Gladys Yiribaare (2nd from right) with the teachers of Asutsuare Junction D/A Basic School displaying their award
Three schools in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region have received various awards for emerging the best in sanitation and environmentally-clean schools.
The schools, Agortor Presby D/A Basic School, St Agnes Roman Catholic Primary School and Asutsuare Junction D/A Basic School, emerged winners after contesting with 60 other schools within the district.
Agortor Presby D/A Basic School emerged the winner and received three waste bins, two Veronica buckets for handwashing, 500 pieces of exercise books and a cash of GH¢500.
St Agnes Roman Catholic Primary School also received three waste bins, three Veronica buckets, 300 pieces of textbooks and a cash of GH¢300.
Asutsuare Junction D/A Basic School also received three waste bins, three Veronica buckets, 200 pieces of textbooks and a cash of GH¢200.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) in-charge of the Shai-Osudoku District, Madam Selasie Kugbenu, told the DAILY GUIDE that the award scheme was an initiative of the District Chief Executive of the area, Daniel Akuffu, to inculcate in the children the habit of cleanliness.
Madam Kugbenu said a committee was set up and tasked with visiting over 60 schools within the district unannounced to inspect their premises, including classrooms, toilet, urinal facilities and the personal hygiene of the pupils, including their nails, teeth and hair.
Marks were rewarded and the three schools topped all.
Gladys Yiribaare, head mistress of Asutsuare Junction D/A Basic School, said, “We are not so much interested in the award, but to inculcate in the children the need for a clean environment, free of pollution and filth.”
Explaining how they made it to the first three, Mrs Yiribaare disclosed that “on every Thursday before classes begin, all the teachers and children come together to clean their compound, classrooms, toilet and urinal facilities before any other activities of the day begins and we have done this for several months.”
“A clean environment is a shared responsibility and since our predecessors have failed us, we want to break the chain so that our future leaders also become conscious of their environment and help keep it clean,” she highlighted.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
lindatenyah@gmail.com