By Muyid Deen Suleman
Asokore-Mampong (Ash), Jan. 14, GNA – Mr Ben Abdullah Alhassan, the Asokore-Mampong Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has called on private school owners within the municipality to collaborate effectively with the Assembly to help improve education delivery in the area.
He said such collaboration would yield significant benefits for their institutions and the community at large, while enhancing quality education for the future leaders of the country.
Mr Alhassan noted that many private school owners often lacked the confidence and initiative to approach the Assembly when they encountered operational challenges.
Speaking at a meeting with private school owners in the municipality, he said such attitudes hindered their ability to seek the necessary support and resources that the Assembly could provide.
He emphasized the importance of unity among school owners, urging them to present their challenges and grievances collectively for appropriate redress.
“This collective approach will amplify your voices and ensure that concerns are addressed in a timely manner,” he stated.
The meeting was aimed at engaging school owners to identify their challenges and explore ways to address them to improve education delivery.
Mr Alhassan outlined several critical issues that had not previously been communicated to the school owners.
Notable among them was a portion of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) specifically allocated to support private business owners, including educational institutions.
He expressed concern that due to a lack of understanding of the Assembly’s operations, many private school owners struggled to access available support.
The MCE recalled a recent tragic incident where SAR Educational Complex was devastated by fire, describing it as deeply saddening and underscoring the need for Assembly assistance in emergencies.
Additionally, he lamented the municipality’s inability to achieve a single-digit performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for five consecutive years, describing the situation as discouraging and indicative of the challenges faced by educational institutions.
He advised school owners to prioritize hiring teachers who are genuinely passionate about teaching rather than employing individuals merely seeking jobs, stressing that this was crucial for improving education quality.
Mr Alhassan also highlighted the need for mutual cooperation, noting that the Assembly relied heavily on private schools’ support, particularly through prompt tax payments, to deliver development projects and services that benefit the entire community.
“Together, we can strengthen education and build a better future for our children in the municipality,” he said.
Some of the school owners expressed gratitude to the Assembly, particularly the MCE, for the valuable insights shared during the meeting.
They expressed the hope that the briefing would serve as a stepping stone toward fostering a closer relationship with the Assembly, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for their schools and students.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah