The Southern Sector Manager of Plan Ghana (PG), an NGO, Mrs Amelia Allan, has charged beneficiaries of development projects assisted by the organization to maintain such facilities to attract additional support. Mrs Allan, who is also Programme Area Manager of the Awutu-Bawjiase branch of the organization, expressed grave dismay about the lack of maintenance culture prevailing in most of the communities in which Plan Ghana had operated in the area for the past 16 years. The Sector Manager was addressing the people of Akuffo-Krodua, near Bawjiase, at the first ever annual children's party organized by workers of the Bawjiase Programme Area branch of Plan Ghana, for more than 1,000 school children on Wednesday. The children were drawn from the various basic schools in the town. It was designed to point out the shortfalls of basic schools in the community and rejuvenate the interest of parents in the area who have not enrolled their children in schools to do so without any further delay. Mrs. Allan expressed concern that even though Akuffo-Krodua was the first community in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District which Plan Ghana partnered and number one community to be provided with primary and Junior Secondary School buildings by Plan Ghana in the early 1980s, the performance of the schools leaves much to be desired. Mrs. Allan made it clear that management and directors of Plan Ghana were not happy that Akuffo Krodua Junior Secondary School was recorded among the four of such basic schools in the Awutu Effutu Senya District which chalked up zero percent in the last year's BECE certificate examinations results. The Southern Sector Manager who stood in for the Plan Ghana Country Director, charged Chiefs, opinion leaders and teachers in the town to come together and initiate strategies that would help rectify the situation in the coming year. She also expressed the hope that they would do all in their capabilities to maintain the once beautiful school structures built by Plan Ghana, which is currently in a deplorable condition. Mrs Allan pointed out that until they fully rehabilitate the existing school blocks, the organization would not consider their request for teachers living quarters, overhead water tank and other assistance they wanted Plan Ghana to provide them. Mr. Christian Nanor, Plan Ghana Community Facilitator for the area, advised parents and guardians in the community who have not registered their children with any of the primary schools in the area to reconsider their decision. Mr. Nanor asked them to take advantage of the capitation grant and the school feeding programme to send their kids to school for the children also to enjoy the policy. Nai Kofi Fianko I, Akuffo-Kroduahene, assured directors of Plan Ghana of his preparedness to team up with teachers in the area to secure a better solution to the fallen standard of education in the area. Besides, food, soft drinks and cocoa products, the children were supplied with clothes as new year presents. The spokesperson, on behalf of the children, thanked Plan Ghana for the gesture and promised to study harder to reverse the low standard of education. Source: GNA