By Caleb Kuleke
Peki-Dzake (V/R), Sept. 30, GNA – The Rotaract Club of Tema Meridian has donated learning materials to pupils of Peki-Dzake E.P. Basic and GOVCO Demonstration Schools in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region.
The items included notebooks, exercise books, mathematical sets, pens, pencils, and storybooks to help improve the literacy skills and academic performance of the pupils.
Mr Elikem Asem, President of the Rotaract Club of Tema Meridian, told the Ghana News Agency that the gesture marked the maiden edition of the Club’s flagship literacy initiative, dubbed: “The Nunya Literacy Project.”
He said the project focused on basic education and literacy and sought to improve learning outcomes by providing essential academic materials to pupils.
Mr Asem said many parents in the area faced financial challenges, making the donation crucial in supporting them and helping to keep the pupils in school.
He urged the pupils to remain committed to their education and avoid negative behaviours that could jeopardise their academic success and future prospects.
Madam Agnes Ayikue, Head of Supervision at the South Dayi District Education Directorate, who received the items on behalf of the schools, thanked the Club for the gesture, saying such interventions could help prevent vulnerable children from dropping out of school.
The event also featured a mentorship session for pupils of the beneficiary schools, focusing on career guidance, the value of education, and the prevention of teenage pregnancy.
The facilitators urged the pupils to prioritise their education and avoid acts that could derail their academic progress and compromise their future aspirations.
Mrs Charity Akosua Asem, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, urged the young people to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global environment.
She said the dynamics of education and learning had changed significantly, making the acquisition of essential digital literacy and AI skills necessary to prepare young people for the evolving world of work.
Mrs Asem said unlike older generations, who relied largely on physical books for learning, young people now have access to advanced digital tools and should leverage those resources to acquire relevant and employable skills.
She urged the pupils to use their smartphones productively to acquire digital literacy skills rather than spend excessive time on unproductive activities on social media.
Mrs Asem said education remained fundamental to achieving lifelong goals and reminded the pupils that their education represented a significant financial investment by their parents, which should not be taken for granted.
She appealed to traditional authorities and opinion leaders to establish community education funds to support brilliant but needy students who risked dropping out of school due to financial constraints.
Justice Asem said some students were brilliant and talented but risked losing the opportunity to fulfil their potential without community support.
She, therefore, urged communities to explore innovative ways of supporting such students to become productive citizens rather than leaving them to seek assistance from individuals.
Mrs Asem also underscored the need for the older generation, particularly accomplished professionals, to make time to mentor, inspire and prepare young people for leadership roles.
Madam Gifty Antwiwah, a Senior Midwifery Officer at the Peki-Dzake Health Centre, cautioned the pupils against early sexual activity and peer pressure and educated them on the consequences of teenage pregnancy.
She encouraged adolescents to seek assistance from health facilities whenever they faced health challenges, assuring them that health professionals were available to provide confidential guidance and support.
Mr Emmanuel Nii Dowuona, Project Director for the Rotary Club of Accra West, provided career guidance to the pupils and cautioned them against diverting their school fees into gambling and sports betting.
He urged them to remain focused on their studies and strive for academic excellence to become responsible future leaders and contribute to national development.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah