AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine (AGA) has partnered the Otumfuo Foundation to distribute 30,000 textbooks worth GH₵1.3million to about 48 public schools in the Obuasi East district and Obuasi municipality.
Each pupil received one of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) approved books on literacy and numeracy.
The gesture is expected to equip pupils within the Obuasi enclave with the right learning materials, in a bid to improve literacy and numeracy at the basic education level.
The donation is part of complementary efforts by AGA after it had trained 525 teachers to help pupils identify words.
Gender Superintendent at AGA Obuasi Mine, Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei – speaking to B&FT after presenting the books to Chief Executives of the Obuasi Municipality and Obuasi East District Assembly, explained that AGA is very particular about education – whether formal or informal.
The books’ distribution, she noted, is to help improve quality education in Obuasi, and to help instil the culture of reading into pupils at the basic level.
“Before a child can pass an examination, he or she is supposed to identify words, read and understand. That is the main reason we are giving out these books – for them to learn how to read and understand, so that they can read their exam questions and pass as well.
“For you to have a holistic view or perspective of the world, you need to be a reader. This year, the focus is on kindergarten and nursery; because we have realised that when you concentrate on the JHS, they have passed the formative years already. Hence, we want to catch them young for them to identify letters and be able to understand phonics, so they can pronounce words right and be able to read correctly,” she said.
Chief Executive for Obuasi Municipality, Elijah Adansi-Bonah, after receiving the books expressed appreciation to AGA for the enormous support it is giving to the people in Obuasi and its surrounding communities.
He said the importance of the AGA and Otumfuo Foundation’s gesture cannot be downplayed, as it will boost the performance of pupils in their internal and external examinations.
“The revamping of AGA is significant to the development of Obuasi, not only in infrastructure but also in terms of education. These books will go directly to our children, and they will impact positively on them. I am confident that these books will contribute to their education,” Mr. Adansi-Bonah said.
Education Director for Obuasi Municipal Assembly, George Alfred Koomson, on his part noted that the books will complement teaching efforts.
“These materials received are going to go a long way in helping our learners. These are books on literacy and in Ghanaian languages for the early grades. It is our aim to train the beginners so that they will be very fluent in reading and writing both English and Ghanaian languages. We are going to give these books to the children, then take them through and ensure they are able to read and understand what they are reading,” Mr. Koomson said.
