By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Ada, Sept. 29, GNA – TSK Ship Services Limited, through its “Wonɔ” Initiative, has donated about 5,000 exercise books, writing pads, pens, pencils, erasers and other educational materials to four basic schools in the Ada East District.
The donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities aimed at supporting communities in the Ada area.
The beneficiary schools are Amlakpo Presby Basic School, Gbantana Basic School, Lufenya Basic School and Korpehem Basic School.
Mr Enoch Olua Kabutey, Chief Executive Officer of TSK Ship Services Limited, who led the donation, said the initiative followed an assessment conducted by the company which identified shortages of basic teaching and learning materials in the schools.
Mr Kabutey said the “Wonɔ” Initiative, which means “to improve,” sought to support local communities through interventions in education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
He said the company recognised the importance of providing pupils with essential learning materials to improve their educational experience and outcomes.
He expressed concern about what he described as declining educational outcomes in the district, saying the company had initially been encouraged by pupils’ aspirations to achieve good results in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
He said the company had planned to support pupils who obtained aggregate scores between six and 15 but was concerned by the results recorded, prompting the need for increased support to basic education.
Mr Lawrence Dogli, Managing Director of TSK Ship Services Limited, said initiatives that provided teaching and learning materials could complement efforts to improve education and create opportunities for young people in communities where access to essential resources remained a challenge.
He reiterated that the provision of educational materials was one of the key areas under the Wonɔ Initiative.
Mr Joshua Kabutey, Director of Operations, said the company spent nearly GH¢40,000 on the donation and appealed to indigenes living outside Ada to remember and support their communities, saying the company was also open to partnerships aimed at promoting development in the Ada area.
Some headteachers expressed appreciation for the gesture and appealed for more support for their schools.
Mr Sylvester Agyei, Headteacher of Lufenya Basic School, said the donation would motivate pupils and support their participation in school, while Mr Abraham Kwame Dunyor, Headteacher of Korpehem D/A Basic School, pledged to ensure that the materials were put to proper use and urged pupils to take good care of them.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA