LORDINA SERWAAH Agyapong, a 15 year old pupil from the Tafo Pankrono MA Junior High School last Friday won the coveted accolade as the best reading pupil in the Ashanti Region. 

With stiff competition from other four finalists in the Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge competition (OCRC), Lordina polled 78.9 points to win the two-round reading sessions that had marks for speed, diction and pronunciation.

Reading from a text that had a maximum of 350 words in two minutes and thirty seconds,  the five finalists drawn from five communities  excelled in the two rounds as each pupil completed the text within the time given.

The Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge (OCRC) is an initiative of the Otumfuo Foundation and for two years has had 60 Community schools participating at a time with the the idea of inculcating reading as a habit in pupils in the Ashanti Region.

So far a total of 7, 556 students from 780 schools within 16 Metro, Municipal and Districts have Participated in the competition.

Prizes:

The winner took home cash prize of GH10, 000 with 5000gh as support to her school as well as a medal, trophy, 500 exercise books and food products from sponsors.

The first runner up took home cash prize of 5, 000gh and 3000gh to her school, 500 exercise books and food and detergents from sponsors.

The 2rd runner up had 3000gh, 2000gh as support to her school and food products from sponsors.

The 4th and 5th persons had 1000gh as prize money with each with receiving same as support for their schools as well as food and beverage products from sponsors of the competition.

Chairperson:

Professor Oheneba Boachie Adjei Woahene II, Hiahene of the Asantehene and Board Chairman of the Otumfuo Foundation commended the participating schools for the show of interest and enthusiasm for the past two years.

Oheneba Boachie also commended the Board of the FOUNDATION especially members of the Planning Committee of the Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge for the commitment and hardwork to ensure that schools in the region embraced the initiative and to take part.

The Board Chairman said reading should be consciously taught in schools since that is the basis of getting understanding in education.

Oheneba Boachie also urged the Ghana Education Service to ensure reading is consciously taught in all basic, junior and senior high schools in the country so as to improve the art.

The Board Chairman thanked the sponsors as well as chiefs in the Ashanti Region for showing enthusiasm and support for the schools in the competition and to the OCRC group.

Regional Education Director: 

Mr David Oppong, Acting Regional Director of Education commended the Otumfuo Foundation for the OCRC programme.

He noted that apart from the educational aspect of the initiative, the competition would also inculcate in pupils and students the attitude of reading across schools in the region.

The Ghana Education Service, he stressed is committed to supporting authorities of Basic schools to produce students with complete set of skills in education.

“I am sure the OCRC programme would instill both the habit and attitude of reading in pupils from the basic schools especially those in the Ashanti Region and we are grateful that the Asantehene is supporting this initiative through his Foundation”, Mr Oppong stated.

By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie 

Kumasi