By Ewoenam Kpodo
Lente-Yame (V/R), Dec. 1, GNA – Pencils of Promise (PoP), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to providing quality education to children in Ghana, has urged parents, particularly fathers, to invest their time and money in their children’s education.
Mr Freeman Gobah, the Country Director, PoP, said early childhood education was critical for a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development and that children who received quality early childhood education were more likely to succeed in school and beyond.
The Country Director said this during the commissioning of a Kindergarten (KG) block for the Lente-Yame Basic School in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.
He observed the absence of fathers in the gathering, except some two present, thus, his advice to fathers not to just invest resources but also their time in the young ones’ education.
“Early childhood education is the foundation upon which a child’s future is built. Whether they excel at the second cycle or tertiary level is largely dependent on a strong foundation. We urge parents, fathers especially, to take keen interest in their children’s education by making time and providing for them,” he said.
The two-unit classroom block with office, store and sanitation facilities brings to 213 the number of projects commissioned by PoP in all its three operating regions (Volta, Eastern and Oti).
Mr Gobah said the PoP, since its presence in Ghana in 2012, had provided educational infrastructure, teacher training, and teaching and learning materials, including E-learning equipment for the communities.
It had also initiated water and sanitation facilities in schools in underserved communities.
He said the Lente-Yame Basic School would also benefit from those programmes to improve teaching and learning, reading outcomes and water coverage for children in the school.
Mr Ephraim Kassegni, the Head Teacher of the school, expressed gratitude for the new block, donated by PoP with support of the Member of Parliament, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and community members, saying the project was testament to the organisation’s commitment to creating learning spaces for growth and development.
“This classroom building represents more than just bricks and mortar, it symbolises hope, opportunity and a brighter future for our young learners.”
Mr Kassegni further appealed for help to renovate the pavilions serving as the school’s upper primary block into complete classrooms to enhance teaching and learning.
Mr Joseph Etsey, who represented Mr Godwin Amelor, the Ketu South Municipal Director of Education, commended PoP for the new block, and the additional furniture; 70 chairs, 25 tables and 60 dual desks for the school.
He said classroom infrastructure and furniture remained the biggest challenges confronting the education sector in the municipality.
He assured of the maintenance of the block while promising the head teacher of giving consideration to his request for more teachers to be posted to the school.
Madam Gomashie, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Lente-Yame, expressed her readiness to support the PoP to provide more of such projects to other communities in the municipality.
She spoke about her contribution to education and health including the recently commissioned paediatric emergency unit at the Municipal Hospital, the renovated Ansahrul Islamic Junior High School at Hedzranawo Zongo and the rebuilding of Hatsukope Community-Based Health Planning and Services to a clinic status to improve the human capital in the municipality.
Madam Doris Deffor, a KG teacher, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, said the fully furnished new block to replace the dilapidated structure meant the days of weather conditions disrupting classes would be a thing of the past.
The event, chaired by Torgbui Atikpa III, Chief of Yame, saw the pupils entertain the gathering through poetry recitals and drumming and dancing.
GNA