170 schools destroyed in Northern conflict

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Accra (Greater Accra), 26^th January 2000

Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, told Parliament on Tuesday that 160 primary and 10 junior secondary schools (JSS) were destroyed in three districts during the Northern conflict in 1994.

"That is why it is important that we avoid such conflicts at all cost because they are very expensive".

The Minister, who was answering a parliamentary question, said Nanumba district lost 68 primary schools and six JSS, East Gonja, 60 primary schools and Yendi, 32 primary schools and four JSS.

Mr. George D. Mpandi, PNC- Bimbilla, had asked the Minister on the status of schools in the conflict ravaged districts.

"My ministry is systematically restoring these schools through the recruitment of pupil teachers, rehabilitation of structures and in some cases, providing new classroom blocks.

"As at the end of the 1996/97 academic year, two academic years after the conflict, 24, 44, and 32 primary schools have been restored in the Nunumba, East Gonja and Yendi districts respectively."

He said the mere provision of infrastructure in the area, would not attract teachers and pupils back into the system.

"These people need to be assured of their safety, else, they would not come back"

On efforts to uplift education in the rural areas, Mr. Spio-Garbrah said the Ministry was implementing an accommodation and accelerated promotion programme for serving rural teachers.

He said very soon, teachers who serve diligently in the rural areas "will be promoted every three years instead of the normal five years".

The Minister asked communities to take more interest in the running of their schools and the welfare of their teachers.

Mr. Spio-Garbrah called on the district assemblies to live up to their responsibility of providing infrastructure for education delivery.

"Whatever support that comes from the donor community or directly from the central government should be seen as supplementary".

GRi

Accra (Greater Accra), 26^th January 2000

Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, told Parliament on Tuesday that 160 primary and 10 junior secondary schools (JSS) were destroyed in three districts during the Northern conflict in 1994.

"That is why it is important that we avoid such conflicts at all cost because they are very expensive".

The Minister, who was answering a parliamentary question, said Nanumba district lost 68 primary schools and six JSS, East Gonja, 60 primary schools and Yendi, 32 primary schools and four JSS.

Mr. George D. Mpandi, PNC- Bimbilla, had asked the Minister on the status of schools in the conflict ravaged districts.

"My ministry is systematically restoring these schools through the recruitment of pupil teachers, rehabilitation of structures and in some cases, providing new classroom blocks.

"As at the end of the 1996/97 academic year, two academic years after the conflict, 24, 44, and 32 primary schools have been restored in the Nunumba, East Gonja and Yendi districts respectively."

He said the mere provision of infrastructure in the area, would not attract teachers and pupils back into the system.

"These people need to be assured of their safety, else, they would not come back"

On efforts to uplift education in the rural areas, Mr. Spio-Garbrah said the Ministry was implementing an accommodation and accelerated promotion programme for serving rural teachers.

He said very soon, teachers who serve diligently in the rural areas "will be promoted every three years instead of the normal five years".

The Minister asked communities to take more interest in the running of their schools and the welfare of their teachers.

Mr. Spio-Garbrah called on the district assemblies to live up to their responsibility of providing infrastructure for education delivery.

"Whatever support that comes from the donor community or directly from the central government should be seen as supplementary".

GRi