MP Quizzes Minister Over School Under Trees

The unfavorable conditions under which pupils in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency in the Ashanti Region attend classes has provoked their Member of Parliament (MP) to quiz the Minister of Education as to when the affected schools would be given a face-lift to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children. Benito Owusu-Bio yesterday subjected a Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who stood in for the substantive minister, as to when Atwima Koforidua D/A School, Atwima Akropong R/C School, Owabi D/A School and Asuofia D/A School which hold classes under trees would be provided with school buildings. According to him, it was long overdue for the government to provide these schools with buildings, so as to ensure the pupils attend classes in conducive learning environment. But responding to the Atwima Nwabiagya legislator, the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary education said even though government has since 2010 provided funding for the construction of classroom blocks to eliminate schools under trees, the programme was being implemented in phases. He said three schools in the Atwima Nwabiagya had benefited from earlier allocations under the GETFund financing programme by the government to eliminate schools under trees, out of a total of 1,632 selected in all ten regions across the country. Mr. Ablakwa mentioned the beneficiary schools as Akwapim Primary, Asakraka Primary and Kotokuom primary, all in Atwima Nwabiagya. �Mr. Speaker, as indicated above, the programme is being implemented in phases and it is my hope that Atwima Koforidua D/A School in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency will be considered along others in the next phase�, he explained. Mr. Ablakwa, however, disclosed that in fulfilling government�s promise to increase access to basic education, as well as improving the quality of Basic Education, the government has since 2010 provided funding to eliminate the phenomenon of schools under trees. Continuing, he said since the inception of the plan (eliminating schools under tree), a total of 432 classroom projects has been awarded in two phases; 2010 and 2011, which are currently at various levels of completion. Out these numbers, he said 155 schools funded by the Government of Ghana have been completed and put into use.