Teachers and parents have been asked to jointly combat all forms of gender based violence against children in schools and at home. They should also create a congenial atmosphere and relationship to eliminate abuse and promote effective learning. The Executive Director of the Academy of Educational Development Ghana, Stephen Yaw Manu, stated these at a ceremony during which Newmont Ghana presented school bags and learning materials to pupils of six basic schools in the Asutifi district of Brong Ahafo at Kenyasi.
The presentation formed part of an ongoing schools improvement programme being undertaken by the AED’s Centre for Educational Development, Evaluation and Management with sponsorship from Newmont Ghana in its operational area in the Asutifi District under the three-year programme which commenced last year. Newmont will provide US$54,000 annually for educational development activities in the beneficiary schools. Newmont made available 2,000 school bags valued at ten thousand Ghana cedis to the children. Each bag contained a pen, pencil, eraser, ruler and an exercise book.
The beneficiary schools are Kenyasi No. One Roman Catholic, Kenyasi No. Two Presby, Kodiwohia, Wamahinso, Kwakyekrom and Gyedu Primary Schools. Mr. Manu said under the programme various educational materials have been presented to schools while in-service training programmes are on going to equip teachers to better teach. The General Manager of Newmont’s Ahafo Project, in charge of Environment and Social Responsibility, Dan Michaelsion, in a speech read for him said developing people in pursuit of excellence is a core corporate value of Newmont.
He stated that as adults they owe it to children to provide them with every opportunity and an environment that will allow them to develop and use their skills and talents to compete in an increasingly globalised world. Mr. Michaelsen charged parents and teachers to take up the responsibility of nurturing and inspiring children to greater heights, stressing that the quality of their adult life depends on how they deliver on.
