By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog, GNA
Zanlerigu (U/ER), Jan. 26, GNA – The Nongzoya Foundation, a Norway-based non-profit organisation, has donated stationery and sports materials to the Zanlerigu Cluster of Schools in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region to improve teaching and learning.
This year’s donation marks 19th consecutive year of the kind gesture by the foundation to the beneficiaries.
The donation ceremony, held at Zanlerigu, brought together officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES), traditional and community leaders, parents, teachers, students, and members of the media.
Among the items donated, the Zanlerigu Kindergarten received 400 exercise books, 100 first copy books, 40 sets of school uniforms, 10 boxes of board markers, five packs of pencils, five packs of erasers, six plastic chairs, and two water containers.
The Zanlerigu Primary School benefited from 1,000 exercise books, 35 school uniforms, 40 boxes of markers, 60 first copy books, 60 second copy books, and 60 third copy books, seven boxes of pens, five packs of pencils, four alphabet charts, four computing textbooks, and a sound system.
The Zanlerigu Junior High School (JHS) also received 1,000 exercise books, seven boxes of pens, two French textbooks, two Religious and Moral Education textbooks, one carton of board markers, drawing instruments, two footballs, a television set, and six plastic chairs.
Other schools within the Zanlerigu-Dagliga Electoral Area also benefited from the donation.
The Gundork JHS received two footballs and a set of football jerseys to promote sports and physical education, while Dagliga JHS received three textbooks each in English, Mathematics, Science, and computing to support academic work.
The Gani Asonge Kindergarten and Primary School received assorted basic writing materials, including 15 first copy books, 15 second copy books, 140 sketch pads, four boxes of pens, four packs of sharpeners, and four political maps of Ghana.
Making the presentation on behalf of Ms Marienne Adonaba, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mr David Assibi Nagbila, the Local Coordinator of the Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to improving teaching and learning outcomes in rural and underserved communities.
He said although global economic challenges and unfavourable currency exchange rates had affected procurement efforts, the Foundation remained committed to its annual support to the schools, albeit with reduced quantities this year.
“Even though prices have gone up worldwide and currency fluctuations have affected procurement, Nongzoya Foundation believes it is better to give what we can than not to give at all,” Mr Nagbila stated.
Mr Nagbila, however expressed concern over the persistent poor results of students of Zanlerigu JHS in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), despite years of continuous support from the Foundation.
He conveyed the displeasure of the Foundation’s Board and Management and urged students to take their studies seriously.
“The Foundation is not happy with the BECE results. Students must wake up from their slumber, reduce the time spent on mobile phones, and focus more on their books,” he admonished.
Mr Abu Dognab, a Co-founder of the Foundation, called on parents to play a more active roles in the education of their children by ensuring discipline and effective supervision at home.
He said parents must ensure that their wards attend school early and study at home, noting that teachers alone could not shoulder the responsibility of improving academic performance.
Mr Isaac Wulug, the Assembly Member for the Zanlerigu–Dagliga Electoral Area, attributed the poor academic performance partly to illegal mining activities in the area which had diverted the attention of many schoolchildren from academic work and negatively affected discipline in schools.
He also blamed the poor performance on the effects of government policy on corporal punishment which does not ensure discipline.
Mr Harry Ayoka, Head of Finance and Administration at the Nabdam Education Directorate, commended the Foundation for its consistent support to the schools and described it as a reliable partner in education delivery in the district.
Mr Dominic Zure, Chairman of the Zanlerigu–Dagliga Development Committee, expressed gratitude to the Foundation for its continuous support and called for collective efforts from parents, teachers, and community leaders to improve academic outcomes.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah