The vision of the District Directorate of Education is to improve access and quality of education in the district through four thematic areas:
1.    Improve access and participation
2.    Improve the quality of teaching and learning
3.    Improve management for efficiency within the education sector and
4.  Improve Science, Technology and Vocational Education Training.

This document provides the District profile of Education, the current situation, challenges and the way forward to improve the existing situation.

Enrollment as at February 2006

Enrollment in KG, Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools has increased remarkably. For example enrollment level increased in KG. from 3,592 in October 2005 to 3,811 in February 2006, Primary from 12,307 in October 2005 to 12,502  in February 2006 and JSS from 3,974 in October 2005 to 4,032 in February 2006. Tepa Secondary School’s enrollment jumped from 1417 in September to 1618 in February 2006 and that of Mabang from 414 to 444 at the same period.

Findings:-

There has been an increase in enrollment at all levels as shown in the table. Gross Enrollment Rate has also improved. Enrollment in KG increased from 64% in October to 68.2% in February 2006.Primary from 84% in October, 2005 to 85% in February 2006.
At all levels, the enrollment of girls has increased. KG, 65% to 68.4%, Primary 79% to 80% and JSS 65% to 65.7%.

Staffing

Enrollment at all levels has increased without corresponding increase in teacher population. The Pre-school has 60 teachers, Primary 302 and JSS 161. The Pupil –Teacher- Ratio for Pre –school, Primary and JSS were 64, 41 and 25 respectively. The National Norms demands that the pupil teacher ratio in the KG must be 25. This is an indication that the district needs 92 more teachers in the Kindergarten schools and 55 additional teachers in the Primary.

Total number of teachers in the district = 637
Total no. of trained teachers = 391
Total no. of untrained teachers = 246
Percentage trained = 61.4%
Percentage untrained   = 38.6%

Furniture

Furniture situation in both Primary and JSS was quite adequate, but in KG, the situation was different. The enrolment increased without corresponding supply of furniture.  

Pre-Schools

The number of Pre-schools has increased from 28 to 53 with the introduction of the Capitation Grant and the policy of every Primary School having Pre-school. However, almost all the pre-schools are housed in dilapidated structures. Apart from Tepa R/C, Kojobetiako D/A and Asuhyiae R/C Pre-School which is now under construction, the remaining pre-schools are either accommodated in church premises or very deplorable structures

Primary

Seven (7) schools do not have what could be termed as a classroom block. They have very low enrolment.  Pupils in these schools attend classes in makeshift structures. These schools are Dotoam, Assenkyem, Mmoframfadwen, Benumso, Alhassankrom, Abonsuaso English & Arabic   and Kotei-Nkwanta. There are other schools needing additional classroom blocks as a result of over-enrolment and the nature of the classroom blocks which are pavilions and therefore too small to accommodate more pupils.

Junior Secondary School

Three schools which are new need permanent classroom blocks. They are Tepa Presbyterian JSS, Keniago D/A JSS, and Achina D/A JSS. Currently, they are all in temporary structures.

Senior Secondary School

1)    Tepa Secondary School
The physical state of buildings in the Tepa Secondary School needs urgent attention in terms of rehabilitation, completion of suspended projects as well as construction of new structures for Administrative block and library.

Staff Bungalow

Constructional work on 3No, Staff Bungalow with boys quarters attached, which was initiated in 1977, was suspended in 1981.  70% of the constructional work has been completed.  There is the need to complete the remaining 30% to solve the accommodation problem encountered by the school.

Rehabilitation

Most of the school’s staff bungalows constructed since 1977 have not been renovated.  This has put them in a state of dilapidation.  Renovation of the buildings is highly recommended.

Library Block

The library is temporarily housed on the ground floor of the Girls’ dormitory block and could not be used at night by male students.  To promote effective learning there is the need to have a permanent block sited at a very proper place for the school.

Administration Block

Smaller cluster of old buildings at the old site are used as Administrative block.  This does not promote effective supervision.  Consequently for effective supervision, an Administration block should be built at the new site.

Mabang Secondary School
Staff Bungalows

The school has only two (2) staff bungalows, which are currently used by the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster.  Additional bungalows when constructed will help solve the accommodation problem of staff.  This will help to retain the numerous teaching staff posted to the school.

Hostel Facilities

The school is purely a day one; students who come from outside the community have problems with accommodation.  A hostel facility provided can help solve this problem and cause students to be punctual and regular at school.

Furniture

With the increase in enrollment, the furniture situation is inadequate.  An additional two hundred and fifty (250) mono desks would be needed.

Renovation of School Block

The school shall be rehabilitated to ward off degeneration of existing blocks.

Challenges

• Gross Enrollment Rate in the District has increased at all levels without corresponding improvement in infrastructure development like classroom blocks, Sanitary and furniture.
• The staffing situation must be properly addressed as there are more untrained teachers in the District. Furthermore, teacher attrition needs special attention, as many teachers leave     the District yearly.
• Best Teacher Award and other incentive packages for teachers are not budgeted for.
• Staff accommodation for teachers, office staff and Circuit Supervisors are lacking.
• Logistics such as office equipment ,  vehicle and motor –bikes  are inadequate in the District
• The philosophy of the Capitation Grant is being thwarted by some stake-holders as parents are being asked to pay certain  unauthorized fees like printing fees, canteen fees etc.

Recommendations

1. Pre-Schools must be provided with classrooms, furniture and qualified staff.
2. The District must sponsor more teacher trainees. Such trainees must serve in the district for   not less than three years without any compromise.
3. The District Director must be consulted before the construction of new classroom    blocks.
4. Best Teacher Award which is in arrears dating back to 2004, 2005 must be quickly addressed.
5. Incentive packages must be reintroduced for teachers posted to deprived areas.
6. Residential accommodation must be provided to Office Staff, Circuit Supervisors, and teachers especially those in deprived areas.
7. Circuit Supervisors must be provided with Office fully equipped at their circuit centres.
8. For efficient running of the District Directorate, the office must be provided with a stand- by Generator, Fax Machine, Two Pick-Ups, 12 Motor Bikes, and Six Computers & Accessories, especially at the EMIS Unit. There is the need for the District Assembly in collaboration with the GES and other Development Partners to be responsible for the organization and conduct of Common Examination at the Basic level.
9. ICT is now synonymous to modern education. To this end, the District must have one ICT centre at the District Capital by 2008. Latest by 2009, the facilities must be spread to all the Circuit Centres. Furthermore, all schools must be provided with the facilities especially Computers.
10. Old classroom blocks now unused must be rehabilitated and use as school libraries and stocked with books
11. The two Senior Secondary Schools must be assisted to have more infrastructure developments especially accommodation for both tutors and students, more classroom blocks, vehicles and environmental friendly sanitation.
12. For enrollment and retention of pupils in schools, needy pupils and students must be identified and awarded scholarships
13. Science, Mathematics and Technology play major role in today’s education. In line with this, STME clinics must be given the needed support to enable more participants to benefit from it.

Skills and Entrepreneurial Development for the Youth

The District Assembly has constructed a modern training centre for skill development at Anyinasuso.  The Assembly is collaborating with the Ministry of Manpower Development and the Technology Consultancy Centre at KNUST to put the facility into good use.  Currently, community based vocational and apprenticeship facilities are available in the informal sector for the youth.  Here the Assembly is putting in place measures to assist the master craft men/women to take on more apprentices.

Population Management

Given the annual growth rate of 2.9% for the District, which is below the rates for the Region and the National, the District has no problem.  However, since the resources of the District have been dwindling, there is the need for concerted efforts to manage the population growth rate.

There is a joint effort in this area of development.  The partners include

1. The political leaders in the District
2. Agricultural Extension staff
3. Health workers
4. Religious organizations
5. Chiefs etc.