Basic school children in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana have been given renewed hope and encouragement that, just like their counterparts in bigger cities across Ghana, they too can achieve their academic dreams of becoming various professionals.
District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Stephen Aeke Akurugo delivered this message on Tuesday morning in Sirigu during the annual “My First Day in School” event for first-time students enrolled in the Mother of Mercy Kindergarten and Primary Schools.Hon Akurugo told the students, “I see future Kindergarten, teachers, directors, and presidents amongst you.
All you need to do is take your studies seriously and respect school authorities.” He assured them and their peers across the district that the government, through the Ministry of Education and the education directorate, will continue to fund existing programs such as the school feeding initiative and the capitation grant to ensure a smooth and efficient education system for the country’s future leaders.
The DCE acknowledged that while the current conditions of schools may not be ideal, students today are fortunate to have school infrastructure closer to them. “In our time, we walked longer distances and sometimes crossed rivers just to access education,” he said.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to invest more resources into the education sector, including plans to enroll additional schools in the Ghana School Feeding Programme to benefit more students.
In her opening remarks, District Director of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Mary-Magdalene Wompakea, noted that students have had sufficient rest during the six-week break and encouraged them to approach the new term with energy and a fresh mindset.
She expressed disappointment that relatively few students expressed a desire to pursue teaching as a career, despite emphasizing that teachers form the foundation for all other professions.
She advised the students to concentrate on their studies, respect their teachers, and ask questions whenever they do not understand something.At the conclusion of their interactions, Madam Wompakea and the DCE distributed assorted biscuits to the new students, urging them not to develop the habit of skipping school, as it would negatively impact their performance.
The duo was then led by Mr. Samuel Awiah, Headteacher of the school, to inspect a rapidly expanding cemetery located just steps from the school. DCE Akurugo proposed that the school be walled off for the safety of the students and requested further discussions involving him, the GES Director, community leaders, and school authorities.
The Mother of Mercy School was established on September 16, 2003, with a pioneer student population of 128. By the end of the last school term in July 2025, the total student population had risen to 556.
During the DCE’s visit for the “My First Day in School” event, the school welcomed 13 new entrants into its Nursery, comprising 2 girls and 11 boys, while the Primary welcomed 15 new pupils, made up of 8 girls and 7 boys.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/