By Dennis Peprah, GNA
     Drobo, (B/R). Feb. 20, GNA â Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister has inaugurated a two-unit Kindergarten Block, constructed at the cost of GH¢300,000 for the Drobo D/A Primary School, near Badu in the Tain District of the region.
     Action Aid Ghana (AAG), a girl child-centered non-governmental organisation with funding from Action Aid Italy, constructed the model-girl block furnished with teaching and learning materials.
     It has ancillary facilities, including a mechanised borehole, playing ground, four-unit toilet and urinals for boys, girls and teachers.
     Madam Owusu-Banahene said the provision of educational facilities largely depended on the availability of financial resources, hence, the need for Ghanaians to accept the electronic business transaction levy (e-levy) for the government to mobilize adequate resources.
     She called on other development partners and NGOs to complement the efforts of the government in providing essential social services for the betterment of the citizenry, saying, ânation-building is about playing our part towards the welfare and well-being of our citizensâ.
    âLocal communities are also encouraged to engage in Self-Help Projects for their own benefits without waiting on the District Assemblies to provide everything for them,â she said.
Madam Owusu-Banahene indicated the nation had made tremendous strides in her endeavour to achieve the Universal Primary Education of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) although statistics put children who were not yet enrolled in primary school at about 623,000.
    It must, however, be mentioned, with pride, that access to education has seen steady progress for the past years, she said.
    The Regional Minister said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had shown absolute commitment in making quality education a priority, and recognised education as the most powerful tool in building society and advancing economic and social development for poverty reduction.
     Such commitment is evidenced by the expansion of educational infrastructure as well as access to basic education and ultimately the introduction of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme, which now allows all children to be in school irrespective of social or financial status.
    âI must admit that there is still a lot to do if we are to achieve universal primary education by 2030. While we acknowledge such constraints, it behooves all key stakeholders to rally and put in efforts to eradicate the obstacles which are hindering the achievement of the goal four of the SDGsâ, she said.
    Mr John Nkaw, the Country Director, AAG, said the provision of the facility was an exhibition of the NGOâs long-standing commitment and determination to promote the rights of all citizens to equitable access to good-quality, child-friendly public education that build self-confidence and esteem of the people.
    He said though the District Assembly had funding challenges, little more priority was given to KG education, the Assembly and its partners could collectively do more in ensuring that schools in the communities were progressively provided with the appropriate KG education facilities.
     Mr Nkaw called on the District Education Directorate to ensure the KG school was continuously handled by early childhood trained teachers so that children of the community get the benefit from the model facility.
    He said AAG had also provided KG facilities in some communities across the country as part of its bigger advocacy for improving learning outcomes in the public basic education level.
    Mr Fidelis Ankobo, the Head teacher, explained the school had 81 pupils, and appealed for more teaching and learning materials, and improved infrastructure.
GNA
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