipline is high”.
He commended Consar Ghana Limited, a Building Contractor, Nwabiagya Rural Bank, and the Atwima Nwabiagya District Assembly for their immense contribution that had led to the expansion of educational infrastructure in the school.
He, however, appealed to the government to support the school with enough staff accommodation “to help the teachers discharge their duties excellently”.
Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, said the GES was committed to supporting the creation of well balanced students with the requisite knowledge, relevant skills and values .
Mr Onyinah advised students to stay away from drugs, alcoholism, promiscuity, occultism, cyber fraud and other criminal activities to enable them concentrate on their academic programmes.