GERMAN CHURCH BUILDS SCHOOL FOR DUUYIN (PAGE 23, JUNE 27)

WORK has commenced on the construction of a six-classroom block for the people of Duuyin, a farming community in the Tamale metropolis.
The building is to replace the existing three-classroom block which cannot accommodate the growing number of pupils.
The Bible Believers Church of Stuttgart, Germany is funding the project, which includes an office, a store and place of convenience.
According to a representative of the church, Reverend Osei Kankam, his outfit had over the years, assisted some orphanages in various parts of the country.
He, however, stated that “this time around we want to concretise our intervention in the form of a school, as a way of supporting children in deprived communities.”
Rev. Kankam explained that the church stood for the total development of mankind in all facets of life, adding “the greatest gift you can give to a child apart from spirituality is education.” 
The Northern Regional Manager of the A.M.E. Zion Educational Unit, Rev. Azure John Atiiga said the school was established by his outfit some 23 years ago.
He expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people of the community for their tremendous support and cooperation over the years.
A Director of Education at the Tamale Metro Education office, Madam Zenabu Jibrilu, thanked the benefactors for their complementary role in putting up the project.
She advised teachers to always serve as role models to their pupils by dressing appropriately and living above reproach.
The director also expressed concern over the continuous poor performance of pupils and students in their respective examinations at the junior and senior high school levels.
Madam Zenabu, therefore, entreated all stakeholders in education in the area to step up their efforts and collaborate effectively to improve education in their various communities.
“It is only through education that we can break the vicious circle of poverty that is pervasive in this area”, she stressed.
The Coordinating Director of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Alhaji Adam Mohammed Baba, commended the Bible Believers Church for their intervention and pledged the readiness of the assembly to liaise with the GES to post more teachers to the school upon its completion.
He also outlined the various pro-poor programmes the government had earmarked for the educational sector and advised parents and guardians to take advantage of such initiatives by enrolling their wards, particularly the girls in school.
The chief of Duuyin, Alhaji Von Salifu, also expressed gratitude to their benefactors for the intervention and entreated the assembly and other philanthropic bodies to support the community in its bid to improve the socio-economic development of the people who are mainly farmers.