The Minority in Parliament has called for a probe in expenditure totaling GH¢68.5 million spent on photocopying past questions for WASSCE candidates in 2020 and 2021.

The Ministry of Education is alleged to have spent GH¢33.6 million in 2020 and over GH¢34 million in 2021 for this purpose, utilizing single-source procurement methods.

Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, speaking to the media, stressed the need for a thorough investigation by the Special Prosecutor to address what the caucus perceives as possible corrupt activities.

“We cannot countenance this, and this is fraud. If this is not corruption, what else will be corruption? A photocopy to cost GH¢78 per paper, GH¢59.10 per paper, totaling GH¢68.5 million, what are we doing? And so, we in the Minority are taking strong exception to this, and we are saying that the Special Prosecutor must look into this matter” he added.

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The African Library Project has embarked on a book donation initiative aimed at providing educational resources to schools within the Krachi Nchumuru District.

The donation follows numerous reports by Adom News‘ Obrempongba Owusu of on educational challenges facing schools in the region which is affecting academic development of schools.

A total of 3,000 books were donated to three schools namely; St. Agnes Girls, Pentecost D/A Basic, and Chinderi D/A Basic.

The Regional Country Director for African Library Projects and CEO of Alms For All Foundation, Festus Okpora said the donation is expected significantly impact educational development in the area.

Mr Okpora explained the project aims to boost passion for learning and literacy among young learners.

Speaking after the donation, he pledged the organisation’s commitment to support educational initiatives in deprived communities, ensuring that all students have access to quality resources to enhance their academic journey.

He expressed confidence that through collaborative efforts and community support, they will create a positive impact on the lives of young learners and empower them to reach their full potential.

The Regional Country Director urged teachers and students to put the books to good use as the only academic work to be improved.

Receiving the books on behalf of the District Ghana Education Service (GES) Director, the DCE for Krachi Nchumuru, Nkrumah Ogile expressed gratitude to Adom News and African Library Project for their vision to transform the falling standard of education which will help improve academic performance.

He further assured the team that the books would be put to use to improve the Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) performance in the area.

On behalf of the students and school authorities, Rev. Father Norbet Okuledah of St Agnes Girls school pledged that they will make good use of the books to better their academic performance.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released the approved subjects for the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

GES has announced the subjects are to be registered under mandatory, elective and optional categories.  

This was contained in a statement dated March 1, 2024, issued by the Acting Director of Schools and Instructions Division, Prince C. Agyemang-Duah.

According to the statement, the mandatory subjects are English Language, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology and Creative Arts and Design.

Ghanaian languages are classified under the elective subjects with French, Arabic and Computing under the optional subjects.

All Regional Directors have since been directed to closely supervise the registration process, ensuring that candidates strictly register for the approved subjects.

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Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Dr. John Kumah, has demonstrated his commitment to community welfare by donating GH¢120,000 towards the repair of the boys’ dormitory at Ejisu Senior High Technical School.

The generous contribution aims to swiftly address the damage caused by a recent rainstorm, ensuring minimal disruption to teaching and learning activities.

Dr. Kumah reiterated his accessibility to constituents and institutions, pledging continued support as their representative in Parliament.

Expressing gratitude, the headmistress, Grace Asamani, commended Dr. Kumah’s dedication to supporting constituents and educational institutions.

Contractors have already commenced re-roofing the affected building, with interim arrangements made to provide alternative accommodation for students.

Dr. Kumah’s significant contribution underscores his dedication to enhancing the school and community.

Meanwhile, the headmistress has assured that academic activities will continue without interruption.

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The Technology Consultancy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology will soon create an avenue aimed at churning out innovative digital solutions.

The Director-General, Prof. Francis Davis says the digital technology and innovation hub will create the enabling environment to nurture creativity among the youth.

“Recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of engineers, TCC is embarking on a transformative initiative. We believe that making engineering attractive to the younger generation is key to building a sustainable future.

“In this light, TCC is creating a ‘maker space’, an innovation center focused on digital solutions. This center will serve as a dynamic hub where students can explore, experiment, and innovate in a collaborative and creative environment,” he explained.

Prof. Davis made this statement at an event to mark the World Engineering Day at the KNUST College of Engineering.

The World Engineering Day 2024 is under the theme: “Engineering solutions for a sustainable world”.

The event was in collaboration with the KNUST College of Engineering and the Ghana Institution of Engineering.

The event saw the participation of selected schools from the Ashanti region.

Ing. Yaa Obenewaa Okudzeto who represented the president of the Ghana Institution of Engineers stressed the Institutions focus on sustainable development.

“This demonstrates our commitment as an engineering institution to the concept of sustainability and to contribute to the provision of resilient infrastructure.

“This, we believe, it’s an indispensable foundation for achieving sustainable development,” she said.

Chief programme officer at the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Apollonius Asare assured of UNESCO’s resolve to create “supportive environment for young engineers through the various UNESCO fellowships in engineering”.  

He added: “We will continue to pursue UNESCO’s mission in Ghana by actively collaborating with stakeholders to promote STEM education, provide mentorship opportunities and celebrate the achievement of engineers, both established and emerging.”

The provost of the KNUST College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, was optimistic of a better world with engineers.

 “The world needs engineers who are not just problem solvers but problem preventers. We need engineers who are passionate, ethical and purpose driven to make a positive impact,” said Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei who spoke on his behalf.

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In a bid to foster Quranic knowledge and moral values among students, the Foundation of Tema West Islamic Schools has held the second edition of its Qur’an competition.

The event aimed at inspiring students to delve deeper into Islamic teachings, saw participants vying for cash prizes totaling over GH₵ 12,000.

Organized by dedicated individuals like Musah Mohammed, the competition showcased the commitment of students to memorize and recite Quranic verses.

Despite the Quran’s 114 chapters, participants impressed by memorizing nearly 30% of its contents.

To acknowledge their efforts, the foundation awarded prizes and certificates, totaling GH₵12,700 to the deserving winners.

The competition featured students from four schools: Baatsona Islamic School, Aasalam, Ibadur Rahman, and Nuurul Islamic, who were divided into five categories while 40 students participated this year.

Musah revealed that two additional schools are eager to join the competition next year.

Students and winners expressed their gratitude to their teachers, parents, and the organizers for the opportunity.

Mamuna Hamis Usif, one of the awardees, shared her joy, stating that the recognition would motivate her to deepen her Quranic knowledge.

Similarly, Khadija Mohammed Musah expressed her appreciation and aspirations for further improvement.

The event not only celebrates the students’ achievements but also highlights the importance of Quranic education in nurturing moral values and spiritual growth among the youth.

Through such initiatives, the Foundation of Tema West Islamic Schools is making significant strides in promoting Islamic teachings and fostering a sense of community among students.

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Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has advised that to alleviate pressure on government budget, all Free SHSs should adopt day schooling exclusively.

According to him, the entrenched legacy of Free SHS in the system should transform a day school system rather than a boarding school system.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on March 4, he emphasised that no advanced country implements free secondary education with a boarding system.

“Tell me which advanced country has a free secondary education which comes with boarding with all fees and everything paid…the public schools are all day. Have not seen the old style boardination when government takes all the responsibility it is in enormous” he added

Mr. Terkper emphasised the advantages of Free SHS but recommended adopting a day system for students to ease the pressure on the government, considering the extensive responsibilities in education.

He said free SHS is a legacy, therefore it is important maintaining it, suggesting the government could have made boarding students pay to share responsibilities and ease the burden on the government.

The former Finance Minister emphasizes that with education being extensive, expecting the government to bear the entire responsibility of free SHS might not be beneficial for Ghana’s economy, especially considering its low-income status.

“Even the advanced countries do it through a day school system,” he said.

Background

Joy News sources have confirmed an acute shortage of food items in many Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.

For months, parents, teachers, and stakeholders have raised concerns about the alleged shortcomings of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, specifically regarding the provision of three daily hot meals to SHS students free of charge.

After over seven years of policy implementation, President Akufo-Addo during the 2024 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, February 27, emphasised the transformative impact of the Free SHS policy.

He called for an end to arguments against the policy, stating that its success should be acknowledged, and efforts should focus on improving it.

“Mr Speaker, Free SHS might be labelled by its detractors as a mere political slogan that must be demonised, but it is, in fact, a transformative programme that has broken myths and liberated minds.

“I am proud that the NPP government, under my leadership, has been able to bring this transformative policy into our education system.

“Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it.”

However, fresh details uncovered by Joy News suggest serious defects that could undermine the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy.

The headmaster of Sokode Secondary Technical School (SOCTECH), Isaac Kofi Dzidzienyo has appealed to government to assist the school with infrastructure to help improve teaching and learning in the school.

According to him, the lack of classroom blocks, laboratories and ICT gadgets is negatively affecting the academic activities in the school.

He said due to the lack of classroom blocks, they have converted the school’s dining hall into a classroom that houses over 600 students.

Mr. Dzidzienyo made this call during a visit to the school by Adom News correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job.

The headmaster, therefore, seized the opportunity to appeal to the government, NGOs, individuals, stakeholders, and other benevolent organizations to come to the aid of the school by supporting them with computers and other laboratory equipment to help teaching and learning.

Thirty-six schools will slug it out for the coveted trophy and bragging rights as the best primary school in the Ashanti region, as Luv FM launches the fifth edition of the Primary Schools Quiz. 

 The journey to finding the next champion for the competition has begun with a launch and balloting of contestants at the KNUST campus.

Including defending champions, Divine Mission Academy and two other finalists from last year’s edition, the schools will compete in groups of three. 

In the upcoming six weeks, these 36 primary schools in the Ashanti Region will compete in a series of knowledge-based challenges across various subjects, captivating audiences with their brilliance.

All the 36 schools participated in the launch and balloting of the Luv FM Primary Schools Quiz in Kumasi on March 1.

Speaking at the event, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, William Kwame Amankrah, lauded the Luv FM’s effort to expose learners to modern skills at early age.

“When quality education is nurtured well, it leads to a transformation that every country strives to achieve. What we are going to launch today fits into the 21st-century goals in education. It will provide learners with the necessary prerequisite knowledge to navigate the global world,” he said.

 Isaac Antwi, Relationships Manager at the Kumasi Business Unit of The Multimedia Group, encouraged contestants to remain resilient in the competition and give of their best shots.

“In the coming weeks, the contesting pupils are expected to treat our listeners and audience to an exciting and intellectually stimulating show of prowess in competing. We expect nothing but the best from the schools that have made it this far,” he said.

Rules of the competition were spelt out to ensure, fairness and smooth running.

Remarkably, fresh entry schools in the competition are coming with the vigor of putting up a resound performance.

“We will win. We have come so far to get here. If we don’t win I won’t be happy. At least we will get to the semi-finals,” said a pupil of Joy Standard School.

“We have trained, learned and released so we can win. And God is with us,” a pupil of Moldgold school said.

From Monday, 4th March, the Luv FM Primary Schools Quiz which will be airing on the Joy Learning Channel on MultiTv, Luv FM and other social media platforms.

Stakeholders in the Yendi Municipality are asking government to model the Northern College of Science and Technology’s School Farming System to ensure students have a steady supply of nutritious meals when school is in session.

The Northern College of Science and Technology has over the past six years grown its own food to feed students.

The school farming system is a concept where schools use the school backyard as a classroom, where practical agriculture lessons are taught.

Authorities at the school say this has also inculcated in the students a spirit of self help and independence, virtues needed to survive in the world.

Though this concept has been widely accepted as one way to develop the interest of Ghanaians in agriculture, the concept was scrapped out of the school curriculum.

Principal of the Northern College of Science and Technology, Nathaniel Adams Jnr highlighted the nutritional benefits of the initiative.

“Since we started the farming, we’ve produced cereals, rice, maize, and more. Everything we feed on is from our farm.” The school also raises poultry, including chickens for eggs, contributing to the students’ daily nutrition.

“The school has been practicing the farm system for the past six years and that has reduced the cost of feeding the children. Since we started the farming, we’ve produced cereals, rice, maize. Everything we feed on is from our farm. We also farm cat fish, guinea flows, turkey for meat. Our children eat an egg a day from the poultry we rear. So we rear these birds who lay eggs and the eggs are given to the children “.

Students are made to work on the farm in batches, to ensure they take responsibility of the produce and what they eat.

One of the team leads, Baku Mushina said “we are here to water the plants and to feed the animals. We always divide ourselves into groups so that some can feed the fishes, some can water the plants and the other ground feed the animals.

She added, “we learn new things and we learn hard so that wherever we find ourselves after here we can use the knowledge”.

Yendi Municipal Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Abubakari Mohamed said the school was adjudged the best in Agriculture education.
He commends Authorities for this move.

“I don’t know what informed the decision to remove the concept from the basic level. In the past when you follow your father to the farm during weekend, you tell him this is what our Agric Master taught us and they will implement it and it worked. I am sure if we had continued, our level won’t be where we are now’

The Kuga Naa who gave the school acres of land wants other Chiefs to emulate this and release lands for such projects.

“We started with two acres but today they have 36 acres of land the school is using. I want to encourage chiefs who have land to allocate to schools to develop their agriculture component”.

The Kuga Naa emphasised “agriculture is the backbone of the country and when much effort is put in place it will ensure food security “.

A rainstorm on Saturday, March 2, 2024, wreaked havoc at Ejisu Senior High Technical School, displacing numerous students.

The downpour ripped off the roof boys dormitory block of the school.

Following the incident, over 150 affected students sought refuge in classrooms, having been caught off guard while in the dining hall. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or casualties.

The relentless downpour not only damaged the dormitory but also destroyed teaching and learning materials, including the school’s storeroom containing textbooks and other essential items.

Additionally, about seven classrooms were adversely affected by the storm.

Responding swiftly, authorities provided temporary accommodation for the displaced students, while engineers and officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) assessed the extent of the damage.

Ejisu Municipal Assembly’s Municipal Chief Executive, Samuel Oduro Frimpong, accompanied by the Education Director, visited the school and assured of prompt intervention.

Moreover, the storm also caused damage at the Ejisu Experimental and Krapa Basic Schools, compounding the challenges faced by the educational institutions in the area.

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The Ministry of Education (MoE) has debunked reports of food shortage in the various senior high schools (SHSs) nationwide.

The Ministry has said that students are being fed well and are satisfied with the quality and quantity of food they are given.

This is in reaction to an upcoming JoyNews’ upcoming documentary ‘Empty Plates’ which highlighted acute food shortage in SHSs.

About 10 regions including the Northern, Ashanti and Oti regions were covered.

A press release signed by the PRO, Kwesi Kwarteng, explained they embarked on a monitoring exercise to gain a fair understanding of the issues raised so as to address them appropriately if found to be valid.

However, from their tour of the various SHSs, it is evident that no food shortage has been recorded.

“Schools visited and reports from other schools indicated the maintenance of an adequate stock of food in their storage facilities. There is prompt and up-to-date payment of funds allocated for the purchase of perishable food items to all schools.

“Feedback from heads of schools and students indicates overall satisfaction with the quality and quantity of food being served,” the statement read in parts.

Meanwhile, the Ministry says it is open to addressing any issue of food shortage in any school if brought to its attention.

It has further reassured parents, students, and the general public of its “unwavering commitment to providing adequate, high-quality, and timely food supplies to ensure an enhanced free and quality Senior High School program.”

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Below is the statement:

Thirty-six schools will slug it out for the coveted trophy and bragging rights as the best primary school in the Ashanti region, as Luv FM launches the fifth edition of the Primary Schools Quiz.

 The journey to finding the next champion for the competition has begun with the launch and balloting of contestants at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST) campus.

Including defending champions, Divine Mission Academy and two other finalists from last year’s edition, the schools will compete in groups of three. 

For the next six weeks, these 36 primary schools in the Ashanti Region will compete in a series of knowledge-based challenges across various subjects, captivating audiences with their brilliance.

All 36 schools participated in the launch and balloting of the Luv FM Primary Schools Quiz in Kumasi on March 1.

Speaking at the event, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, William Kwame Amankrah, lauded Luv FM’s effort to expose learners to modern skills at an early age.

“When quality education is nurtured well, it leads to a transformation that every country strives to achieve. What we are going to launch today fits into the 21st-century goals in education. It will provide learners with the necessary prerequisite knowledge to navigate the global world,” he said.

 Relationships Manager at the Kumasi Business Unit of The Multimedia Group, Isaac Antwi encouraged contestants to remain resilient in the competition and give their best.

“In the coming weeks, the contesting pupils are expected to treat our listeners and audience to an exciting and intellectually-stimulating show of prowess. We expect nothing but the best from the schools that have made it this far,” he said.

Rules of the competition were spelt out to ensure fairness and smooth running.

Remarkably, fresh entry schools in the competition are coming with the vigor of putting up a resounding performance.

“We will win. We have come so far to get here. If we don’t win I won’t be happy. At least we will get to the semi-finals,” said a pupil of Joy Standard School.

 “We have trained, learned, and rehearsed so we can win. And God is with us,” a pupil of Moldgold School said.

The Luv FM Primary Schools Quiz will be airing on the Joy Learning Channel on MultiTv, Luv FM and other social media platform from Monday, March 4.

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About 250 students of Ejisu Senior High Technical School in the Ashanti region have been displaced following a rainstorm.

The downpour ripped off the roof of the oldest dormitory block of the school.

According to available information, part of the roof landed on high-tension cables around the school and the school’s main gate.

Additionally, the Krapa M/A JHS and Ejisu Experimental Schools had their roofs also ripped off.

The school authorities told JoyNews correspondent, Ohemeng Tawiah that the students are currently seeking shelter in a warehouse.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that contrary to reports that Ghanaian languages would no longer be included in final year exams, every student would indeed be required to write the selected Ghanaian language being studied at school.

This indicates that, the writing of Ghanaian language at the Junior High School level remains compulsory.

During his speech at the 67th Independence Day President’s Awards ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre to honour 46 BECE students who excelled in the previous year’s exams, President Akufo-Addo clarified that students taking the BECE this year would include a Ghanaian Language as part of their elective subjects.

He said stakeholders in the education sector had discussed the matter and agreed that Ghanaian languages should continue to be part of the BECE examination.

The President urged the awardees to set high goals and aspire to be great leaders in the future, emphasizing that his own presidency was made possible by the education he received.

The Independence Day President’s Awards is an event dedicated to recognizing BECE students who achieved outstanding results despite attending schools in deprived areas.

Previously, the awards only honoured students from public schools, but this year, 10 students from private schools among the recipients.

Also, two visually impaired students and two students with hearing impairments were also honoured for their exceptional performances.

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Tears as late Aburi Girls SHS student is laid to rest [Video]

First-year Aburi Girls Senior High School (SHS) student, Stacey Okyere, who tragically passed away after a short illness, has been laid to rest.

The 16-year-old student was buried at the Ablekuma cemetery.

An autopsy report released on Monday, February 26, 2024, disclosed that Stacy Okyere’s cause of death was Cerebrospinal Meningitis.

Today, Saturday, March 2, 2024, a burial service was held in her memory at the family house in Ablekuma, Accra.

In a tribute read by the parents, they described Stacy Okyere as a very loving child.

“From the day you came into our lives, you brought an abundance of joy and warmth. Your laughter filled our home, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Ohemaa, my girlfriend, you were a beacon of light, a source of endless pride and happiness.”

In a tribute by Aburi Girls’ SHS, it read: “In the classroom, Stacy Okyere was not only diligent and eager to learn, but she also inspired her peers with her curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Her presence was a source of joy, and she brought a sense of camaraderie and unity to our school community.”

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JoyNews sources have confirmed an acute shortage of food items in many Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country.

For months, parents, teachers, and stakeholders have raised concerns about the alleged shortcomings of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, specifically regarding the provision of three daily hot meals to SHS students free of charge.

After over seven years of policy implementation, President Akufo-Addo during the 2024 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, February 27, emphasised the transformative impact of the Free SHS policy.

He called for an end to arguments against the policy, stating that its success should be acknowledged, and efforts should focus on improving it.

“Mr Speaker, Free SHS might be labelled by its detractors as a mere political slogan that must be demonised, but it is, in fact, a transformative programme that has broken myths and liberated minds.

“I am proud that the NPP government, under my leadership, has been able to bring this transformative policy into our education system. Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it.”

However, fresh details uncovered by JoyNews suggest serious defects that could undermine the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy.

The investigative documentary, “Empty Plates,” produced by investigative journalist Kwetey Nartey, presents evidence of an acute shortage of food items in many senior high schools nationwide.

JoyNews’ Channel Manager, Kwaku Owusu Peprah, explained that the decision to commission an independent inquiry into the quantity of food served to the students and create the documentary was driven by public interest journalism.

He said that the Joy Newsroom had received complaints from parents and individuals about the quantity of food available to students.

“We were not going to take that at face value, so we sent people into the schools to verify, and what we verified and saw is what we have put out. This is just a promo, and we were moved by the core principles of journalism, which is to do what is in the interest of the public,” he stated.

Addressing the comprehensive scope of the investigation and its accurate depiction of the acute shortage of food in senior high schools nationwide, Mr Peprah said that the team visited two schools and conducted thorough investigations.

“These are schools from the Northern part of the country to Oti region to Ashanti region – we covered about 10 regions in this documentary and per every research sample size for a country that has 16 regions, this is a good work,” he said.

Speaking on what motivated the work at JoyNews and if there was any political affiliation to it, the Channel Manager said “We do journalism, we don’t do politics.

“Let’s leave politics to the politicians and let them decorate it how they want, but we have just put pictures and sounds to the things that affect all of us,” emphasising that the intention was to present information that affects everyone, devoid of political biases.

Mr Peprah added that the newsroom will publish the full documentary to allow for informed responses from the public.

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A former Director-General and Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Prof Stephen Adei, has added his voice to the countless calls by stakeholders for the Free Senior High School(SHS) policy to be reviewed.

According to him, although the policy has served the nation and enabled underprivileged individuals to access second-cycle education, it is time for the policy to be reviewed so it can bring out the best in individuals.

Speaking on Joy News’ AM show on February 29, Professor Adei mentioned that President Akufo-Addo should not delay this review until another political party assumes power but should initiate it promptly.

“In any case, one of the studies that has been done shows that even for free SHS, for every one cedi the government spends on a student in the secondary schools, the parents spend about three cedis.

“So, these are the realities we must look at. The government has done its best. I think we should not reverse it, but how can we improve it?” he said.

Professor Adei proposed that the government must focus on establishing quality day schools instead of boarding schools.

He suggested that while boarding schools should not be entirely eliminated, parents should bear the cost of boarding while the government provides scholarships to underprivileged students.

“So that it is not only the rich that goes to boarding, there are ways we can treat the free SHS now that he has opened the way,”he said.

The Free SHS policy, which is the flagship programme of the New Patriotic Party administration under President Akufo-Addo, has remained a major talking point since its inception in September 2017.

While many have welcomed the policy for removing the financial impediment that made it impossible for children from poor homes to attain secondary education, others believe it has not been properly implemented.

There have been challenges with inadequate infrastructure in many senior schools, leading to the double-track system. Parents have expressed concern about the inadequate food given to their wards, as well as the struggles school heads face in running the schools due to the government’s ban on some additional charges as a result of the policy.

For the critics of the policy, the belief is that the programme has reduced the quality of education at the SHS level, a claim the governing party has downplayed on the basis that the SHS candidates churned out since the policy came into being, have emerged with better pass rate.

The NDC’s 2024 flagbearer and former President John Mahama has repeatedly stated that his party will review the policy to ensure that quality education is not affected at that level.

But the NPP and President Akufo-Addo have interpreted that to mean policy cancellation should the NDC return to power. Following the president’s call for an improved Free SHS during his last State of the Nation address, many have pointed out that the President is now making a U-turn to agree with the NDC’s call for a review.

“Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it,” the President stated.

But speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday after the president’s address, the NPP’s Director of Communication, Richard Ahiagba, said Mr Mahama’s call for a review and the president’s call for policy improvement is not the same.

“On the Free SHS, I think we need to also make the point that the NDC has never in principle been for the Free SHS. They have in principle been in support of the progressive; which is different from Free SHS, so that point must be made.

“And also the point must be made that there is a difference between the review the NDC promises and the improvement the President is talking about. They are not the same. Their review will aim at cancelling Free SHS in the form we have it,” Mr Ahiagbah argued.

Improvement will not do that. Improvement is to enhance and continue to invest in the Free SHS to ensure that it actually addresses the cost barrier which is its primary objective, and to ensure that access is given to people like myself and people who come from my background to be able to access education. That’s the value of the improvement the President is talking about” he explained.

When he was asked about the improvement plan, Mr Ahiagbah further explained “The plan fundamentally will be to intensify investment and ensure that we build a considerable amount of infrastructure by continuing to invest in that, invest in teacher training, and now we see there’s expansion with TVET [Technical and vocational education and training] which is also being included in the Free SHS component to ensure that we are expanding opportunities to our young people to access education.”

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The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has emphasised the importance of private schools as partners with the government in providing quality education for Ghanaian children.

Speaking at the launch of the 2024 annual week celebration of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools, Mr Mahama applauded the significant contributions of private schools to the educational sector over the years.

He described them as trailblazers and pacesetters introducing new teaching techniques and procedures into the system. The former president cited the Montessori curriculum as an example, which he said was first introduced by private schools before some public schools replicated the methods to boost teaching and learning.

Mr Mahama, who is leading the NDC to the December presidential and parliamentary elections, further stated that private schools are more effective in handling special children because of their teacher-to-pupil ratio.

He explained that, public schools have high numbers, making it challenging for teachers to attend to all children, especially those with special needs. Private schools, he noted, are therefore crucial to the education sector.

Mr Mahama assured the association of private schools that an NDC government would prioritise education and bring together all stakeholders in the industry to review the entire education structure from the basic to the tertiary level.

He stated that his government will from 2025 invest heavily in basic education to ensure a strong foundation for the education sector.

Regarding secondary education, the NDC leader promised to include private secondary schools in the free SHS programme, as many of them have the necessary infrastructure and human resources to support the programme.

Mr Mahama referred to a recent Edu-Watch report highlighting the burden still shared by parents and the government at the secondary education level, with parents still bearing about 77% of the cost of educating their children despite implementing the free SHS policy.

The Vice President and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has inaugurated a digital repository for Wesley Girls Senior High School, established in memory of his late mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia, an alumna of the school in 1960.

The digital repository, furnished with modern technological equipment, is a system that has digitized records of the school, encompassing data of past and present students and staff. Utilizing a unique access code, former students, current students, and staff will have access to confidential personal information or general school data.

During the commissioning of the digital repository, Dr. Bawumia expressed gratitude for the initiative undertaken by the Wesley Girls High School 1960 year group, who visited him to offer condolences following the passing of his mother in 2021.

“I was deeply moved a few weeks after her demise to receive a delegation of Old Girls who called on me to console me over the painful loss. Among the delegation were some of my mother’s schoolmates, led by Mrs. Nancy Thompson (a distinguished past Headmistress of this esteemed institution) and Nana Kyeiwaa II,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He further explained, “On the 1st anniversary of her passing, I had the honor to be approached by the Old Girls’ Association on behalf of the school, to assist with the establishment of a digital repository for the school.

“For a school with a history of over 187 years, I considered this a highly significant project, and I was delighted to support it with a sum of GHS 300,000.00. This contribution was utilized to capture records of staff and students and convert them into digital content.”

Dr. Bawumia expressed satisfaction at the inauguration and emphasized its considerable benefits to the school. “A digital repository of this nature will facilitate easy retrieval of vital school, staff, and student records,” he remarked. “Given the expanding size of an institution like Wesley Girls’ High School, this repository will prove to be a valuable asset, ensuring students receive their transcripts promptly to meet tight deadlines for academic or professional applications.”

“I am optimistic that in addition to academic and administrative records, the repository’s capacity will be expanded to preserve historic documents, continuing to narrate the story of the great Wey Gey Hey. A narrative that remains unfinished and intricately linked to the history of the nation and the history of Methodism in Ghana.”

The Vice President urged other educational institutions to follow Wesley Girls’ example. He reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing digital initiatives in schools to prepare young Ghanaians for the 4th Industrial Revolution, emphasizing that providing free Wi-Fi to schools and the forthcoming distribution of laptops to each SHS student would significantly aid in this preparation.

In appreciation of his generosity to the school, the 1960-year group, on behalf of the Old Students Association, made a presentation to Dr. Bawumia.

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The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of double standards in the ongoing debate over the review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy.

The NPP has consistently rejected calls for a review of the free SHS programme introduced in 2017.

Speaking at the Ghana National Association of Private Schools week launch under the theme, “2024 Elections: The Private Education Manifesto” on Wednesday, Mr. Mahama criticized the NPP government for promising to review and rationalize the policy in a document submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yet presenting a different narrative to Ghanaians.

Mahama pointed out the contradiction in the NPP government’s stance, highlighting that they promised to review and rationalize the policy in a document submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He emphasized that the NPP presented a different narrative to Ghanaians than what was outlined in their agreement with the IMF.

“There’s hypocrisy in this thing about review. If you look at the IMF agreement that this government has signed with IMF, under point 47 page 76. This Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government signed an agreement with the IMF in January 2024. And they say that in the educational sector, we will review and rationalize the free SHS. These are their words, not my words.”

“And so when you hear all this politics about my understanding of the review means to abolish, in their own words they are using review. Sometimes you must watch our politics.  I encourage all of you to get the Eduwatch report and read it, and it’s about, especially the free SHS. It says that between 2021 to date, over 196,000 children did not take up their place in the free SHS. Even though they were posted and qualified, they didn’t go. We need to find out why they didn’t go.

“The report says that the total amount of money the government has spent on free SHS, comes to about 5.8 billion Cedis. The proportion of the parents is about 77% to the government’s share of about 23%. That is why we must do a review.”

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A free Senior High School (SHS) graduate whose parents were unable to further her education has resorted to selling packaged sugarcane on the streets of Accra to raise money for her education.

19-year old Abigail Abrokwah, a native of Awhiaso in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region who completed Dompoase Senior High School some few years back, is currently hustling in Accra hoping to raise funds to live her dream.

According to Abigail, when her unemployed single mother told her she could not further her education due to financial challenges, she nearly became fed up in life as frustration set in at a time her friends were already in universities pursuing their various programmes.

Deeply reflecting on what to do next, one of her aunties who is a bulk sugarcane dealer in Accra invited her to join young ladies selling packaged sugarcane at traffic light intersections.

Myjoyonline caught up with Abigail and a host of young ladies at Kaneshie packaging their stuff to go to the Abossey Okai spare parts market.

Abigal has some of the Abossey Okai shop owners as her customers but her challenge has been those who fail to pay for bulk orders.   

Though sales have not always been great as Abigail anticipates, she fears raising the required funds for her planned nursing training may take too long.

She is thus hoping that someone will hear about her story and come through for her.

Abigail, who is the eldest daughter of her mother said her father died when she was young.

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In a collaborative effort between the 3rd-year students of the Department of Architecture at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Governs Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for the Adaklu constituency, a comprehensive 10-day survey has been successfully concluded in the area.

The survey aimed to gather data on infrastructure, socioeconomic factors, cultural aspects, pedestrian experiences, and ecology within the district.

Led by Dr Alexander Marful, the team embarked on this endeavour to uncover the unique challenges and potentials of Adaklu, with the ultimate goal of devising sustainable solutions.

Dr Marful highlighted the importance of understanding the issues faced by the community and utilizing nature-based solutions to address them.

During the survey, Dr Marful highlighted the inadequate accessible roads in Adaklu, pointing out that this significantly hampers transportation within the region.

Additionally, he identified malaria and respiratory tract infection as the predominant health concerns, underscoring the need for improved healthcare initiatives.

He also urged the residents of Adaklu to actively manage their waste disposal practices to mitigate environmental hazards.

Togbe Agbobada, the Sub-Chief of Adaklu Anfoe, expressed his support for the students’ efforts, assuring them of the community’s commitment to facilitating the implementation of their findings.

Reflecting on their experiences, some of the participating students shared insights gained during the intensive 10-day survey.

Their observations and interactions with the community members have provided invaluable firsthand perspectives that will inform their future endeavors in architectural design and planning.

As the students return to campus to analyze the gathered data and formulate actionable solutions, their efforts hold the promise of fostering positive change and sustainable development in Adaklu and beyond.

Over 600 parents stormed the office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Sunyani in the Bono region to demand the release of their children’s results.

WAEC has withheld the results of some candidates for last year’s WASSCE over alleged examination malpractices.

At a meeting with the parents of the affected students, the examination body said the only option left is for their wards to rewrite the papers.

This decision by WAEC infuriated the parents who have invested heavily in their children’s education.

The parents maintained that, their wards cannot be blame hence will not allow them to rewrite any paper.

Spokesperson for the parents, Mr. Agyemang Prempeh in an interview on Adom News said the children have done nothing wrong to warrant such punishment.

Rather, he said invigilators employed by WAEC should blame themselves for failing to supervise the students when they were writing the exams.

Mr. Prempeh added that, the innocent children cannot be punished for the negligence of these officers.

The aggrieved parents therefore called on government to intervene because the mates of the affected children are already in tertiary institutions.

Meanwhile, attempts by Adom News to get a reaction from WAEC officials in the region proved futile.

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As part of activities to mark International Mother Language Day, the La Municipal Office of the NCCE in collaboration with UNESCO, Ghana Book Development Council, and the La Municipal Education Directorate (LaDMEO) organized a reading festival in the Ga language at the La Enobal Junior High School (JHS)

The day is celebrated on the 21st of February each year and has also been approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

This seeks to promote multilingual education in the mother tongue and is seen as a tool to cause social and inclusive transformation among the youth.

The Municipal Director of the NCCE in La, Emmanuel Mettle in his welcome address observed with grave concern the inability of the English Language to bridge the literacy gap and was thus imperative to formulate policies for the inclusion of Ghanaian Languages to promote better understanding in teaching and learning.

Mr. Torgbor Squire who served as a resource person for the program took the children through the forms of greeting in Ga as well as the brief history of the various traditional Ga towns.

He led the pupils to read a book captioned ‘Nileegbe 6”.

During the reading session, he explained certain keywords in the story and also urged them to make conscious efforts to observe punctuation when reading.

Mr Squire implored the students to always express themselves in their mother language since it was a reflection and sustenance of Ghana’s culture.

The program was held under the theme “Multilingual Education Is A Pillar of Intergenerational Learning”

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe wants boarding schools to be abolished.

He said Ghana should shift away from boarding schools towards a more localized, community-based education.

Franklin Cudjoe further called for boarding schools to be abolished.

“We should abolish boarding schools in Ghana. It’s outdated; instead, we should transition towards localized schools. In the UK, students attend schools within their vicinity, leading to concentrated efforts to develop and ensure quality education in the area. Banning boarding schools is the only way we can develop community-based schools” he said on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Wednesday.

The IMANI boss reiterated his call for a comprehensive review on the free Senior High Schools (SHS) policy.

“The condition of our Senior High Schools is bad. Students are living like refugees in our boarding schools. Therefore, a total review of the free SHS system is necessary” he added.

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The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his recent call to review the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy during his State of the Nation Address.

They believe that this is a necessary step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the policy.

The GNECC has been a strong advocate for accessible and quality education for all Ghanaians, and we recognize the significant impact the Free SHS policy has had on increasing enrollment rates and reducing the financial burden on families.

However, we also acknowledge that there have been challenges in implementing the policy, including issues with infrastructure, resources, and quality.

We welcome President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to addressing these challenges and his recognition of the need for a comprehensive review of the policy. We believe that this review will provide an opportunity to identify areas where improvements can be made and to ensure that the policy is aligned with the needs and aspirations of all Ghanaians.

The GNECC calls on all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, civil society organizations, and policymakers, to engage constructively in this review process. We must work together to find solutions that will ensure that every Ghanaian child has access to quality education that will enable them to reach their full potential.

We urge the government to prioritize investments in education infrastructure, teacher training, and learning materials to address the challenges faced by schools under the Free SHS policy. We also encourage the government to consider alternative funding sources and partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability of the policy.

The GNECC remains committed to working with all stakeholders to promote accessible and quality education for all Ghanaians. We believe that through collaboration and dialogue, we can build a stronger and more inclusive education system that will benefit generations to come.

The Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has stated that President Akufo-Addo’s call for an improvement in the Free Senior High School(SHS) policy is far different from the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) call for a review.

The Free SHS policy, which is the flagship programme of the New Patriotic Party administration under President Akufo-Addo, has remained a major talking point since its inception in September 2017.

While many have welcomed the policy for removing the financial impediment that made it impossible for children from poor homes to attain secondary education, others believe it has not been properly implemented.

There have been challenges with inadequate infrastructure in many senior schools, leading to the double-track system. Parents have expressed concern about the inadequate food given to their wards, as well as the struggles school heads face in running the schools due to the government’s ban on some additional charges as a result of the policy.

For the critics of the policy, the belief is that the programme has reduced the quality of education at the SHS level, a claim the governing party has downplayed on the basis that the SHS candidates churned out since the policy came into being, have emerged with better pass rate.

The NDC’s 2024 flagbearer and former President John Mahama has repeatedly stated that his party will review the policy to ensure that quality education is not affected at that level.

But the NPP and President Akufo-Addo have interpreted that to mean policy cancellation should the NDC return to power. Following the president’s call for an improved Free SHS during his last State of the Nation address, many have pointed out that the President is now making a U-turn to agree with the NDC’s call for a review.

“Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it,” the President stated.

But speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday after the president’s address, the NPP’s Director of Communication, Richard Ahiagba, said Mr Mahama’s call for a review and the president’s call for policy improvement is not the same.

“On the Free SHS, I think we need to also make the point that the NDC has never in principle been for the Free SHS. They have in principle been in support of the progressive; which is different from Free SHS, so that point must be made.

“And also the point must be made that there is a difference between the review the NDC promises and the improvement the President is talking about. They are not the same. Their review will aim at cancelling Free SHS in the form we have it,” Mr Ahiagbah argued.

Improvement will not do that. Improvement is to enhance and continue to invest in the Free SHS to ensure that it actually addresses the cost barrier which is its primary objective, and to ensure that access is given to people like myself and people who come from my background to be able to access education. That’s the value of the improvement the President is talking about” he explained.

When he was asked about the improvement plan, Mr Ahiagbah further explained “The plan fundamentally will be to intensify investment and ensure that we build a considerable amount of infrastructure by continuing to invest in that, invest in teacher training, and now we see there’s expansion with TVET [Technical and vocational education and training] which is also being included in the Free SHS component to ensure that we are expanding opportunities to our young people to access education.”

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Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Girls Education Initiative of Ghana (GEIG) is joyfully celebrating a decade of impact and transformation in society.

The initiative seeks to provide financial and academic support to girls and applicants with special needs to access higher education and professional opportunities in life.

GEIG was birthed through the resilience of its Executive Director, Elizabeth Akua Nyarko Patterson, to pursue higher education after a near-fatal accident.

Since its inception ten years ago, GEIG has touched the lives of over 20,000 people with several young girls supported through basic school to tertiary.

GEIG has also offered 150 mentorship and leadership workshops for students with about 45,000 community participants alongside professional development internship and service learning opportunities.

Through networking, the NGO has facilitated over 200 employment opportunities for community participants of its professional advancement masterclass.

In a statement, GEIG expressed appreciation to generous individuals and corporate institutions who believed and invested in its dream and vision.

On 22nd March 2024 at the ISSER Auditorium, University of Ghana, a conference themed “Sankofa “will be held to climax the milestone.

Sankofa according to GEIG reflects how it values its humble beginnings, an acknowledgement of the robust processes that have brought us this far.

It is a celebration of the NGO’s past and a salute to the invaluable partners who have been with them in varying ways.

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President Akufo-Addo says 17,340 out-of-school children have been reintegrated into mainstream formal schools through the Ghana Education Outcomes Project (GEOP).

“The goal of GEOP is to provide educational support to seventy-two thousand (72,000) out-of-school children, helping them access complementary education and transition into formal schools,” he explained.

The President said this during his presentation of the 2024 State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

President Akufo-Addo said the project formed part of Government’s comprehensive reforms within the education sector to improve learning outcomes and ensure every child was equipped with literacy and numeracy skills.

“This programme has worked so well and won the GOVTECH PRIZE award in February 2024, at the World Government Summit held in Dubai,” he added.

The President said the Government had also increased investment in infrastructure for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education at the pre-tertiary level. 

He said the construction of 10 STEM Schools and 10 STEM Centres had commenced across the country, with seven STEM Model Schools operationalised.

The schools, he noted, had been equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, dormitories, assembly halls, dining halls and conducive environments to enhance teaching and learning. 

The Ministry of Education is set to reintegrate 70,000 out-of-school children in schools through the Ghana Education Outcomes Project together with development partners and service providers.

The GEOP is an additional funding project under the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project designed to train, reintegrate and retain out-of-school children in schools.

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Parents have been advised to stop choosing career paths for their children, as this makes the children abandon their innate potential.

The Manager of Kete-Krachi Cluster, Ivan Aboagye, said education is about empowering children to dream, to aspire, and to realize their full potential.

According to him, World Vision Ghana has discovered that young people end up getting frustrated in life therefore, it is better to guide children into doing things that will make them happy in life.

The Cluster Manager believes just because a particular career runs in a family doesn’t mean that every child should follow that path.

Instead, he urged parents to identify their childrens interests and talents and support them in developing those areas.

Speaking at a Career Day and Reading Festival for primary schools in the Kuakua community in the Krachi West municipality, the Cluster Manager emphasized the need for parents to instill in children the importance of exploring their interests, discovering their passions, and envisioning their future.

The participating schools were Kpatchu M/A primary school, Twereso M/A basic, Dadekro M/A Gyaesayor, and Kuakua M/A primary with them Building a strong foundation for Children’s Career Awareness”.

He said World Vision recognizes that every child is unique, with their talents, strengths, and aspirations therefore it is a collective responsibility to nurture individual qualities and guide children towards fulfilling and meaningful careers.

The Manager encouraged parents to explore different fields of interest by providing their children with the tools and resources that they will need to succeed.

Also at the program, the Krachi West Municipal Education Directorate, Osei-Bonsu said the essence of the counseling program is to enlighten the school children on what they are expected to know to venture into into certain professions.

He added that, the orientation to be acquainted with the necessary qualities they need to have before venturing into any given profession will also guide them in the subjects they take in school.

The educational HR, who decried scenarios where parents chose career for their children, noted that this is a wrong move, as it forces children to abandon their innate potential.

President Akufo-Addo has said the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School policy has silenced critics.

According to him, not only has the implementation of the policy been successful, but it remains a transformative programme which has unearthed talents who may have ended their formal education at the BECE level.

Addressing the nation on Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo said “Mr Speaker, Free SHS might be labelled by its detractors as a mere political slogan that must be demonised, but it is, in fact, a transformative programme that has broken myths and liberated minds. I am proud that the NPP government, under my leadership, has been able to bring this transformative policy into our education system.”

“Mr Speaker, I believe the success of the Free SHS has answered its critics and the arguments about it should cease, and we should simply concentrate on finding ways to improve it,” he stated.

The President said that aside from implementing the policy, he is thankful that people’s fears that Free SHS would lower standards in schools have been allayed following the release of the 2023 WASSCE results.

“I know we will get more engineers, doctors, architects, scientists, writers and poets out of the increased numbers of those attending Senior High School, who will go on to further their education,” he indicated.

President Akufo-Addo added that even for students who unfortunately after SHS are unbale to continue schooling, they remain educated with increased self-confidence and are a value for the workforce. “That, alone, makes Free SHS worthwhile,” he noted.

The Education Project Officer at Kete-Krachi Cluster of World Vision Ghana in the Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to enforce the implementation of the Local Languages Policy in schools.

This, he said is to promote teaching and learning of the mother tongue to make education meaningful to learners.

Mr Brako Sasu noted that, World Vision Ghana is concerned about the diminishing Ghanaian languages both in writing and in speech and several measures have been put in place by distributing materials in local languages to schools to promote efficiency in education.

He said culture significantly manifests in the language speaking of a people, therefore it is imperative to promote the writing and speaking of the mother tongue to entrench the Ghanaian culture.

Speaking at an event to promote multilingualism in Ghana, the Project Officer urged the government to enhance training programs at colleges and universities to equip educators with proficiency in diverse local languages.

He believes that, the creation of written documents by the government and GES of the local languages will help preserve the rich vocabulary and linguistic heritage for future generations.

Mr. Sasu urged the government to expand the availability of educational resources by developing a broader range of books and materials in local languages to facilitate greater access to learning opportunities for students.

The debate was Organized by World Vision Ghana in collaboration with the Karachi GES directorate between Karachi SHS and Kaakye Technical Institute to promote the noble cause of preserving multilingualism and linguistic heritage.

For his part, the Chief Inspector of Schools in the Krachi West Educational Directorate, Eric Kofi Ofori encouraged parents and guardians to communicate with their children in the mother language to ensure familiarity and proficiency.

He said education would become meaningful to learners when the local language is used as the number one medium for instruction at all educational levels.

Aside the language issue, Mr. Ofori also appealed for adequate classrooms for local languages studies.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has called for a review of the policy to allow parents who can afford it to pay their children’s fees and other expenses.

The Association believes this will ease some of the government’s burden.

The follows a report Africa Education Watch that says the average government expenditure on Senior High School (SHS) students between the 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years.

According to the study, government spending per student under the Free SHS policy was GH¢1,241, while parents spent GH¢4,185 per year within the period.

This highlighted the government’s challenges with the policy, as its budget credibility rate declined continuously between the 2019/20 and 2021/22 academic years.

Based on this backdrop, NAGRAT is certain a review will ease the burden on parents.

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Pre-tertiary teacher unions in the country yesterday launched a document containing their demands for incorporation in the manifestos of political parties.

The unions are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-Ghana).

The 13-page document titled: “Demands to the Political Parties on Education Delivery in Ghana for their Consideration into their Election 2024 Manifestos”, was jointly signed by the General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, the President of NAGRAT, Eric Carbonu, and the President of CCT-GH, King Awudu Ali.

Thematic areas

The demands of the teachers were classified into five thematic areas for the consideration of the political parties that would contest this year’s general election.

They are: Teacher Unions’ View of Quality Education, School Environment, Free SHS/TVET Policy, Teacher Factor and Teacher Deployment.

The unions said they regarded education as the bedrock of societal and national development since it is the vehicle through which societies and nations provide their people with knowledge, job skills and cultural values to grow economically and for prosperity.

It said the general thinking among Ghanaians was that the type of education relevant and required for the country had so far been, and continued to be elusive; hence parents, civil society and politicians, among others, continued to raise concerns over the quality of education delivery in contemporary Ghana.

“Further, the teacher unions and educational workers are neither considered nor involved in the formulation of educational policies which, in many instances, result in poor learning outcomes,” it said in the abstract.

The unions indicated that it was in the light of those issues that GNAT, NAGRAT and CCT-GH, as major stakeholders in quality public education delivery in Ghana, “put forward this document as our views on quality pre-tertiary education delivery in Ghana to the political parties for consideration and incorporation into their manifestos, noting that 2024 is an election year, and the political parties would come up with manifestos on all aspects of the Ghanaian life, including education.”

Unions’ view

On the first thematic area, it said the teacher unions’ view of quality education was that which equipped learners with knowledge, skills and values with which to face the future with ease and confidence and that education should be enquiry-based and adequately public funded to address the needs of the nation.

The priority areas, it said, should be curriculum reform with relevance and inclusiveness and that there should be continuous improvement in the teacher education curriculum to align with modern trends in education and industry, with emphasis on learner-centred pedagogy as proposed by the 2019 Ghana Education Service – National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, with continued in-service training for practising teachers to be abreast of the contemporary delivery strategies and trends.

“Consequently, the unions demanded the use of the First Language (LI) as the medium of instruction, from Kindergarten One to Basic Three, as the key driver to effective teaching and learning,” it said.

On the school environment, it called for the relevant textbooks, workbooks, teaching and learning resources to be timeously supplied in their right quantities and number to engender smooth and effective teaching and learning in schools.

It stressed the need for the prompt release of the capitation grant, more funding for schools with high overhead costs, depoliticisation of the school feeding programme and “provision of free sanitary pads for female learners in the basic schools.”

Free SHS Policy

On the free SHS/TVET policy, the unions called for the review of the programme to enable it to achieve its anticipated results.

They said it should be depoliticised and made a national initiative within the parameters of Article 25 (1) (b) of the 1992 Constitution and that the policy should be supervised by the education directorate and not the Free SHS Secretariat.

With regard to the teacher factor, the unions said the collective agreements for teachers should be fully implemented and conditions of service be improved to attract and retain them and that a scheme of service manual should be provided as a framework to facilitate and guide recruitment, placement, development, career progression and improvement of job performance of teachers.

They also called for the provision of congenial work environments to enable teachers to ply their trade effectively and efficiently; teacher motivation be improved to entice teachers to where they are needed most and be useful, and that allowances for teachers serving in deprived areas be implemented and allowances be paid to attract and retain teachers in specialised subject areas.

On teacher deployment, the unions demanded that teacher deployment be done to match the needs of schools, and (to) ensure equity in teacher supply across the country; manpower audit of education offices and schools be conducted periodically, with emphasis on schools in urban areas, to regulate the number of teachers working in the offices, and excess staff deployed to the classrooms.

They suggested that teachers should be distributed equitably to the urban and rural areas to address the urban-rural inequality in teacher distribution; and called for the use of transfer (reposting) as a means of coercing school heads, union leaders, classroom teachers, and employees who engaged in genuine professional discourse into quietude and submission to cease forthwith.

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A New York City medical school will offer students free tuition following a $1bn donation from the 93-year-old widow of a major Wall Street investor.

The gift to Albert Einstein College of Medicine came from Dr Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at the Bronx school.

It is one of the largest ever donations made to a US school and is the largest ever made to a medical school.

The Bronx, New York City’s poorest borough, is ranked as the unhealthiest of New York’s 62 counties.

In a statement, university dean Dr Yaron Yomer said that the “transformational” gift “radically revolutionises our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it”.

Tuition at the school is nearly $59,000 each year, leaving students with substantial debt.

The statement from Einstein noted students in their final year will be reimbursed for their spring 2024 tuition, and from August, all students, including those who are currently enrolled, will receive free tuition.

The donation “will free up and lift our students, enabling them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be prohibitive”, Dr Yomer added.

Dr Gottesman, now 93, began working at the school in 1968. She studied learning disabilities, ran literacy programmes and developed widely used screening and evaluation protocols.

Her late husband, David Gottesman, founded a prominent investment house and was an early investor in Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet’s multinational conglomerate. He died in September 2022 at the age of 96.

Dr Gottesman said in a statement that the doctors who train at Einstein go on to “provide the finest healthcare to communities here in the Bronx and all over the world”.

“I am very thankful to my late husband, Sandy, for leaving these funds in my care, and l feel blessed to be given the great privilege of making this gift to such a worthy cause,” she added.

About 50% of Einstein’s first-year students are from New York, and approximately 60% are women. Statistics published by the school show that about 48% of its medical students are white, while 29% are Asian, 11% are Hispanic and 5% are black.

In an interview with the New York Times, she recalled that her late husband had left her a “whole portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock” when he died with the instructions to “do whatever you think is right with it”.

“I wanted to fund students at Einstein so that they would receive free tuition,” Dr Gottesman said she immediately realised. “There was enough money to do that in perpetuity.”

She added that she occasionally wonders what her husband would have thought of the donation.

“I hope he’s smiling and not frowning,” she said. “He gave me the opportunity to do this, and I think he would be happy – I hope so.”

The Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has revealed that the government’s flagship programme, the free senior high school (Free SHS) policy, has benefited over 5.7 million Ghanaian students since its inception in September 2017.

According to the education think tank, the significant increase in enrollment in secondary schools from 813,448 in the 2016/17 academic year to 1.3 million in the 2022/23 academic year can be attributed to the introduction of the Free SHS policy.

Eduwatch reported that during the first six years of the policy, an average of 422,940 students were enrolled annually, compared to an average of 260,490 annual enrolments in the six years preceding the policy.

“About 5.7 million students have so far benefited from the free SHS policy from the 2017/18 to 2022/23 academic year. Between the 2019/20 and 2022/23 academic years, 194,862 candidates did not honour their admissions at first instance into second cycle schools,” the report, titled Financial Burden Analysis of the Free SHS Policy and Equitable Access, said.

In terms of government expenditure, the report indicated that between the 2017/23 and 2023/24 academic years, a total of GH¢12.88 billion was allocated to the Free SHS policy, with an average annual allocation of GH¢1.84 billion.

“Budget credibility has been on a continuous decline since 2018/19. Financial Burden Analysis of the free SHS Policy and Implications on Equitable Access academic year – from 120 percent in the 2017/18 academic year to 99 percent in the 2018/19 academic year, 76 percent in 2019/20, and 58 percent in 2020/21. In 2021/22, the lowest rate of 51 percent of approved funds was spent,” an excerpt of the report added.

Eduwatch recommended to the Ministry of Education (MoE) that in the short term, the focus of the free SHS policy should be directed towards addressing the needs of students from the most economically disadvantaged households.

They proposed leveraging data from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme as a starting point for this initiative.

Below is the full report

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Education think tank, Africa Education Watch, has called on the government to reconsider its Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

It suggested that, parents who choose to enroll their children in boarding facilities should bear the associated costs.

In a report titled: ‘Financial Burden Analysis of the Free SHS Policy and Implications on Equitable Access,’ EduWatch proposed that free boarding secondary education be specifically designated for students in marginalized communities.

The study, conducted by Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) in collaboration with Oxfam under the DANIDA Strategic Partnership II Project, said allowing parents to contribute financially would enable the government to generate additional revenue to support the Free SHS program.

“In the medium-to-long-term, the MoE must develop and implement a strategy to gradually transition Ghana’s secondary education system from the current boarding-as-a-norm to day-as-norm. Free boarding secondary education should be reserved strategically for students in underserved communities where there is no reasonable commutable access to a secondary school. However, parents, who in spite of an opportunity for their wards to be day students for free, still decide to opt for boarding status must pay for its full cost.”

Additionally, the study recommended that the government improve the distribution of funds allocated for the Free SHS program to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.

“The MoF must improve the disbursement of funds under the free SHS policy. The timely availability of funds (especially at the school level) to procure. items that were previously ‘smuggled’ into prospectus, is critical to sustain compliance with the current moderate, harmonised prospectus. This will also improve the availability of adequate foodstuffs and other Teaching and Learning Resources in schools to reduce the financial burden on some parents to supply provisions to their wards in school” he added.

The Sokode Secondary Technical School (SOSTECH), in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region has been hit by acute water shortage which is affecting teaching and learning.

The students have reportedly resorting to ablution before going to school. Those who want to bath have to walk long distances in search of water.

Speaking in an interview with Adom News correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job, some students expressed their frustration.

They said they have to walk long distances for water, return tired and get to classrooms very late.

The situation, the students said is affecting their sleep and learning in class.

“We have been experiencing a water crisis and this is adversely affecting our academic activities” they bemoaned.

They appealed to the government, NGOs and individuals to come to their aid to end the water crises.

The students made this appeal when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate who doubles as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ho, Divine R.K Bosson visited the school as part of the water for all project drills, a mechanized borehole initiative.

In an interview on Adom News, the headmaster of the school, Isaac Kofi Dzidzienyo also expressed the trauma the students go through in search of water.

He thank the MCE for the kind gesture and also appeal to individuals and benevolent organizations to come to their aid.

Mr. Bosson assured his commitment to address the acute water shortage in the school.

The University of Ghana has amended its academic integrity framework, particularly in its approach to plagiarism.

A notice signed by the registrar, Emelia Agyei Mensah and dated February 26, 2024, revealed that the University Council and the Academic Board have greenlit a series of crucial updates, with a primary focus on combating plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

The revised policy, approved following recommendations by the Business and Executive Committee, reflects the institution’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethics in academic endeavours.

Renamed the “Policy on Plagiarism and Other Academic Misconduct,” the document delineates clear definitions of academic misconduct while outlining measures aimed at prevention and appropriate sanctions.

A notable addition to the revamped policy is the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic work and research.

Acknowledging the widespread availability of AI and related software/tools for academic assistance, the University underscores the imperative of originality in scholarly pursuits.

As such, any employment of AI or associated technologies that compromises the authenticity of academic output will be deemed unacceptable, in line with the overarching ethos of academic integrity.

The new document, however, is yet to be made public.

This strategic integration of AI into the plagiarism policy signals the University’s proactive stance in addressing contemporary challenges in academic ethics.

By leveraging technological advancements while emphasizing the paramount importance of original thought and independent scholarship, the University of Ghana aims to foster a culture of academic excellence and integrity among its faculty, staff, and students.

The move reflects a forward-looking approach to navigating the evolving landscape of academic research and underscores the institution’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of scholarly pursuits.

With the revised policy now in effect, stakeholders within the University community are poised to embrace these changes as part of a concerted effort to safeguard academic integrity and promote a culture of intellectual honesty.

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the examination dates for the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

In a letter dated February 5, 2024 copied to Adomonline.com, the exam schedules are as follows:

July 8 – 12, 2024 for BECE (SC)

July 1 – August 31, 2024 for WASSCE (SC)

GES indicated that, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will provide detailed information regarding the registration of candidates for the examinations to the heads of the schools in the coming weeks.

Regional Directors of Education were instructed to disseminate this vital information to the Metro/District/Municipal Directors of Education for onward communication to all heads of Basic and Senior High Schools.

Read full letter:

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The Dean of the University of Cape Coast Business School, Professor John Gatsi wants the government to be blamed for the increasing unemployment in the country and not the universities.

According to him, universities play their part by taking students through rigorous training to become employable as well as entrepreneurs, but the growth rate of the economy does not create a friendly environment for hiring and establishing businesses.

Speaking to Joy Business on the sidelines of the partnership between PMI-Ghana and UCC Business School in Cape Coast, Professor Gatsi pointed out that the country’s growth rate over the years has come with little job creation.

“The growth in the economy has been described as a jobless growth. The growth is not responsive to the need for employment of people. That’s beyond the university”.

“The university is tasked to equip people and get them fit for the job market”, he added.

President of the Project Management Institute, Frank Owusu Asamoah, however, argued that there are numerous job opportunities but it has only become difficult for seekers to grab those opportunities because they are not deliberate about their profession.

“The fact that there is unemployment does not mean there are no job opportunities. Project management trains people to develop their own ideas into viable businesses.”

Mr Asamoah further urged the youth to join organised institutions or associations to provide them leverage in the job market.

The main focus of PMI Ghana is to awaken professionals to respect and observe the professional code of ethics.

The MOU signed with the UCC Business School will therefore focus on mentorship, guidance and pitching students to industries.

Hosting a structured Arabic language quiz competition in Islamic schools at Old Tafo in the Ashanti region has left students excited for future opportunities, with winners celebrating their victory and others motivated to improve for next year’s event.

Badriya (Ibadiya) Islamic School emerged winner in an Arabic language quiz organized by the Islamic Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, scoring 74 points.

Following closely behind, Salafiya Islamic School secured second place with 71 points.

At the same time, Al-Azhariya Islamic School and Darul Faizin Islamic School claimed third and fourth place respectively, with scores of 67 and 65 points, among 8 competing Islamic schools in the inaugural edition of the quiz.

Participants from the winning schools received undisclosed cash prizes and other rewards as incentives for future competitions. Additionally, all participating schools were given certificates.

The competition, an initiative of the Old Tafo Municipal Directorate of Ghana Education Service, seeks to improve students’ proficiency in the Arabic language, thereby equipping them with valuable skills for future endeavours.

By focusing on listening and speaking abilities, the quiz seeks to enhance students’ competency in Arabic, recognizing its importance as a global language.

Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Rahman Abdullai Tanko, one of the key coordinators of the competition, explained that the quiz assessed students’ comprehension and proficiency in various aspects of the Arabic language.

Questions covered pronunciation, grammar, reading, writing, and overall language knowledge.

“The focus was on constructing accurate sentences in Arabic,” Sheikh Dr. Tanko stated, highlighting that students were tasked with questions designed to gauge their ability to do so effectively.

In addition to Sheikh Dr. Tanko’s remarks, his colleague Sheikh Abdul-Razak Bawa Aransa commended the teachers from various schools for their dedication to preparing students for such a competitive event.

He emphasized that the quiz and other initiatives would be ongoing to ensure students remain proficient in the Arabic language within and beyond the school curriculum.

Betty Drah, the Municipal Director of Education for Old Tafo, underscored the significance of the quiz in light of the new curriculum, which now includes examinations in the Arabic language.

She highlighted that the aim was to enhance students’ motivation and attract non-Arabic students to learn the language due to its global recognition. “To inspire students, we decided to organize the quiz so they can take the language seriously,” she explained.

Yussif Mohammed, the Manager of the Ashanti Region Islamic Education Unit, expressed enthusiasm for the competition, noting that it fosters healthy competition and collaboration among students while boosting their confidence levels.

He pledged that the unit would sustain this momentum to encourage students to speak Arabic more confidently and participate actively.

The participants showed enthusiasm and vowed to perform better in the next competition, aiming to uphold the honour of their respective schools.

A number of distressed private tertiary institutions will be forced to shut down after failing to meet certain key requirement, the acting Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof Ahmed Jinapor has said.

He explained that, per the GTEC Act, 2023, all private tertiary institutions were to Charter or demonstrate evidence towards attaining the same by August 31, 2024, before they stay in business.

Prof Jinapor said this at the opening of the 9^th Association of West African Universities Conference being held in Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital.

The three-day conference being attended by academics from universities across the West African Sub-region is on the theme, “Promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration and technology.”

Prof Jinapor indicated that the country had 310 tertiary education institutions in the database of GTEC and out of the number, 128 were private tertiary institutions.

The Commission, he said, had received 77 applications from private universities with 43 ready to charter, 21 readiness to do so within two years and some in distress conditions, and being recommended to shut down.

He, therefore, called on all stakeholders within the private tertiary education sector to take the exercise seriously since non-adherent institutions would be forced to close upon the window of expiration as captured in the law.

According to Prof Jinapor, accreditation was a basic requirement for quality assurance and it guaranteed adherence to the tenets, norms and practices.

The Commission, he said, had the belief that, collaboration, regional integration and technology could be properly situated within the spectrum of quality tertiary education.

The current leadership of GTEC, he explained, was to determine in positioning tertiary education delivery in the country as a game changer in the foreign resource mobilization in the Ghanaian economy within the shortest possible time.

Promoting tertiary education in the West African sub-region, he said, required a concerted efforts from all stakeholders and added that the programme was an excellent addition in the realization of the objective.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong, underscored the critical role of quality higher education to the development of countries.

He indicated collaboration and strategic networking were not only imperative but crucial in a fast-pace world, saying, “The world has become a global village with increasing globalization, no individual or institution can achieve things alone”.

He called on universities in the sub-region to strengthen their regional bonds, saying, “The bonds that hold us together rather than the ones that divide us”.

The time for integration in the continent, he said, was crucial because the time had come for Africa to put its destiny into its own hands and move away from the “dependency syndrome” of relying on foreign support.

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The acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah has urged newly admitted students to embrace a spirit of curiosity and creativity at the university’s 2nd Matriculation Ceremony held on Friday, 23rd of February at the South Legon campus of the University.

The ceremony combined physical presence with virtual participation in a colourful event that exemplified the university’s growth agenda.

Under the distinguished leadership of Prof. Opoku Mensah, the matriculation ceremony served as a beacon of inspiration for both incoming students and the wider UniMAC community, with a resounding call on the fresh students to seek support, collaborate, and endeavour to chart a path that brings positive change to society.

Prof. Opoku Mensah’s stirring address underscored the university’s dedication to fostering a dynamic learning environment.

The ceremony saw a select group of students gathered in person to be officially welcomed to the university. Meanwhile, a diverse array of participants comprising newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students joined the event virtually, leveraging technology to bridge geographical barriers and ensure maximum accessibility.

In an encouragement to the students, Prof. Opoku Mensah emphasized the importance of curiosity as a driving force for intellectual growth and discovery. He encouraged students to cultivate a mindset of creativity, harnessing their innovative potential to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of media, arts, and communication.

Additionally, Prof. Opoku Mensah underscored the transformative power of collaboration and networking, urging students to leverage their diverse perspectives and talents within the UniMAC community to effect positive social change.

The dual-format matriculation ceremony exemplified UniMAC’s commitment to adaptability and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges.

By seamlessly integrating physical and virtual elements, the event provided an inclusive platform for students to be officially ushered into the UniMAC community and forge connections with their peers, faculty, and the wider university community.

Reflecting on the ceremony’s success, Prof. Opoku Mensah expressed his gratitude to all participants for their unwavering support and enthusiasm. He reiterated UniMAC’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, great student experience, and student success, pledging to continue creating an environment where students can thrive and realize their fullest potential.

As UniMAC looks towards the future, the 2nd matriculation ceremony is a testament to the university’s enduring legacy of excellence and its steadfast dedication to shaping the next generation of media, arts, and communication professionals.

UniMAC is a merger between the former Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), the Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) and the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).

Prof Priscilla K. Mante, the wife of renowned musician Linford Kennedy Amankwaa, popularly known as Ko-Jo Cue, has achieved a significant milestone in her academic career by being promoted to the esteemed position of Associate Professor of Pharmacology.

As a senior lecturer at the esteemed Department of Pharmacology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Mante brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role.

Her academic journey includes the attainment of a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree, as well as a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, both obtained from KNUST.

Prof Mante’s research is highly regarded within the field, with a primary focus on investigating isolated medicinal compounds for their efficacy against resistant epilepsy.

Her groundbreaking work delves into the intricate mechanisms of voltage-gated sodium channel activity of natural products, utilizing advanced techniques such as animal disease models and whole-cell patch clamp methodologies.

Through her pioneering research, Dr. Mante seeks to uncover novel therapeutic options for epilepsy, depression, and anxiety, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of medical science.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Mante is a registered Pharmacist and an active member of various prestigious professional bodies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Ghana Young Academy, and the International Society of Neurochemistry.

She also holds the distinction of being a founding member of the esteemed Ghana Neuroscience Society.

Dr. Priscilla K. Mante’s promotion to the esteemed position of Associate Professor of Pharmacology is a testament to her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of pharmacology.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has refuted claims circulating about the Junior High School (JHS) leavers being examined on 8 compulsory subjects.

Reports had suggested that JHS leavers would have to write 8 compulsory subjects as part of the Common Core Programme (CCP) Curriculum and the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled for July 2024.

In a statement, NaCCA clarified, “There have been widespread rumors that JHS leavers would be tested on eight (8) compulsory subjects (Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English Language, Creative Arts, Computing, Career Technology, and RME). Additionally, learners were purportedly given the choice of selecting one additional optional subject (Ghanaian Language, French, and Arabic). NaCCA wants to make it clear that such information is incorrect.”

Furthermore, NaCCA debunked assertions regarding optional subjects within the CCP Curriculum.

“It’s essential to emphasize that there are no optional subjects within the CCP Curriculum. Concerning Ghanaian Language subjects, schools are to pick any of the Ghanaian Languages based on their capacity, and learners will be examined on these languages during the BECE. This policy remains unchanged. Therefore, suggestions that the CCP introduces optional subjects for the BECE are inaccurate.”

NaCCA urged parents, teachers, and learners to rely on official sources such as the Ministry of Education or its website and social media platforms for accurate information.

“We urge parents, teachers, learners, and the public to seek information from official sources like the Ministry of Education, or our website and social media channels for precise and up-to-date details regarding the CCP and other educational policies.”

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Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) District Chief Executive for Adansi South District of Ashanti, Benjamin Anhwere, has commended the Akufo-Addo administration for its foresight in constructing dormitories and ensuring the functionality of E-Blocks.

The E-Block SHS schools, established nationwide, were initially constructed as day schools without dormitories.

However, in the case of Adansi Apagya E-Block schools, the Akufo-Addo administration has taken steps to construct boys and girls dormitories.

With the completion of these dormitories, the school has now been opened, allowing students to commence their academic activities.

In view of this, Mr Anhwere praised government for not letting the E-Block infrastructure go to waste and urged future leaderships to continue such initiatives.

Benjamin Anhwere expressed his appreciation in an interview with Adom News correspondent, Isaac K. Normanyo, stating that Akufo-Addo’s leadership sets a positive example for other heads of state to follow.

He spoke on the importance of completing projects initiated by previous administrations, regardless of political affiliations.

Also, Former MP for New Edubiase, George Oduro, who played a key role in the construction of the dormitory blocks, highlighted the significance of establishing Adansi Apagya as another boarding school in the district.

He applauded the former DCE for acknowledging the present administration’s efforts and emphasized the government’s commitment to utilizing funds allocated for the E-BLOCK project effectively.

The Oti Secondary Technical School is experiencing water crisis, which has compelled hundreds of the boarding students to roam nearby neighbourhoods in search of water.

The Ghana News Agency reports spotting a good number of students with receptacles roaming in search of water during lesson hours.

Some students (names withheld), expressed their frustration to the GNA, saying “We have been experiencing water crisis since school resumed and this is adversely affecting our academic activities.

“By the time we get to our classrooms, we are already tired, and we cannot even concentrate, so we sleep in class” a student lamented.

They appealed to the government, the Krachi East Municipal Assembly, and individuals to come to their aid to end the water crisis.

Mr Bernard Aborkugya Mensah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has assured students of his commitment to resolve the acute water shortage as soon as possible.

He said that his engineers were working tirelessly to find a lasting solution to that challenge.

The MCE assured the students and people to restore supplies.

According to GNA, the school had been battling water shortage for a long time and the unbearable situation is having an adverse effect on effective teaching and learning as students spent contact hours searching for water.

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers has announced plans to stage a protest on March 4, 2024, outside the Ministry of Education.

Their decision follows what they see as persistent neglect from the ministry, particularly in awarding contracts and clearing outstanding debts amounting to over GH¢100 million.

The Association is frustrated by the government’s failure to fulfill payments for supplied uniforms, house dresses, and other essential items to numerous senior high schools over the past two academic years.

During a media briefing, spokesperson Emmanuel Ayibor reiterated the group’s resolve to exhaust all available options until their concerns are addressed.

“We, as an association, have had extensive engagement with the government on these challenges that we have actually cited, but unfortunately, as we speak, the government has not given us a response yet, and we don’t know when they are paying us.”

“The price quota is low for us, as we have indicated in our press conference, and we are also asking the government to reconsider giving the supply of PE kits and uniforms and stationery back to the schools. So, we are by this stating that if the government does not listen to us, we are going to picket on March 4 at the Ministry of Education, and we have notified the police.”

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