185 Schools Under Trees Provided Classrooms In UER(1st November 2011, Daily Graphic)

A total of 185 schools holding classes under trees in the Upper East Region have been provided with classroom infrastructure by the government since it held the reins of power.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who disclosed this during the recent working visit to the region by members of the Council of State said this had become possible following a crash programme being embarked upon by the NDC government to provide educational infrastructure for schools.

Mr Woyongo said in addition to tackling the schools under trees, second cycle institutions in the region had benefitted from over 99 big projects comprising dormitories, classroom blocks, assembly halls, laboratories, as well as teachers’ accommodation facilities.

According to the regional minister, the increase in the capitation grant, expansion of the school feeding programme, distribution of free exercise books and uniforms to deprive pupils have undoubtedly increased school enrolment significantly.

He said additionally, a number of district education directorates and second cycle schools had also received pick-ups and buses to enhance supervision and administration of the schools.

The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga, while acknowledging the government’s efforts at tackling the phenomenon of schools under tress, stated that with increasing interest in education, many more communities were establishing schools in remote villages and this called for the provision of additional infrastructure.

He also made a special appeal for the construction of a new dormitory block and a classroom facility for the Bolgatanga Senior High School to deal with the problem of congestion.

On water and sanitation, Mr Woyongo told the delegation that with the execution of the Better Ghana Agenda, the government was expanding the Bolgatanga, Bawku, and Navrongo water systems, while five small town and water supply systems had been completed with eight others almost at the level of completion.

He said apart from the expansion of the Vea Raw Water Treatment Plant being executed with a loan of $5 million, another 40 million euros had been secured for the construction of a water treatment plant at Tono to serve Navrongo, Paga, and Bolgatanga. All these, he said, when completed would increase the water coverage significantly in the country’s bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals for Water and Sanitation.

The Upper East Regional Minister also told the members of the council that the government had also secured a loan facility of over $100 million to provide 500 communities in the region with electricity.

Touching on the National Youth Employment Programmes, he said currently 14 modules were being operated with about 12,177 youth being engaged, adding that the Youth in Road Maintenance module was yet to be launched in the region. He, however, expressed the hope that once the scheme was rolled out many more youth would be engaged.

The Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, described the trip as an eye opening one which would go a long way to facilitate advisory role of the council.