Govt urged to improve access to quality education in Peki
Indigenes of Peki-Dzake in the South Dayi District in the Volta Region have appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, provide schools in the area with the necessary teaching and learning logistics to improve upon the quality of education in the community.
The appeal by the Dzake E.P. Old Students Association (DEPOSA) follows concerns expressed by the group about the glaring disparities in access to quality education between children from the community and their compatriots in urban centres.
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Donation
The President of the association, Mr Bright Atiase, made the appeal during the donation of approved text books to the Dzake E.P Basic School.
He stated: “We are deeply worried because children from the community will write the same exams as their compatriots in urban communities.”
The donation comprises fourteen sets of books covering various subjects from nursery to JHS including 18 books each of history, mathematics, English language, science, English grammar, creative arts, among others, covering basic One to Six. The books are valued at GH¢5,000.
The JHS until the donation had no access to the newly approved books under the new school curriculum and so had to make do with books under the old system.
“We have come to realise that the delay in the provision of the books by the government has deprived teachers of the much-needed teaching support, a situation which is impacting negatively on quality which seems to be on a decline”, said Mr Atiase.
The situation has meanwhile evolved into serious negative social consequences including teenage pregnancies and dropouts. The school also recorded an aggregate of 23 as its best grade in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Mr Atiase indicated that the association’s resolve to support the school was in line with one of its key pillars to positively influence student learning outcomes, with the promotion of quality education.
Strategic partnership
He said despite the need for communities to complement government’s efforts in the provision of quality education, stakeholders in the sector were expected to collaborate with communities through strategic partnerships in ensuring a hallmark of quality access.
The association also appealed to the District Assembly to conduct independent checks on schools within the Peki area and provide the necessary logistics to improve the quality of education within the South Dayi District.
“We also urge the education officials in the district to show leadership and undertake periodic audit and appraisals of teachers in the district as a means of quality check.”
Gratitude
The Head of the E.P schools, Mrs Vivian Agbesi Amenya, who took delivery of the books, expressed gratitude to the association for their zeal to ensure the best outcomes in education in the area. She said the donation was timely in the face of dwindling hope that children in the school were being left behind by their counterparts in academic work.
She admonished parents not to neglect the need to discipline their children in the face of moral decadence.