The Techiman “Market Women Day Care Centre “evolved as a result of a PhD dissertation research survey conducted by DR.Stephen Ameyaw in 1986. Additional follow up research was conducted by Mr. Tony Nezec, one of Dr. Ameyaw’s M.A students from the University of Calgary, Canada. In both surveys early childhood education combined with taking care of the children while the mothers were busy trading, emerged as a major recommendation from the study. Hence the name Techiman market Women Association Day Care Centre and Early Childhood Education.
When was the school started?
The day Care project was completed in 1995 and as a result the school was opened in 1995
Some of the early founders were:
- Madam Abena Kuma (queen mother yam association
- Madam Abena kyeremaah
- Madam Amma Nkomaah
- Madam Adwoa Manu
- Madam Akua Badu
- Madam Abena Nyamekye
- Madam Adwoa Foriwaa
- Dr Stephen Ameyaw
- Mr. Tony Nezec
- Madam Affua Bombo
- Mr . Kojo Takyi
These women were from the yam, plantain and fish commodity groups in the Techiman market who came together to form the market women association.
How was the school started?
Based on Dr. Ameyaw and Tony Nezec survey results, the market women identified the “Day Care” as the Centre” as the top priority. A funding proposal was put together and submitted to the Canadian High commissioner in Accra. Fortunately enough the funding was approved, the women secured a land bought and paid for it from the traditional council, and built the Day care centre.
What were some of the challenges
There were many challenges and some of them were:
- The building site was a garbage dump site and the women spent a lot of money to get rid of the garbage
- In the early years the site was not hygienic for the students
- The funding was not enough and the women had to collect their own money to support the project
- Some of the women did not contribute funding and resources
- Feeding the children became expensive
- Fees were collected was not enough to meet the expenses
- Teachers were underpaid
- There were no support from the district education office
- etc