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Micjoy Advertising (MJA), a communication consult, has rewarded six education institutions for their outstanding contribution to quality education and the socio-economic development of the country. They are: All Nations University College (ANUC), Presbyterian University College (PUC), Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), Jackson Education Complex (JEC), Ideal College and Action Remedial School. MJA also rewarded All Nations International Development Agency (ANIDA), a Koforidua-based humanitarian non-governmental organisation (NGO) for supporting the under-privilege in society. Apart from the institutions, the MJA also rewarded two personalities: former President, John Agyekum Kufour and a Deputy Minister of Education (Pre-Tertiary), Mr Alex Kyeremeh for their personal contributions to progress in education. At a ceremony in Kumasi, the Executive Director of the MJA, Michael Nana Ampong said among about 40 private tertiary institutions, particularly, universities in the country, the rewarded institutions had displayed a high sense of commitment towards progress in education to support national development. He said the MJA after administering 500 questionnaires in a month�s survey selected the institutions not on merit but for the fact that they have prioritised programmes at their places of study on advancement in education. He commended both the institutions and the personalities for their contribution and asked that they continue not to relent in their efforts to support advancement in education The Awards The awardees were given crystal objects to signify the MJA�s appreciation of their outstanding contribution to education development. President Kufour Nana Ampong said for his eight-year administration as Presidet, Mr Kufour had sought to bring life into the education sector recalling the Prof Anamuah Mensah Committee to check on Second cycle schools reforms. Apart from the reform, he said the MJA had noted of the President Kufour�s introduction of pro-poor programmes like the School Feeding Programme (SFP), Capitation Grant, Compterised-based system for the selection of Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates for admission into the second cycle schools. Again, apart from the supply of GETfund buses and Photocopier machines to deserving schools and chartered universities; President Kufour�s introduction of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) which had on board school children for free of charge, all to support quality education. Alex Kyeremeh The Deputy Minister to the MJA had shown a personal commitment and benchmark of superstardom for a few years he had been in office towards quality and affordable education. MJA executive director said he could have shown negligence but recalled that last year alone, he personally stood up investigated the circumstances where some heads of SHSs were into charging of exorbitant school fees to exploit both students and parents. Through his efforts, almost all faulting heads of SHS were reprimanded and with the precedent in place, the minister had made the system difficult for recalcitrant SHS administration to operate illegally especially on billing of students. Last year academic year, for only five items on some SHS students� bill, the administration was charging an exorbitant of GH�500, 000.00 had the minister not intervened. ANUC The ANUC based in Eastern Regional capital of Koforidua and as one of the best science-based private universities has been noted for its exceptional science programmes and the quest for inventions. The Intelligent Space Systems Laboratory (ISSL), of Anuc,a laboratory working on a satellite ground station which is exclusive in West Africa and helping to update the scientific feed in Ghana. The Founder and President of the ANUC, Dr Samuel Donkor who chaired the awards and paper launch of the MJA, received the award for the ANUC. PUC The PUC has been running Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and Physician Assistantship (PA) programmes which make the university distinct from other private universities. Having being existence for the past 10 years, the PUC has apart from its Abetifi campus in the Kwahu area, opened campuses in Kumasi, Tema, Akuapem and Agogo. It is motivated to support education not only in the urban centres but semi-rural areas as well. GTUC The GTUC has had academic linkages with foreign institutions and had since 2006 in the area of science and technology improve the living conditions of its students, opening campuses in Kumasi, Koforidua apart from its Accra main campus. It is running post-graduate programmes for students and has been recognised as the fastest growing university in Ghana.‎ The GTUC�s Relations Officer, Afua Amankwa Sarkodie received the award for the university. JEC With 40 branches across the length and breadth of the country, the JEC has been running a three-year course on Diploma in Basic Education by Distance Learning. Since inception in 2009, the JEC has had more than 2,000 students graduated from the course and currently has more than 5, 000 students learning in all the ten regions. What is more fascinating about the JEC is that rural areas which used not to have trained teachers are gradually getting away with it in the area quality education. The Director of the JEC, Mrs Theodosia W. Jackson was presented with the award during the ceremony. ANIDA Noted as one of the best humanitarian NGOs in Ghana and West Africa, ANIDA has been sponsoring needy students from all levels of education on 100 per cent scholarship. For about 10 years, a wing of the ANIDA, Women Development Centre (WDC) has trained illiterate women who now can boast of reading, writing and expressing themselves fluently in the English Language. It has been presenting food items to less privileged children and orphans in their various homes as part of its mission to support the needy in society. The Registrar of the ANUC, Dr Lynn Kisembe Darkwa received the award on behalf of the Executive Director of the ANIDA, Rev. Mrs Rose Donkor. IDEAL COLLEGE & ACTION REMEDIAL Both institutions have been a turning point to SHS students who might have had problems in the WASSCE/SSSCE results. Giving priority to poor or less performed WASSCE/SSSCE candidates, they have opened branches where through remedial classes both have sought to reshape students� lifestyles as far as better examination performance is important. Launch of the Academic Diary The Asanteman Nkosuohene, Nana Owusu Banahene who represented former President Kufour, officially launched the Academic Diary as a newspaper for the MJA. The first and second copies were auctioned for GH�3, 000.00 and GH�2,000.00 respectively. The 16-page newspaper focuses on education; promoting education issues having noted that education remains the �spinal cord� of every nation. In the mean time and having been registered at the National Media Communication (NMC), it will be hitting the newsstands and the front desk of other institutions once every month.