Chalk Floods Kukurantumi Presby School � As Second Lady Eats Humble Pie Over �Chalk Comment�

The Kukurantumi Presbyterian Primary School has been inundated with boxes of chalk following the controversy that arose over the Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur's reaction to an appeal for chalk and other teaching and learning materials by the headmistress, Juliet Oppong last week when the Second Lady donated five sets of computers to the school.

Though the Second Lady has earned respect by apologizing and the Ghana Education Service has stated that there is enough chalk in the system, some well-meaning Ghanaians have decided to assist the school by donating several boxes of chalk to enhance teaching and learning.

Joy Industries, a Koforidua based company on Friday donated a large quantity of chalk, branded exercise books, pens, pencils, dusters and an unspecified amount of money to the headmistress.

Making the presentation, a Chief Executive Officer of Joy Industries, Dr Harrison Tetteh said the donation was funded by the company through its social corporate responsibility fund which was activated three years ago.

He said the company recognizes the importance of education, hence, decided to support when news broke of shortage of chalk and other teaching materials in the school.

On its part, the Eastern Regional Secretariat of New Patriotic Party, led by the regional chairman, Kiston Kussi and vice chairman, Alhaji Omar Bodinga also presented three cartons of chalk and register to the Presby Primary school, as well as other schools in Kukurantumi.

Some concerned parents have also trooped to the school to make their presentation of chalk and teaching materials to the school.

A popular radio show host, Valentina Agyeiwaa, known by her showbiz name as Afia Schwarzenegger, hostess of "Aben Wo Ha show" on Kasapa 102.3 fm in Accra has also donated 100 boxes of chalk to the Kukurantumi Presby Primary School.

Earlier, the East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, Simon Peter Asirifi handed over quantities of chalk to the school.

The headmistress even though expressed worry over the issue, commended the corporate entities and individuals for their kind gesture.

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur has rendered an unqualified apology to Ghanaians over the controversial ‘chalk comment’ at Kukurantumi which generated heated political and national debate.

According to her, she thought her refusal to grant the school’s request for ‘common’ chalk was intended to encourage the community to participate in the educational wellbeing of the basic school.