This article was originally published by Ghana News Agency. Text slightly edited for mechanical consistency.
Chibirinyoa (N/R), Oct. 1, GNA - The Ghana office of Zakat Foundation of America, an NGO has provided a junior high school (JHS) building facility for the Chibirinyoa community basic school in the Bole-Bamboi District of the Northern Region.
The project, estimated at $45,000 comprised a three-unit classroom block with a library, a staff common room, a volley ball pitch, a basketball court and a quantity of balls to inspire and develop the interest of the students in sporting activities.
As part of the project, the Foundation also provided 50 school bags with eight exercise books and one mathematical set in a bag for each student.
Mr Alhassan Salia, the Zakat Foundation of America’s Country Representative donated a desktop computer to facilitate practical learning in Information Communication Technology to improve the standard of education in the District.
Speaking at the inauguration of the project last, Mr Salia said through the Foundation’s education programme about 1000 school bags filled with exercise books and pens have been donated to school children in deprived rural schools in its operational communities in the Brong-Ahafo and Northern Regions to improve on their academic performance.
He appealed for the support of stakeholders, particularly the assemblies, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, private and business concerns to support the Zakat Foundation of America educational programme “to scale-up programmatically and geographically to improve the standard of education in the unfortunate communities in Ghana and accomplish Sustainable Development goal four on education”.
Mr. Abdul Majeed Osman, head teacher of the school, said the JHS with a total student population of 33 is now up to forms one and two.
“From the kindergarten (KG) to the JHS level, we have only five teachers including me, the KG madam and two national service persons,” he said.
He therefore appealed to the District Education Directorate to post the required number of teachers to the school to enhance effective teaching and learning.
Nana Akangbon Kintor II, Chief of the community expressed appreciation to the NGO for its “great job” to improve on the quality of education in the area.
He appealed to government and other NGO`s to also assist the community with potable drinking water, provision of electricity and elevation of the local Community-based Health Planning Services Compound to a clinic.
Mr Habib Abubakar, Programme Manager of Zakat Foundation of America, said the organisation was established in 2001 to, among other objectives, assist the needy with educational support and provide financial aid for women to start small scale cooperative businesses for them to become financially self-reliant.
GNA