Public sector employees in the country are to be placed on a "single spine" pay structure next year, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Papa Owusu Ankomah, has stated. He noted that the new structure, which would be based on "equal work for equal pay" would remove pay disparities in the sector. The Minister was speaking at the sod cutting for a six-unit classroom block for the people of Gomoa Afransi in the Central Region. The project estimated at 880 million cedis was in fulfilment of a promise by the Minister during the annual Akwanbo festival of the people of the town in January this year. Papa Owusu Ankomah appealed to trade unions to accept the new structure and to cooperate with the government to make it a success to ensure industrial peace and harmony. He expressed concern about the falling standard of education in the Central Region, which was "the Mecca" of education in Ghana and urged the people to step up their efforts to reverse the trend. The Minister advised parents to take advantage of the various interventions by the government such as the capitation grant and the school feeding programme to ensure quality education for their children. Papa Owusu Ankomah urged teachers to reciprocate the government's measures to improve their condition of service by working hard. He stressed the need to revive the traditional social practice, which made the upbringing of children the responsibility of the society instead of their parents alone to give meaning to the adage that made each other his brother's keeper. Nana Ato Arthur, Central Region Minister, commended Papa Owusu Ankomah for redeeming his pledge to the people and appealed to Ghanaians to make the best use of educational facilities being provided by the government and other organisations. The Regional Minister gave the assurance that the project would be completed before the end of the year. Source: GNA