(Accra, Dec. 2, 2004)

Mr. Rockson Bukari, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has urged Ghanaians to refrain from playing politics with education, saying that it would not serve anybody's interest.

The MCE made the call at the closing ceremony of a three-day Science, Technology and Mathematics (STME) workshop for 30 girls and 10 boys drawn from Senior and Junior Secondary schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality. It was held under the theme, "Scientific and Technological Education, The Hope of the Nation".

"Education is the engine of development and science grooms it for practical use," Mr Bukari observed.

He said some of the country's educational challenges such as the shortage of teachers, could be adequately addressed through the adoption of on-line tuition, which would enable students to access lessons from the computer, adding that it was an option being considered by Government.

The MCE observed that the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) had come to provide a bridge between the developed and the developing world, and urged the youth, therefore, to take advantage of it to develop themselves and their communities.

Presenting an overview of the workshop, Madam Stephanie Adongo, Municipal Co-ordinator of STME, said participants were taken through a number of science projects, family life education, as well as lessons in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Electricals as well as guidance and counseling.

She announced that in the Senior Secondary School category, Zamse Secondary-Technical School came first, with Bolgatanga Girls Secondary School placing second. In the Junior Secondary category Akantome JSS came first, followed by Kalbeo-Tindonsoblogo JSS, with Bukere JSS coming third.

Madam Adongo commended participants for exhibiting great zeal and enthusiasm at the workshop, and expressed gratitude to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly for providing financial support for the programme. Mr Anthony Aziaba, Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Education, advised participants to be obedient to their teachers and to share the knowledge gained at the workshop with their colleagues when they return to their respective schools. Source: GNA