The government has distributed more than 6,000 school uniforms to pupils in public schools within the Okaikwei North Municipality in the Greater Accra Region as part of efforts to improve access to education and support teaching and learning in the area.
The uniforms were presented during a handing-over ceremony held in Accra and attended by Municipal Officials, Education Authorities, Teachers, Heads of Schools and Staff of the Assembly.
Speaking at the event, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Christian Tetteh Badger, said the initiative formed part of government’s broader commitment to improving education delivery and ensuring equitable distribution of resources.
He stated that government had allocated 10 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) towards educational activities to ensure citizens benefited fairly from national resources.
According to him, the distribution of the uniforms fulfilled President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to provide free school uniforms and sandals to all pupils in basic schools across the country.
Hon. Badger noted that government was implementing several development programmes aimed at improving the welfare of citizens, particularly within the Education Sector.
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North Constituency, Hon. Theresa Lardi Awuni, stressed the responsibility of duty bearers to respond to the needs of residents and ensure quality education delivery.
She called on teachers to remain committed to their work and urged stakeholders to work collectively to improve learning outcomes.
“Teachers must be given what they require to give off their best in the teaching and learning process,” she said.
Mrs Awuni further urged collaboration among education stakeholders, saying teamwork was essential to ensuring pupils received quality education.
She lauded President John Dramani Mahama for implementing social intervention programmes aimed at supporting students, particularly vulnerable groups.
“The President loves you so much. He is not only providing school uniforms and sandals, but also sanitary pads for our female students and also ensuring there are good meals for you under the School Feeding Programme in this Municipality,” she told the students.
She encouraged pupils to take their studies seriously and make their parents, teachers and communities proud through academic excellence and discipline.
Mrs Awuni also used the occasion to thank the President for donating more than 50 laptops under the One Million Coders Programme to support digital learning in the Municipality.
She urged students to take advantage of the initiative to build their skills in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), assuring residents that additional furniture would be supplied to schools to improve teaching and learning conditions.
The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Cynthia Aboni, expressed appreciation to government for sustaining the school uniform distribution programme over the years.
Addressing the students, she encouraged them to wear the uniforms with pride and allow them to motivate greater commitment to their studies.
“Wear these uniforms with pride. Let them inspire you to learn more, study hard, be respectful and disciplined so that you become responsible adults in future,” she said.
Mrs Aboni appealed to teachers to ensure fairness in the distribution process.
“There are students who do not have uniforms at all. Please ensure fairness in sharing them,” she added.
Present at the ceremony were the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. John Nana Owu, Teachers, Heads of Schools and Other Staff of the Assembly.
The uniforms were handed over to headteachers for onward distribution to students across beneficiary schools, including Abeka 1 Basic, Abeka 2 Basic, Abeka 3 Basic, Abeka 4 Basic, Tesano 1 Basic, Tesano 2 Basic, and Dan Boi Basic.
The others are Shaiyennor Basic, Sackey Odoi Basic, Anumle Basic, Aggrey Basic, Nii Okine Basic, Alogboshie 1 Basic and Alogboshie 2 Basic.
The initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on parents while promoting school enrolment, attendance and improved learning outcomes within the Municipality.
Source: onma.gov.gh
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson, AD IIB