Former Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, shared that he would have been thrilled if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had chosen him as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate for the 2024 elections.
In an interview with Asaasepa Radio, the Bosomtwe MP expressed his deep desire to serve both his party and the country in such a high position. However, he emphasized that he is in no hurry and will let God guide his political path.
“What I know is that God has His plans for man. When the time is up, nobody can stop what God has caused to happen. But I will not rush ahead of God; I will allow Him to do as He wishes. Whatever He asks me to do, I will obey. God’s time is the best. I have said that I would have been very happy if I was selected as the running mate.”
Many political analysts saw Dr. Osei Adutwum as a strong contender to be Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate for the 2024 elections under the then-ruling NPP.
"I would have been very happy if they had given me the running mate position." – Former Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum pic.twitter.com/MJkI2PJ0qH
He was widely respected for his hard work, calm nature, and broad appeal across different political groups in Ghana.
However, the party ultimately chose the former Energy Minister and Manhyia South MP as the running mate instead.
In the end, the NPP faced a heavy and humiliating loss in the 2024 elections, winning only 88 out of 275 parliamentary seats.
About 2024 elections
President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was declared the winner after securing 56.55% of the votes. His main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP, received 41.61%.
The election saw a voter turnout of approximately 60.9%, and the process was largely peaceful, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among governments and education authorities to tackle the shared challenges in African education.
He stressed that the administrative and managerial hurdles in education are prevalent across the continent and require a unified approach for effective resolution.
Dr. Adutwum highlighted the potential of a pan-African strategy in overcoming barriers hindering efficient teaching, learning, and research.
During a meeting with Tony Mwaba Kazadi, the Minister for Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Accra, Dr. Adutwum affirmed Ghana’s commitment to ensuring universal access to education, emphasizing the importance of quality, innovation, and technological advancement.
Mr. Kazadi, leading a Congolese government delegation on a fact-finding mission to Ghana, commended Ghana’s efforts in education reform and expressed interest in learning from Ghana’s experiences.
He particularly praised Ghana’s initiatives such as the school feeding program and free education in high schools, which have inspired similar endeavors in Congo DR. Mr. Kazadi highlighted the importance of technology integration in education and cited Ghana’s Smart Schools Project as a source of inspiration for Congo DR’s educational development.
Acknowledging the shared challenges faced by African nations, Mr. Kazadi emphasized the value of learning from successful practices implemented by counterparts on the continent.
“We are in Ghana for a noble reason; Ghana inspires us in the DRC with your school feeding programme. Our President has decided to introduce same in our country to keep our students in school. Our President and Prime Minister have also decided to introduce free education in high schools and because Ghana is already implementing same, we decided to come here to learn the lessons”, he told the press.
During their visit to Ghana, Mr. Kazadi and his delegation will tour educational institutions and ICT infrastructure, engaging with stakeholders in the education sector.
“The quality of education we give to our children today has to be relevant to tomorrow’s technological advancements. That is why our government asked us to come to Ghana to learn about the technology solutions you are deploying in your schools and universities to make teaching and learning top-notch, like the Ghana Smart Schools Project being executed by a company called K A Technology.”
“We have realized that the challenges are the same; therefore, the solutions can be the same. We must not sit in our different countries looking for solutions when we could explore what has worked for our counterparts on the continent,” he said.
They visited Accra Girls and Achimota Schools, where they interacted with students benefiting from initiatives like the One-Student-One-Tablet program initiated by President Akufo-Addo.
Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has appointed a 22-year-old medical doctor who graduated from the Cape Coast University in 2023 as an ambassador for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country.
Dr Adutwum announced this during a courtesy call by Dr Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi and his parents in Accra. He stated that the young doctor would be supported to visit pre-tertiary institutions nationwide to motivate students by sharing his personal academic journey and experiences.
Commending Dr. Gyamfi for his dedication to his studies, Dr Adutwum emphasized the importance of his story as a source of inspiration for youth across the country. He also praised Dr Gyamfi’s parents for their support in his educational journey.
Dr. Gyamfi expressed gratitude for the warm reception and pledged to collaborate with the ministry to inspire younger students to excel academically. He also committed to contributing to quality healthcare delivery in the nation.
Background information provided revealed Dr. Gyamfi’s educational journey, starting from his early years at Danem Royal Montessori School through his secondary education at Prempeh College Senior High. He successfully gained admission to the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, where he completed his medical training and graduated as the Overall Best Graduating Student in Surgery.
Dr. Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi’s remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the potential within the nation’s education sector and its impact on individual success. His appointment as a STEM ambassador signifies the government’s commitment to fostering excellence and inspiring future generations of students in Ghana.
Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has extended his condolences to the management of Aburi Girls Senior High School (SHS) and the family of the student who tragically passed away.
After a visit to the school last Friday, Dr Adutwum took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his sorrow over the incident.
“I express my deepest condolences to Aburi Girls Senior High School and the family of the student who tragically passed away.
“This loss is truly heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event,” he wrote.
The first-year student, Stacy Okyere, tragically passed away on Sunday, February 4, after complaining of stomach pains.
The school authorities have faced criticism amid allegations that Stacy was denied medical attention by the school nurse, who accused her of repeatedly feigning illness.
In response to the incident, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding Stacy’s death.
Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has rejected accusations of government negligence towards Senior High School facilities.
Speaking at the Pentecost Prayer Center, he highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the completion of E-Blocks, initiated by the previous administration.
, “I don’t understand the issue of abandonment. There may be some E-blocks that we’ve not opened. If you put an E-block, as I’ve always said in the middle of the city, in Accra or Kumasi, it’s a great investment. But if you put them nowhere, in a jungle somewhere, if you don’t add dormitories, you can’t open them. So what we have done is to add dormitory blocks so that we can operationalize the E-blocks.”
The surge in enrollment due to the Free Senior High School policy has created a demand for increased infrastructure, exemplified by the furniture shortage at Ejisuman Senior High School in the Ashanti Region, as reported by the headmistress, Cassandra Osei Owusu Antobre.
Acknowledging the issue, Dr. Adutwum assured students that steps would be taken to address the furniture shortage. He refuted neglect claims, emphasizing the government’s active efforts in upgrading and completing Community Day Senior High Schools nationwide.
Responding to concerns about unopened E-blocks, Dr. Adutwum clarified, “I don’t understand the issue of abandonment.” He explained the need for dormitory blocks to accompany E-blocks, ensuring functionality.
In an engagement with students at Bosomtwi Stem Senior High School, the Minister encouraged self-belief and a strong work ethic. He also urged parents to prioritize their children’s education.
Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has publicly affirmed his preparedness to stand as the running mate for NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming 2024 elections. This declaration marks a noteworthy development in the political landscape, as Dr. Adutwum expresses his willingness to take on a crucial role in the party’s leadership for the upcoming electoral contest.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, January 9, the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe confirmed his readiness to offer his services to Ghana whenever the need arises.
“I am here to serve my nation, in any capacity I find myself I will serve this nation,” Dr Adutwum said.
The quest for Dr. Bawumia’s running mate in the forthcoming general elections has brought forward prominent figures, with notable names such as Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh and Suame MP Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in the spotlight.
n a departure from the NPP’s usual practice, the party granted Dr. Bawumia additional time to select his running mate in December last year.
The party’s National Council, having the authority to make exceptions to party rules, agreed to waive the requirement that the vice presidential candidate be chosen one year before elections.
This decision provides Dr. Bawumia with an extended timeframe to carefully consider his options and select the most suitable candidate for his running mate.
Deputy Director of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), Patrick Apea-Danquah, has called for substantiation of former President John Dramani Mahama’s remarks casting doubt on the credibility of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
Challenging the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum‘s assertion that the current year’s WASSCE results mark the best performance since 2015, former President Mahama disputes the claim, citing concerns over purportedly lenient invigilation and teacher assistance.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Apeah-Danquah asserted the need for John Mahama to back his claims with evidence.
“What the former president said might be quite unfortunate, but if he has any evidence to prove that, then we can have a discussion. You can’t just say that a lot of students passed and, as a result, it is not appropriate, or it doesn’t reflect the true performance. We know the free SHS has its issues, but if you make such an allegation, you should back it with evidence, so if he has got a piece of evidence, I think that should come up. But if he hasn’t, then we have to move on,” he said.
During his country tour, Mr. Mahama discredited the examination results, pointing to malpractices and students conniving with teachers to cheat.
The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has also challenged Mr. Mahama to provide evidence.
“The information the former President has will help all of us to resolve the matter,” he said on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme.
Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has conceded that the school placement process for first-year senior high school students encountered challenges. However, he highlighted that this year’s edition achieved the highest enrollment figures in the country.
He revealed that the Education Ministry successfully facilitated the placement of 95% of the 2023 Junior High School graduates into different senior high schools across the country.
Speaking before members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi, Dr Adutwum disclosed that 81% of students were automatically assigned to their chosen schools, while the remaining 19% relied on self-placement.
The meeting was to give an account of his achievement as the Minister of Education at the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs General Meeting.
In attendance were the members of the Kumasi Traditional Council, members of the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Asantehene himself.
The Education minister, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, stressed that enrollment this year has become the highest recorded since the introduction of the placement system.
The minister used the occasion to address several issues concerning education including the challenges with the 2023 SHS placement.
On his part, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II admonished chiefs to inspect the educational infrastructure and its progress in their communities.
He also commended the Minister of Education on his achievements so far.
The Minister of education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has called out Africans to wake up and fully embrace the fast growing digital age.
For him, Africans should stay away from discussing AI dangers because AI has not been appreciated thoroughly enough to think of the jeopardy it may incur.
Delivering his keynote address at the 2nd National Digital & Distance Learning Conference on Monday August 14, 2024 on the theme: “A call on Multi-Stakeholder coordination and action for equitable access to digital and distance learning,” the minister made these remarks.
“We are in the 4th industrial revolution. The world is changing. Africa’s place in the world is going to be defined by how we respond to the current era we live in. The erra of the first revolution passed us by.
“Electricity came, we didn’t catch it. Then computers started with main frame computers, big ones. Now computers are on our phones, we didn’t catch it much. We are in the fourth revolution. The merger between the biological and physical. You can enter your home by just looking into some mirror and facial recognition software will allow you to do many things.”
He said he chanced on a discussion by the international media addressing some of the dangers of Artificial intelligence but that was when he told himself, “we have not even gotten there to talk about dangers.”
The member of parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency in the Ashanti Region further highlighted the Sub-Saharan Africa Africa’s poor tertiary enrolment ratio as compared to other countries he did not specifically mention.
“When you look at the Gross tertiary enrolment ratio of Sub-Saharan Africa Africa, 7%. Different countries have changed their fortunes by incresing their Gross tertiary enrolment tratio from 40 to 50 to 60% and some are at 90%,” he expressed.
Inspite of Mr. Adutsum’s concerns, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been transforming education in recent years.
This increasing significance of AI has garnered the interest of numerous scholars actively exploring diverse methods to incorporate various AI tools within the classroom environment.
With the increasing availability of data and the growing sophistication of machine learning algorithms, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we learn, teach and assess student progress in their educational endeavors.
Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, has appealed to the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to reconsider its plan to resume their strike action, following government’s failure to implement the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated conditions of service.
The Minister has urged CETAG to pursue dialogue rather than strike, citing potential Academic Calendar disruption.
In January 2023, CETAG embarked on an indefinite strike action after the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) protracted negotiations for new conditions of service for more than a year.
The strike was however called off following interventions by the National Labour Commission.
A compulsory arbitral order birthed a new condition of service for CETAG agreed by government.
However, in a press release dated Monday, July 10, 2023, CETAG demonstrated that the agreed negotiations between the two parties have not been implemented despite several letters of notice to the Ministry of Finance.
“Following the NLC’s compulsory Arbitral Award, the parties proceeded to sign off the negotiation agreement, which has been communicated to the Ministry of Finance by the FWSC since May 26, 2023, for approval and implementation.
Surprisingly, the MoF has refused to act on FWSC’s letter together with the NLC’s Arbitral ORDERS in spite of letters to the MoF requesting immediate implementation of the negotiated agreements. Practically, CETAG members cannot continue to survive on expired 2020 CoS in this biting economy of Ghana,” the statement read.
CETAG, therefore, said it will be forced to lay down tools by end of July if government fails to honour its part of the negotiation.
Additionally, it will not continue with the all-year-round academic calendar for 2023/2024 year.
However, the Minister of Education has appealed to CETAG in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Yayara Dzakadzi, Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry during the 13th congregation by SDA College of Education in Koforidua.
“Mr. Chairman I wish to use this platform to appeal to the colleges of education teachers association of Ghana to engage the ministry further on the implementation of the negotiated allowances for its members rather on going on strike which will end up disrupting the academic calendar,” he pleaded.
Book and Research Allowance
The Education Minister announced Government has processed an amount of over 32 million Ghana Cedis for the first batch of book and research allowance payable to eligible Senior Members of Public Tertiary Institutions across the country.
He further stated that the government is indeed leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the smooth operations of the Colleges of Education in the Country to prepare them for brighter future.
In light of this, government has released an amount of 241,913,000 Ghana Cedis for the payment of trainees allowance in the Country.
The Minister also said some Colleges of Education have qualified to be converted into full-fledged universities in the coming months.
The Minority in Parliament has requested the attendance of the Ministers of Food and Agriculture, Finance, and Education to appear before Parliament regarding the recent protest by food suppliers at the National Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
Government owes the food suppliers GHC 270 million for food that was supplied to Senior High Schools across the country from 2021 to 2023.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said “Mr Speaker, I want to appeal to you that the Minister for Education and Minister for Agric should be programmed to appear before this House urgently. Possibly, we should add the Minister for Finance.”
The trio Ministers, Bryan Acheampong, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Ken Ofori-Atta are required to assure the House how they are going to settle the food supplier’s debts.
Some members of the National Food Suppliers Association spent the night at the premises of NAFCO to demand payment of monies owed them for over two years.
Mr Ablakwa is worried about the situation, and wants immediate action taken to pay the suppliers.
“Over the last four days running to five days continuously, they have been at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather. My Speaker, last night the Minority Leader shared a video with me on how the suppliers were wailing, rolling on the floor and I was so depressed and went to bed last night really troubled.
In a related development, a ranking member on Parliament’s Education Committee has raised allegations of dishonesty against NAFCO regarding its interactions with the National Food Suppliers Association.
Peter Notsu-Kotoe expressed his sympathies to the members of the National Food Suppliers Association.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ AM Show, the Akatsi South MP insisted that NAFCO has become a hub for shady dealings.
“Bufferstock has become a hub for corruption where the things that go on is very bad. There should be a point where we investigate the activities of Buffer Stock,” he indicated.
Notsu-Kotoe further stated that the aggrieved suppliers informed him that the Ministry of Education has already disbursed approximately 90% of the arrears to the Buffer Stock Company.
However, the funds have yet to be made available to the suppliers, raising concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He, therefore, called for a public inquiry into the company’s activities.
The government has announced the disbursement of about GH¢241.9 million for the payment of Teacher Trainee Allowances nationwide.
In addition, GHC32.4 million has been released to cover Books and Research Allowances for eligible senior members of public Tertiary Education Institutions, including Colleges of Education, for the 2022/2023 Academic Year.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum announced this in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Professor Yahyra Dzakadzi, at the 14th Graduation of the Saint Monica’s College of Education at Asante Mampong.
Education Minister, Dr Yaw Adutwum has stated that only 54 Senior High Schools out of Ghana’s 1,200 SHSs are category ‘A’ schools.
He made this statement during an interview with Kwame Appiah Kubi on Kessben Maakye on Kessben TV.
Below is a complete list of all Senior High Schools of Category ‘A’ in Ghana(2023)
Senior High School of Fijai Serwaa Kesse Senior Girls High School Opoku Ware School T.I. Ahmadiyya High School for Seniors Kumasi Senior High Senior High School of Prempeh College Saint Louis Yaa Asantewaa Senior Girls’ High School Berekum Presby High School for Seniors Bolgatanga Senior College Abesim Sunyani Senior High School, Our Lady of Providence Senior High School, St. James Seminary/Senior High, and Our Lady of Providence Senior High School Notre Dame Senior High School for Girls Holy Child School, Cape Coast Mfantsipim School, Adisadel College St. Augustine’s University Wesley High School for Girls Mfantsiman Senior High School for Girls Okuapeman High School Senior Aburi Senior High School for Girls St. Rose’s High School for Seniors Ofori Panin High School for Seniors St. Peter’s High School for Seniors Krobo Senior High School for Girls. Ghana Senior High, Koforidua Koforidua Senior High Technical And Min. Seminary Accra Academy Accra Senior Girls’ High School Achimota School Senior High School Mary’s St. Thomas Aquinas High School for Seniors Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Tema Senior High School (PRESEC) Tamale High School St. Charles High School Tamale Senior Girls High Senior High School of Ghana, Tamale Bolga Female Senior High School Navrongo High School for Seniors Notre Dame Senior/Middle School St. Francis Senior High School for Girls Senior High School of Lawra Senior High School of Nandom Mawuli School, Ho Ola Senior High School for Girls, Ho Bishop Herman College, and Arch Bishop Porter Senior High School for Girls. Ghana Senior Technical High Sekondi College St. Johns Senior High School, Secondi Ola Girls’ Senior High School, Kenyasi Dr. Yaw Adutwum also stated that the Double Track system has allowed rural Ghanaian pupils to attend some of the country’s finest schools.
Dr. Adutwum commended the president for implementing the Double Track system in Ghana per his recommendation.
Since its implementation, some Ghanaians have criticized the Double Track system, arguing that it has severely disrupted the country’s educational calendar. Dr. Adutwum asserts, however, that the advantages of the double-track system have been greater.
Contrary to what detractors have claimed, he emphasized that not all senior high schools in Ghana currently use the dual track system.
“Not all Ghanaian senior high schools utilize the double track system. There are many more institutions with the necessary facilities that do not utilize the double-track system.
The double-track system has had no negative impact on academics. Even more contact hours have been added. Students from rural areas now have the opportunity to attend some of the best institutions in Ghana.
A student attending Kyeraa would not have been able to attend these large institutions studying engineering, science, and others, but the double track system has made this possible.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the minister of education, has examined the development of the building of a junior high school (JHS) for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Kumasi.
The Minister who was on a four-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and charged the contractors to deliver within the scheduled time.
He said it was important to complete the project on time because it would be open for admission during the next academic year.
The Arab Development Bank is funding the first model STEM junior high school initiative, which is now taking place at Asem Junior High School.
In the Ashanti Region’s Bantama, Juaben, Onwe, and Ejisu, the government is constructing comparable schools with physics, biology, and chemistry labs in conjunction with its development partners.
The expectation is that the model STEM JHS concept would transform basic education by equipping pupils with 21st-century skills required for the manpower needs of the country.
The President’s vision to accelerate development through education is being driven by STEM and Technical and Vocational Education, which is being vigorously pursued by the government, he indicated.
Prior to the inspection of the project site, the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II after which he visited some selected schools in the Metropolis.
Among the schools visited were Wesley College of Education, Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School, Kumasi Girls Senior High School, and Kumasi High School.
TheSafe School campaign, which was started in 2018 to address the issues of the incidence of violence in schools, has had its logo outdoored by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Held in Accra last Thursday, the outdoor also saw the launch of the Safe School Annual Awards scheme, which is to recognise and reward schools, teachers and students who demonstrate attitudes and behaviours consistent with the Safe Schools implementation in schools at the district, regional and national levels to motivate other schools and individuals.
The launch, on the theme “Harnessing our collective effort to promote a safe, protective and inclusive school environment”, brought together some stakeholders in the education sector, students and representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Awards
Awards were given to some students who won the National Safe Schools Logo Competition, which was geared towards creating an identity and visibility for the Safe Schools Programme.
The overall winner, from the Fomena T.I Ahmadiya Senior High School in the Ashanti, Ofori Enock Jibril, went away with Gh¢ 7,000.
Hannah Egbenya from the Volta School for the Deaf in the Volta Region, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Fayad of Nyohini Presbyterian Junior High School “B” in the Northern Region and Yasmin Alidu Zendin of the Early Childhood Development Centre at Agona Swedru in the Central Region, received GH¢ 4,000 each.
Safe environment
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mamle Andrews, who read a speech on behalf of the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said for the country to achieve inclusive and quality education, there was a need for the child to have a safe environment devoid of neglect, abuse and maltreatment to have successful outcomes.
“It is for this reason that the ministry and the GES launched the Safe School Programme in 2018 to eradicate all forms of violence in schools,” he said.
Dr Adutwum added that the ministry would continue to support the guidance and counselling units through the GES to intensify the localisation of the Safe Schools programme by training staff, teaching students in schools and classrooms and continuous collaboration with parents, families, communities and relevant stakeholders to see to the programme’s success.
According to him, leveraging individual and collective responsibilities and knowledge would help prevent and adequately respond to school violence and all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying.
Violence-free
The Director-General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, also reiterated that the service believed that the attainment of violence-free schools was a collective responsibility, hence the tagline, “Safe school, a shared responsibility”.
The tagline, he said, emphasised the fact that there was a need for all hands on deck to provide and promote a safe, secure and inclusive environment for learners
“We say thank you to all our partners for your commitment to our quest to rid our schools of all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, sexual harassment and bullying. I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, the Safe School Programme will be a success,” he added.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in the country, Fiachra McAsey, stated that for good quality education, it was important for children to have a safe environment where they could learn and achieve their goals.
Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has bemoaned the poor reading culture in the various educational institutions in the country, particularly the primary level.
During a press briefing on Tuesday ahead of the grand opening of the Accra World Book Capital, the Education Minister revealed that as of 2022, about 38 percent of students in Primary 2 across the country could read – an improvement of the 2 percent recorded in 2015.
This indicates that 62 percent of these students are unable to read.
“In our own dear country Ghana, in 2015, primary 2, only 2 per cent could read. Various interventions that have been put in place have allowed us to know from our last 2022 national assessment which every student in primary 2 was assessed, we have now moved to 38 per cent.
“It is no mere accomplishment but I am not happy. When we say that 62 percent of the students can still not read,” he stated.
Despite the 36 percent improvement in seven years, he noted that the current statistics is “unacceptable.”
The Education Minister indicated that a primary 4 assessment has been conducted and “we are waiting to see the results.”
According to Dr Adutwum, the poor culture of reading in society has translated into what has been recorded in schools, even at the primary level.
He noted that reading should not be coerced but be accepted as a fun habit which transforms minds and subsequently reshapes society.
“Books transform minds. And minds transform society. We can’t talk about the transformation of our nation without bringing to bear the importance of reading and in getting children who read for fun.
I think that is what we need to do more. Children should not see reading as something required by school. If they see it as something required by school, when they graduate they do not read any longer and that is not how you create lifelong learners,” he bemoaned.
He therefore spoke greatly of the Accra World Book Capital initiative noting that its objective is to ensure that individuals are excited about picking up books and reading.
The minister pledged that “we are going to do everything possible to take advantage of the spotlight which is on Accra to begin to not just improve literacy among students, create a culture of life learning but beyond that.”
“Also give opportunities for people to write and publish for us to buy and read,” he further noted.
Research shows that reading builds one’s vocabulary, empathy, reduces stress and depression symptoms, prevents age-related cognitive decline and extends one’s lifespan.
In September 2021, Accra was selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the 2023 World Book Capital, following evaluation by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.
President Akufo-Addo will on April 24, 2023, perform the grand opening of the Accra World Book Capital, 2023 at the Accra Conference Centre.
In attendance at the event would be a wide array of important international personalities including Members of the Diplomatic Community in Ghana, UNESCO Representatives in the Africa Region and its Paris headquarters, and Directors as well as Representatives of the United Nations Agencies home and abroad.
The others include Development Partners, City Mayors from the World Book Capital Network, and personalities from the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), as well as the International Authors Forum (IAF).
On April 24, President Akufo-Addo will perform the grand opening of the Accra World Book Capital, 2023 at the Accra Conference Centre.
In attendance at the event would be will be a wide array of important international personalities including Members of the Diplomatic Community in Ghana, UNESCO Representatives in the Africa Region and its Paris headquarters, and Directors as well as Representatives of the United Nations Agencies home and abroad.
The others include Development Partners, City Mayors from the World Book Capital Network, and personalities from the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), as well as the International Authors Forum (IAF).
Briefing the Press on Tuesday in Accra, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum mentioned the rationale of Accra World Book Capital and stated that in September 2021, the City of Accra was selected by UNESCO as the 2023 World Book Capital, following evaluation by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.
He explained that Accra was selected ahead of other cities because the Education Ministry’s programmatic focus was on young people and their ability to contribute to the culture and wealth of Ghana through the power of reading.
Dr Adutwum stated that Accra, thus, became the fourth city in Africa to receive this title, making Accra part of the prestigious World Book Capital Cities Network and it is no doubt it is an acknowledgement of the giant strides Ghana and Africa are making to develop its books and creative arts industries.
The Education Minister used the occasion to congratulate the Inter-Ministerial Agency Committee led by the Ghana Book Development Council who put together the convincing dossier that won the nation the enviable title of hosting the World Book Capital 2023.
He appealed to the media to take a keen interest in the event with the necessary information about the year-long program of activities for sustainable communication, inform and educate the Ghanaian citizenry about the goals and aspirations of Accra World
Book Capital, 2023
The UNESCO country representative, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, enumerated the various benefits the nations stand to derive from hosting the event.
He urged the teams to continue working hard towards the success of the event for the country and the rest of the world.
The Mayor of Accra, Madam Elizabeth Naa Sackey, praised the committee for its role and pledged to support the successful hosting of the event.
Background
The concept of World Book Capital by UNESCO acknowledges the power of books and reading as cornerstones to a more inclusive, equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society. The Government of Ghana believing in this vision also recognizes the need to address barriers to equity and inclusivity in all aspects of societal life.
In education for example, several actions, including, making secondary education free, provision of more schools and STEM Centers across the country, developing adapted curricula at all levels, and improving the quality of teachers and the teaching profession are all efforts by the Government to guarantee a just and sustainable society.
The Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has re-echoed John Dramani Mahama’s catchphrase, ‘You have never been President before,’ ostensibly to dismiss his calls for him to resign over dwindling standards in the sector.
John Mahama recently asked the Education Minister to delegate authority if he is unable to help students in low-performing schools improve.
It follows the Minister’s threat to close all underperforming schools if they do not improve educational outcomes.
Mr Mahama believes that closing such schools is not only unacceptable but also demonstrates gross incompetence on the Minister’s part, emphasizing that it is the Minister’s responsibility to ensure that all schools have the necessary resources to improve their academic outcomes.
However, in a media interaction on Tuesday, March 21, Dr. Adutwum found the ex-President’s position perplexing.
“The former President made a famous statement that if you have not been a President before, you can’t question or engage him. But this same person is trying to engage me as a Minister when I have never been a president before. So, I really don’t understand why I am being engaged”, he pointed out.
The Minister went on to praise the government’s educational achievements.
He maintained that the gains made in the sector since the NPP government took office have been incomparable.
“But I want to tell you one thing, Nana Akufo-Addo’s achievements in education are incontestable. The records of President Akufo-Addo in education are unmatched. So, if anyone wants to engage me as Minister of Education, I don’t have any record of my own. I have the record of the President”, Dr Adutwum added.
Why poorly performing schools are to be shut
According to the Minister, a school with a consistent zero to ten per cent pass rate should develop intervention programs to ensure that the majority of their students are able to continue their education rather than becoming a liability to their parents and society due to their inability to pass their exam.
He explained that closing the schools would help save the nation from the huge financial losses incurred by the government as a result of the school’s existence and that the affected students would be redistributed to other nearby schools, allowing them to continue their education.
However, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), for example, has taken on the Education Minister, claiming that the move is misguided.
“This is totally misplaced. That is not where that comment should go. For these schools that he is talking about, those who go there have poor grades, you put all these in one place and expect the heads to do magic. The Minister should sometimes consult”, says GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Musah.
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has encouraged parents of students who just gained admission to senior high schools to take their wards to school.
According to him, parents should not worry so much about meeting all the requirements on the prospectus before enrolling their children.
“Parents of Ghana, if your child has not reported to school yet because you are waiting to get all the items on the prospectus, I want you to know that my head teachers want to see you in school immediately.
“So even if you don’t have all your items, go to school the head teachers can’t wait to see you and welcome you in their schools,” he said on Tuesday.
Dr Adutwum who was addressing the press on Tuesday also encouraged students to manage and the little that they were given by their parents, adding that “if you are determined, one day you will tell your story.”
“You will tell your story of how you went to Odogono with one shirt and shorts and the rest is history. You’ll tell the world about how you didn’t wait for your items and yet you went to school.
“So parents send your children to school and take advantage of the Free SHS and TVET to change the future of your children and the future of Ghana,” he added.
Dr Adutwum earlier today, demonstrated the helpline his outfit set up by his outfit to help the Ministry address the concerns of parents.
By showing the behind-the-scenes, the Minister sought to inform Ghanaians about the team that has been set up to ensure seamless correspondence between his outfit and parents.
Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has admonished both parents and students who just gained admission to senior high schools not to wait till they satisfy all requirements on the prospectus before commencing class.
Rather, he admonished parents who may be struggling to make ends meet to send their wards to school and later fulfill the requirements on the prospectus.
According to him, parents should not worry so much about meeting all the requirements on the prospectus before enrolling their children.
“Parents of Ghana, if your child has not reported to school yet because you are waiting to get all the items on the prospectus, I want you to know that my head teachers want to see you in school immediately.
“So even if you don’t have all your items, go to school the head teachers can’t wait to see you and welcome you in their schools,” he said on Tuesday.
Dr Adutwum who was addressing the press on Tuesday also encouraged students to manage and the little that they were given by their parents, adding that “if you are determined, one day you will tell your story.”
Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has announced the construction of Accra Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy to focus on STEM education from kindergarten to the senior high school level.
The project, which is expected to be completed in December, will admit students by January 2024, and the expectation is that students of the Academy would have a different experience of education.
The Minister also spoke about the establishment of model STEM Junior High Schools indicating that the first one is under construction at Asem in Kumasi with funding from the Arab Development Bank.
Again, plans are underway to build similar schools at Bantama, Juaben and Onwe also in Kumasi, adding that, all the schools would be equipped with physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, computer labs and well-equipped libraries.
Giving further insight on the progress made in the implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, in Kumasi, Dr. Adutwum explained that the new STEM JHS concept would promote efficiency and cut costs if scaled up across the country and argued that with the introduction of the model, STEM schools pupils in other local schools could be absorbed, hence allowances paid to the school heads could be saved.
He said there are about 13, 000 JHS across the country and the number can be reduced to about 3, 500 nationwide if the model STEM schools concept is successfully implemented.
Dr. Adutwum promised to pursue that policy by seeking Cabinet’s approval to inject efficiency and innovation into Ghana’s educational system.
The Ministry of Education has reacted to calls for the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum to be indicted over the school placement scandal.
The Ministry says such calls are absurd.
It follows reports that placement fraud has been traced to the office of the Minister of Education as some officials allegedly took GHC7,000 to place students at Wesely Girls and Achimota Senior High School.
Speaking to Starr News, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng said such reports are untrue.
“If you look at the placement arrangement, 90% of vacancies go to students through the automatic system. The remaining 10% is shared between the schools and the general public respectively. When it comes to that which goes to the general public, it takes the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, TVET, and other agencies to do the distribution. In the process of the distribution, there is the possibility that because you have a human interface people may compromise the system.
“But at the end of the day, it is almost impossible or very difficult that any list presented to the Minister, he would be able to know that somebody took a or b amount of money. So if any person is to conclude that because there’s a suspicion that some of the school placement was secured through monetary consideration and for that matter the Minister should be indicted, it is so absurd, so unreasonable and very untenable,” he continued.
There has been an increase in enrolment across the country since the Free Senior High School concept was introduced in 2017.
The increased enrolment also led to increased demand for furniture, accommodation and other resources to facilitate effective teaching and learning.
It is based on this that the President Akufo-Addo-led government has since 2017 donated thousands of furniture and other resources to schools to promote effective teaching and learning at the pre-tertiary education sector.
The Press Secretary at the Education Ministry, Mr Felix A. Baidoo, who disclosed this said the government has since 2017 distributed a total of 1,155,240 pieces of furniture to Senior High and Basic Schools across the country.
He stated that out of the number 925,793 were distributed to SHS while the remaining 229,447 went to Basic Schools in the country.
Demand-driven supply
Again, he stated that the demand-driven furniture distribution, is aimed at creating enabling and conducive environment in the classrooms.
Mr Baidoo disclosed this after accompanying a team of media personnel to Benje Furniture Company Ltd at Weija in the Weija Gbawe Municipality in Accra on Friday where 5,000 dual desks were being dispatched to the Kpandai District in the North East region.
The trip to Benje Furniture Company Ltd was geared towards providing evidence that the government’s readiness to distribute furniture to schools is real and not a rhetoric.
Ongoing distribution
According to the Press Secretary, the loading of the 5,000 pieces of furniture to Kpandai District was part of 40,000 pieces of furniture being distributed to schools which have requested additional furniture across the country.
He explained that although the government desired to distribute the right quantity of furniture to schools, that depends on the demands of schools at a particular point in time.
This, he said is to ensure that the furniture went to the right institutions or schools which need them most to avoid sending the furniture to schools which did not need them while others which needed them have not been supplied yet.
Mr Baidoo indicated the government’s preparedness towards supplying the needed resources to all schools across the country towards enhancing the development of education.
Exercise restraint
He appealed to all schools yet to be supplied with furniture and other resources to exercise restraint as the right processes are being followed to ensure that all resources reached those who need them.
The Chief Executive Officer of Benje Furniture Company Ltd, praised the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, for procuring the furniture from the local market since such a move would help boost the operations of local companies.
He explained that the procurement of the furniture locally would also help empower local industries to do more towards strengthening their operations.
The CEO pledged to ensure that all the furniture would be delivered within three weeks so that the beneficiaries would be able to use it for its intended purpose.
Records
Records available at the Education Ministry indicate that a total of 65,779 pieces of furniture were supplied to Basic Schools in the country in 2018, 54,000 was supplied by District Assembly Common Fund in 2020, 69,459 in 2021 while the distribution of 40,000 to Basic Schools for this year is currently underway.
The SHSs also received 65,779 furniture in 2018, 54,000 in 2020, 69,459 in 2021 while the distribution of 40,209 for this year is ongoing.
The distribution of furniture to the schools usually comes in the form of dual desks, teacher’s chairs and tables, library tables and chairs, common room tables and chairs, KG chairs, cupboards, notice board, dining hall tables, dining hall benches, computer lab chairs and bunk beds among others.
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has says he’s committed to enhancing the education system in country.
According to him, his zeal to facilitate an improved sector during his tenure goes beyond mere rhetorics.
The Minister has come under criticism recently for some public comments regarding Ghana’s approach to educating its populace.
But speaking in an exclusive interview on the AM Show, the educationist insisted that his speeches are only geared towards drawing attention to the problems to create a sense of urgency among the stakeholders.
“I think we create awareness by telling people so that there is a sense of urgency and by the way, this is what is going on. It doesn’t mean that you are just talking about it and you are just one of them,” he said.
However, Dr Adutwum told JoyNews that it does not end there.
He told host, Bernice Abu-Baidoo Lansah that many of the challenges he talks about are at various stages of being addressed.
“I should create a sense of urgency for all of us that something is not right. I need to fix it but I’m a fixer, not a talker. So if something is not right, I’ll talk about it but if they follow me, they will see that I’m doing something about what I’m talking about,” he concluded.
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has stated that several public universities in the country run programs that turn out graduates who are unemployed.
According to him, thousands were graduating from Ghanaian universities and looking for nonexistent jobs. Dr Adutwum said his outfit was engaging universities to focus on courses that have relevance to the nation as well as graduates.
He said the country had a serious challenge in terms of some of the courses that were being offered by public universities, adding that many students accepted to enrol in such programmes because they just want to attend the university.
“If you look at distance learning programmes across the length and breadth of this country, especially championed by the University of Cape Coast, so many students have been enrolled in Diploma in Education, they are being trained for jobs that do not exist,” Dr Adutwum said on Tuesday at the ongoing Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon.
“Thousands and thousands are graduating for jobs that do not exist, so we had a conversation with them (the universities). One favourite course that I always cite is what is called Sanitation Education but there is no course in Sanitation to be taught. Development Education, Development Education for what? UDS, Development Studies Undergraduate Programme, for what job? So, yes, I am fully aware and we are engaging the universities. I think we need to focus on courses that have relevance to that particular student and to the nation”.
He added that there was a Bachelor of Arts in Education programme at a university that was supposed to prepare students for a “non-existent teaching job”.
Dr Adutwum said because of limited guidance and counselling at public universities, many students could not turn down such programmes when it was offered to them.
He said Ghana’s unemployment situation could also be linked to the training of graduates by universities for jobs that do not exist in the country.
As 2022 comes to an end with all the difficulties that the country has gone through, the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum remains the brightest spot in this administration and therefore, is worthy of praise and recognition.
The minister has not only exceeded the expectations of many Ghanaians, especially at the policy level but also distinguished himself as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the people of Bosomtwe.
His elevation as the substantive minister in 2021 has brought a lot of innovative and transformative interventions in the education sector, creating opportunities for thousands of Ghanaian children to climb the academic ladder without difficulties.
Today, Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) which hitherto, was merely considered an option for the academically weak, has become attractive; thanks to the leadership of Dr. Adutwum.
Even more intriguing, is the fact that students who offer technical courses, as well as visual arts in senior high Schools (SHS), have a window of opportunity to pursue engineering courses at the tertiary level.
This intervention which forms part of strategies to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has been touted as one of the best initiatives ever introduced in the sector.
Prior to his appointment as the substantive minister, Dr. Adutwum was seen as the brain behind the free Senior High School Policy which remains the flagship policy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Aside being one of the outstanding ministers under this administration, Dr. Adutwum has also been hailed by his constituents for supporting the poor within the constituency to access tertiary education.
Dr. Adutwum recently won the heart of many Ghanaian teachers when it was announced that transfer and car maintenance allowances of Ghana Education Service (GES) that have been in arrears are to be paid to the staff members concerned.
His ambition to produce hundreds of engineers for Bosomtwe in the next few years has impacted many families whose wards would have stayed home but for the intervention of Dr. Adutwum.
In the last two years, Dr. Adutwum has personally paid for tuition, hostel fees and pocket monies of hundreds of students from Bosomtwe studying engineering and science related courses in various public universities.
The minister is also taking steps to build hostels in some of the universities to accommodate students from Bosomtwe.
Beyond his ministerial and parliamentary exploits, he has always represented Ghana on the world stage during international conferences with exquisite delivery.
Early this year, he received international applauds when he bluntly spoke about how Africa’s education system trains children to be timid rather than being assertive and confident.
Even as Ghana grapples with the current economic challenges, Dr. Adutwum is one minister that the country can be proud of.
The writer, Michael Sarfo is a Youth Activist University of Huddersfield, UK.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana.
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has urged the leadership of the GamingCommission of Ghana, to intensify efforts to close down betting companies that flout laws guiding their operations in the country.
He cited the siting of betting facilities close to educational institutions to entice children as something needs to stop.
According to him, the move would help prevent children from patronising such facilities located close to their institutions, and control the influx of children into such gaming centres contrary to provisions of the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721) which guides their operations.
Dr. Adutwum made the call when he visited the headquarters of the Gaming Commission of Ghana on Tuesday.
The meeting was meant to help the two institutions have a candid discussion on issues relating to siting of betting facilities near educational institutions across the country and efforts to address this problem.
Law enforcement
The Education Minister lauded the Commission for its role in controlling operators in the space but urged them to be firm in enforcing rules and regulations in relation to their operations to bring some sanity to the gaming space.
He appealed to the Commission to have a critical look at the location of betting centres in the country, especially near schools and see what can be done to halt this practice.
Dr. Adutwum pledged his preparedness to liaise with the Commission in relation to how to prevent school children from storming betting centres, especially during school hours in their own interest.
Addiction management
Again, the Minister appealed to the Commission to consider assisting people with betting addiction to stop the practice.
The Education Minister called on all stakeholders in the country to help protect the youth of the country who are preparing to take over the leadership of the country.
This, he said, could be done by looking at the interest of the nation first and putting in place the right policies and measures meant to help make gains for the nation.
The Games Commissioner, Mr. Peter Mireku, eulogised the Education Minister for the visit and the discussion which would go a long way to get the best for the nation.
He recounted various advocacy and sensitization interventions put in place by the Commission towards sanitising the gaming space in the country.
Age, a global challenge
The Commissioner indicated that although there are rules and regulations guiding the operation of games of chance in the country, the issue of age verification remains a bit of a challenge since some adults open betting accounts for use by minors.
Mr. Mireku indicated that the Commission would continue to liaise with the Education Ministry and other institutions to help educate and sensitise school children on the laws against minors engaging in gaming as well as the impact of gaming on their academic work.
Background
Pursuant to the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721), betting centres are expected to operate 100 meters away from Schools, churches, mosques and other social facilities.
But the current situation whereby some gaming centres are spotted around educational institutions across the country prompted the Education Minister to visit the Commission for a discussion on how to sanitize the space for the sake of under-aged children as well as siting of the centres and the near schools across the country.
The Ministry of Education has assured students of Technical Universities that the government is working to resolve concerns of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) to get them to resume work.
According to the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the government has shown enough commitment to address the demands of the striking teachers.
In a Citi News interview, Dr. Adutwum expressed optimism that the strike will soon be called off.
“We have had fruitful discussions. We have made appeals to them. They are also consulting their members, and we will hear from them soon.”
“Nobody wants students to be in class more than me, the Minister of Education. That is why I am saying we have made some considerable process, and I am very hopeful that the strike will be over soon,” the Minister said.
The leadership of the TUTAG on Friday, November 18 declared an indefinite strike over concerns about their conditions of service.
The union wants the government to honour its Codified Conditions of Service of members, which have been outstanding since 2016.
The leadership of TUTAG has accused the government of blatantly disregarding a ruling of the National Labour Commission on the matter, and also blamed the NLC for failing to enforce the ruling.
According to TUTAG, its members are facing some challenges with the payroll system and want the various Technical Universities to manage the payroll of the teachers.
The Association also wants the Government to pay outstanding Book and Research Allowances for the 2021/2022 academic year for the majority of its members.
Delays in the promotion of teachers will soon be a thing
of the past, as the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has
charged the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service,
Dr. Eric Nkansah, to immediately take proactive measures aimed at
addressing challenges associated with the promotion of teachers.
It is no secret that the promotion of teachers has been a major concern for many stakeholders in the past few years.
Teachers continue to complain over the development which does not only stall their career progression, but also affect their livelihoods.
Following these concerns, the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei
Adutwum, has tasked Dr Nkansah to see to it that measures are
implemented to address the challenge.
“I don’t see the reason why we should hire somebody for six months, and they don’t have a staff ID and therefore, they are
not being paid. Obviously, they won’t be happy employees, and happy employees create happy classrooms where you get better
learning outcomes.
“So, the Director General has been tasked with the responsibility to
work with the teachers, unions and other organizations to ensure our teachers have what it takes so their payments would be processed in a timely fashion,” he said.
He made the remarks after paying a surprise visit to the Asem Cluster of Schools in Kumasi on Friday, November 25, 2022.
He further explained that “with those who have to go through promotion, not through the ranks (the lower ranks) or the beginning ranks, I want to make sure they prioritise it because it is not fair for somebody to teach for 2 years and promotion is due, they’ve done all the evaluation, but the document has not been sent to the headquarters for them to receive their promotion letters.”
“We have directed the GES to do whatever it takes. If they need
more staff, we will provide them with more staff to ensure teachers’ promotions are not delayed,” he added.
In a letter dated October 21 and addressed to Ghana’s finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Pierre Laporte, the International Development Association’s world country director, expressed concerns about the audit statement’s failure to be completed within the agreed-upon six months of the end of a fiscal year.
The World Bank said it would investigate the “possibility of taking the relevant legal remedies under the Financing Agreement” against the government because the submission of the statement is four months overdue.
“In accordance with Section 5.09(b)(ii) of the General Conditions incorporated by reference in the Financing Agreement and as specified in paragraph II (ii) of the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (DFIL), the Recipient is required to furnish the audited financial statements covering the period of one fiscal year of the Recipient no later than six (6) months after the end of such period. We note that as of today, October 18, 2022, the Association has not received the audited financial statements for the year ending December 2021 in compliance with the General Conditions.
“The Association is concerned that it is almost ten (10) months after the year ended and an independent audit report on the use of funds has still not been furnished to the Association.
“Given that the audited financial statements are now four (4) months overdue, and with the Audit Compliance Guidance, we write to inform you that unless you come into compliance within the next thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, the Association may have no option than to explore the possibility of exercising the appropriate legal remedies under the Financing Agreement,” part of the letter read.
Pierre Laporte has consequently requested Ofori-Atta to attend to the brewing matter in order for the audit requirement to be adhered to.
“We trust that your personal and immediate attention to this matter will ensure speedy compliance with the audit requirements referred to above,” the letter said in part.
Adutwum and GALOP training brouhaha
Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum in May this year was allegedly caught up in an alleged phantom training exercise for over 40,000 teachers on the digital literacy platform under GALOP for which World Bank had given $1.2 million.
This came to light after then Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, in a March 30, 2022 letter to the Education Minister said GES was “unaware that any such training has taken place” and further asked him “to advice and provide direction to enable the GES to respond appropriately to the inquiries from the World Bank”.
According to a myjoyonline.com report, the World Bank has written to the then GES D-G after Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum failed to respond by the close of January 14, 2022, on queries into whether or not the training had taken place and claims by Chief Director at the Education Ministry, Benjamin Gyasi, that it has “exceeded the target of 40,000 teachers to be trained, insisting PBC7.2B has been achieved.”
But responding to concerns that the minister had submitted a fictitious report on the training, Press Secretary of MoE, Felix A Baidoo, in a statement flatly denied it claiming it was a smear campaign against the minister.
“Unfortunately, however, it is now clearer than before that those behind such character assassinating reports are deliberately embarking on a vicious smear campaign project against the patriotic, selfless, and hardworking Minister of Education, Dr. Osei Adutwum, for reasons best known to themselves,” it said.
The Ghanaian government has been threatened with legal action by the World Bank if audited financial statements for the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project are not submitted within 30 days (GALOP).
In a letter dated October 21 and addressed to Ghana’s finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Pierre Laporte, the International Development Association’s world country director, expressed concerns about the audit statement’s failure to be completed within the agreed-upon six months of the end of a fiscal year.
The World Bank said it would investigate the “possibility of taking the relevant legal remedies under the Financing Agreement” against the government because the submission of the statement is four months overdue.
“In accordance with Section 5.09(b)(ii) of the General Conditions incorporated by reference in the Financing Agreement and as specified in paragraph II (ii) of the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (DFIL), the Recipient is required to furnish the audited financial statements covering the period of one fiscal year of the Recipient no later than six (6) months after the end of such period. We note that as of today, October 18, 2022, the Association has not received the audited financial statements for the year ending December 2021 in compliance with the General Conditions.
“Given that the audited financial statements are now four (4) months overdue, and with the Audit Compliance Guidance, we write to inform you that unless you come into compliance within the next thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, the Association may have no option than to explore the possibility of exercising the appropriate legal remedies under the Financing Agreement,” part of the letter read.
Pierre Laporte has consequently requested Ofori-Atta to attend to the brewing matter in order for the audit requirement to be adhered to.
“We trust that your personal and immediate attention to this matter will ensure speedy compliance of the audit requirements referred to above,” the letter said in part.
Adutwum and GALOP training brouhaha
Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum in May this year was allegedly caught up in an alleged phantom training exercise for over 40,000 teachers on the digital literacy platform under GALOP for which World Bank had given $1.2 million.
This came to light after then Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, in a March 30, 2022 letter to the Education Minister said GES was “unaware that any such training has taken place” and further asked him “to advice and provide direction to enable the GES to respond appropriately to the enquiries from the World Bank”.
According to a myjoyonline.com report, the World Bank has written to the then GES D-G after Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum failed to respond by close of January 14, 2022, on queries into whether or not the training had taken place and claims by Chief Director at the Education Ministry, Benjamin Gyasi, that it has “exceeded the target of 40,000 teachers to be trained, insisting PBC7.2B has been achieved.”
But responding to concerns that the minister had submitted a fictitious report on the training, Press Secretary of MoE, Felix A Baidoo, in a statement flatly denied it claiming it was a smear campaign against the minister.
“Unfortunately, however, it is now clearer than before that those behind such character assassinating reports are deliberately embarking on a vicious smear campaign project against the patriotic, selfless and hardworking Minister of Education, Dr. Osei Adutwum, for reasons best known to themselves,” it said.
Read the letter from World Bank addressed to Ofori-Atta below:
The acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. Eric Nkansah,has assured the government of his readiness to work very hard to uplift the image of the Service and improve education in the country.
He also pledged to work diligently with all the stakeholders including the teacher unions, agencies and other professional bodies in the education space.
According to him, having taught at various levels of education and also with experience as a Director at the Education Ministry, he Is familiar with issues relating to education development, thus in a better position to help improve the sector.
Dr. Nkansah gave the assurance on Monday when he introduced himself to the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum as he assumed office after his appointment by the President last week.
He reiterated his passion for the development of education in the country by bringing his expertise to bear and also liaising with other stakeholders especially, adding that the inputs and suggestions of the various stakeholders are welcomed.
The acting Director-General stated for instance, that he will be meeting various stakeholders in the sector to share ideas and also listen to them towards the development of the sector.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum on his part commended Dr. Nkansah on his appointment and pledged to support him in the realisation of the objectives of the government to improve the education sector.
He urged the acting D-G to get down to the teaching and non-teaching staff of schools to know about their challenges for redress.
The Education Minister advised him to endeavour to make employees of the Service happy so that they could open up and work very hard towards the development of the nation’s education.
“Go and meet teachers and listen to them. Make your employees happy, if they are happy, they would work very hard to get the best outcomes for you,” he said.
He urged the HR Directorate to work very hard to get the best for teachers.
“As a matter of fact, teachers in the country deserve the best and let’s work hard to make them happy,” he said.
The Ministers of Education and Defence, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Mr Dominic Nitiwul, respectively, have been honoured by the leadership of the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) College of Education at Bimbilla, in the Northern Region on Saturday.
The Education Minister was honoured for his role and support towards the development of education in the College and the rest of the country.
The Defence Minister was also honoured for his support for the development of the area and for helping restore peace in the Nanumba Traditional area and the rest of the country.
In a statement read by the Principal of the College, Dr Ibrahim J. G. M-Minibo, he commended the two Ministers for their dedication and contributions towards the development of teaching and learning in the College.
Again, he lauded the ministers for always being available to help whenever they are called upon by the leadership of the College.
Each of the Ministers, apart from the statement commending them, were presented with gifts as a sign of appreciation by the leadership of the college.
The Minister for Defence, Mr. Nitiwul, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla on behalf of the Education Minister thanked the leadership of the College for the honour done to them and pledged to continue working very hard
He admonished the students to study hard to justify the huge investment being made by the government into the education sector with the view to transform the economy.
Education Minster, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has noted that the Free Senior High, Technical and Vocational Education will help to unleash the potentials of the youth for development.
According to him, said the two programmes had essentially provided a huge opportunity for every Ghanaian youth to access quality education.
Dr Adutwum said this in Sunyani when he interacted with the members of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs during a working visit to the region.
“The Government is investing hugely in TVET education not only to fetch direct jobs for graduates, but also push rapid industrialisation,” he said.
Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centres had been put up in many schools in the region to ensure effective implementation.
He cited the SHSs at Jinijini in the Berekum West District and Koase in the Wenchi Municipality as well as the St. James Seminary/SHS at Abesim, near Sunyani as the locations of some of the centres.
“For a country to develop in this modern age, education, particularly STEM, should remain at the forefront and that is exactly what the Government is committed to doing”, the Minister said.
He said the nation’s gross tertiary education enrolment was low, hovering around 25 per cent, and called on all stakeholders to contribute to ensure that more students pursued higher education for the country to have a quality human resource base for development.
Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Agyeman Badu II, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area, and the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, implored the Government to expand infrastructure at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, the Sunyani Technical University, and second cycle institution to facilitate teaching and learning.
He expressed concern over the abandonment of construction works on the Bono Regional Library project and appealed to the Minister to intervene for work to resume.
Fast-rising Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, also known as Ayra Starr, has remixed her hit song Bloody Samaritan with American vocalist Kelly Rowland.
The song which was released today, has already received positive feedback from social media users and music lovers.
Given that she just dropped a single, Rush, from which fans are still enjoying, Ayra Starr appears to be destined for the top flight.
She announced the release of the remix by posting a photo of herself and Rowland on her Instagram profile on Tuesday, September 27.
While Kelly showcases her vocal skill in the song, the remix also features the vocals of Loud Urban Choir, whose cover was a social media sensation.
The remix will be one of the extra songs Ayra includes on her upcoming Bloody Samaritan (deluxe) album.
She wrote “Super excited to share this with you all. Someone I’ve always wanted to work with and it’s on my song Bloody Samaritan…the beautiful legend @kellyrowland out tomorrow!!!” she wrote in the caption”
The 20-year-old star has songs like Overloading, Beggie Beggie, Rush, Love don’t cost a thing, Dime, Away Sare and Away to her credit.
In an adomonline.com report, he noted that the finished creative school would become a hub of creative art skills hunting and development centre for the country, Africa and the rest of the world.
The GRAMMY CEO also added that he was prepared to help the school and assist it by turning it into a first-class innovative organization.
Harvey Mason Jr’s visit to the Schooling Service happened after an exclusive dinner meeting with artistes while explaining how a musician can win a GRAMMY.
Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has expressed serious concerns about how students are taught and educated in Ghana and across the African continent.
He came to the conclusion that current educational practices do not promote critical thinking and thoughtful questioning in students.
He claimed that in a time when people are independently developing innovative ideas and producing amazing things, this condition cannot guarantee the 21st century development that is necessary.
Dr. Adutwum made these remarks at the “Transforming Education’ Summit at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 22nd, 2022.
The Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe further said, “I went to schools upon schools and I spoke with some students. Whenever I finish speaking with them, I ask, do you have a question for me? And to my dismay, no hand goes up. A hand is yet to go up in all my encounters in Ghanaian classrooms.
“We have tamed the children, we just want them to write down what we tell them. On the day of exam, they should put down what we have told them and say, you are the best student the country has seen.
“That kind of education system will not transform Ghana. This kind of education system is not going to give us the critical thinking individuals, especially since we are in the 21st Century.”
He added, “you can’t memorize your way out of poverty, but you can critically think and innovate out of poverty.
“So Ghana schools, African schools have to begin to take a serious look at what I will call assertive curriculum, a curriculum that empowers the African child to ask questions and challenge the status quo.”
He continued by saying that “no country can achieve sustained economic growth while ingrained poverty and learning and skill disparities harm human capital.”
To rewire education for people and the planet, he, therefore, urged everyone to work together across sectors, levels, and stakeholders.
Additionally, Dr. Adutwum promoted cooperation between all countries, international organizations, and the corporate sector to address the world’s educational concerns jointly.
Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has lamented the state of affairs in the current education system where students are reluctant to ask questions of their teachers.
The Minister, who doubles and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, believes that reluctance must be done away with if fully rounded children relevant to society are to be nurtured.
He disclosed in an address that in all the times that he has visited schools back home and decided to teach, none of his students had ever asked a question after he had taught and asked if they had any questions.
“I go to schools upon schools and I speak with the students and when I finish speaking with them, I say who has a question for me? No hands goes up. A hand is yet to go up in all my encounters in Ghanaian classrooms.
“We have tamed the children, we just want them to write down what we tell them, at the day of the exams we say you are the best student the country has ever known.
“That kind of education system cannot transform Ghana, that kind of education system is not going to get us critical thinking individual especially as we are in the 21st Century, Education 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution,” he stressed.
He asserted that it is only through critical minded students that poverty can be fought and defeated, advocating further that Ghanaian and African school should gravitate towards what he called, an “assertive curriculum.”
“A curriculum that empowers the African child to ask questions and to challenge the status quo. Respectfully within the African context, but not a curriculum that tells the African to be quiet and not say anything when the adult is speaking,” he added.
He was speaking on Tuesday, September 20, at the United Nations Educational Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the event was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Launch dubbed “Rewiring education for people and planet Report,” I pointed out the need for a new way of working that reimagines education in a win-win partnership with the entire 2030 Agenda,” he posted on his social media handles.
Key stakeholders from all African countries at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Regional Meeting of African National Commission, 2022 called for the need to foster collaborative efforts to ensure effective transformation of education on the continent.
According to the various countries’ representatives, almost every country on the continent is doing quite well in one particular area based on certain policy initiatives and mechanisms put in place; hence, the need for collaboration to tap into the best practices of one another to hasten growth and development of education.
Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission (AUC), Mohamed Belhocine, in a remark read on his behalf by the Principal Scientific Officer of the AUC, Dr. Monica Ebele Idinoba, indicated that every citizen in Africa deserves a better life, and until all countries unite and ensure collaborative efforts to create the big picture wanted for the continent, Africa will continue to remain behind in terms of global competitiveness.
“Recalling that about 46 percent of Africa’s labour force from 2015 to 2063 will constitute young people under 34 years who will need access to basic secondary and tertiary level skills that will unlock their potential for innovation, effectiveness, entrepreneurship, employment, and making them become responsible citizens, we need to make higher education more accessible.
“A key priority of the agenda 2063, is therefore, to build human capacity through the prioritisation of higher education, skills development, investment in science, research and innovation,” he said.
He added further that the AU Agenda 2063 is keenly ongoing and effects are needed in terms of harmonisation, building synergy, and filling in the gaps.
Reiterating continental education strategy for Africa (CESA), science and innovation strategy for Africa (SISA), and continental strategy for technical vocational education and training (CSTVET) as the key policies being championed in the education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, on his part, emphasised that indeed the world all over is in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), and education is the key to unlocking opportunities and taking advantage of opportunities to compete in the global space.
“If we can tune our mind and accept that change is possible, then we can achieve that. The future of the children of Africa depends on us, and if we are not able to transform the current education system to promote 21st-century skills acquisition, then it is our fault and not that of the children.
“We need to collaborate, exchange ideas and see how best to learn from one another to transform the education space to help our children who are ready to learn, develop their raw talents and become key players in the transformation of our continent,” he stressed.
Assistant Director-General for Priority, Africa and External Relations, UNESCO, Firmin Edouard Matoko, urged the over 50 countries’ representatives gathered at the conference to take advantage of the platform offered by UNESCO to think about how best to transform the education sector to encourage skills development, innovation and creativity.
Speaking on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, theEducation Ministerrecounted how Ghana is making prudent investments in education to make the country and the world a better place.
He told the Summit that education is not just the birthright of every child but it is also a powerful co-creator for progress in poverty reduction, health and sustainable development.
He emphasised the need for a new way of working that reimagines education in a win-win partnership with the entire 2030 Agenda.
Speaking at the launch dubbed, “Rewiring Education for People and the Planet Report”, Dr Adutwum highlighted the number of strategies that have been employed to reposition the entire education to produce a critical mass of empowered Ghanaian equipped with essential skills for socio-economic transformation.
These and many other interventions, he said, have changed the face of Education in Ghana.
“No country can deliver quality education where children are not able to learn because they are hungry, required to work or take care of their families,” he pointed out.
He further added that “No country can attain sustainable economic growth where entrenched poverty and Inequalities in learning and skills undermine human capital
He, therefore, called on everyone to work collaboratively across sectors, levels and stakeholders to rewire education for people and the Planet.
Dr Adutwum also advocated collaboration between all nations, international organisations and the private sector to tackle global educational challenges collectively.
Dr Adutwum, in the presence of his wife, Selina Adutwum, and son, was presented with a memento and assorted items including a ram in appreciation of his good works.
As he was being decorated by the Abrankese Nyameanihene, Nana Opoku Amponsem II, the chief charged him to do a lot more to cover the entire district.
Acknowledgement
Dr Adutwum, who is also the Minister of Education, was acknowledged as a believer of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education.
The MP, among others, has constructed a new Bosomtwe STEM Academy and Senior High School (SHS), and instituted the Dr YOA STEM Scholarship scheme of which 97 beneficiaries were currently studying at the University for Development Studies (UDS), the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He was also credited with offering foreign scholarships to several constituents who are now studying in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Morocco, among other countries.
Dr Adutwum was also credited with the construction of a modern administration block at Beposo SHS, a 66 seater bus for Beposo SHS, the construction of kitchen and dining hall at St George’s Technical High School and the construction of a modern TVET college at Abrankese.
Support
Speaking at the durbar, the Sawuahene, Nana Kwaku Amankwaa Sarkodie II, praised the minister for working hard to transform the educational sector of the country and the district, in particular, with a firm focus on hands-on training.
He assured him that the chiefs and people of the district would continue to support him to deliver on his mandate.
The Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, Joseph Kwasi Assumin, said education remained the priority of the Akufo-Addo administration that was why there had been massive investment in the sector.
He said the district assembly also placed premium on educational development, and assured that nothing would be left to chance in doing what was best for the people.
Students loan
The Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund, Nana Agyei Yeboah, said starting next academic year, all final year students at the Senior High School (SHS) level will be eligible to apply for the students loan while they awaited their results to enter any of the tertiary institutions.
However, only those who make the grade to enter tertiary will have access to the loans.
The new inclusion under the “no guarantor” loan scheme policy, forms part of the processes to expand the scheme and make it accessible to all.
Nana Yeboah explained that the expansion of the scheme was to avoid long periods of waiting for students while on campus to access the loan.
Following the completion of the ongoing construction projects for seven TVET colleges, the Minister of Education has hinted that enrollment in tertiary Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the nation could shortly reach 100,000 by 2025, up from the current 62,000.
The minister claims that this will accelerate the development of artisans’ abilities and the study of TVET programs in the tertiary education sector.
He adds that the new location of TVET colleges will be Abrankese in the Ashanti region, Boako in the Western North Region, Kenyasi in the Ahafo Region, Patuda in the Bono East Region, Dambai in the Oti Region, Salaga in the Savannah region, Guabuliga in the North-East Region and Tolibri in the Upper West region.
Dr Adutwum announced this when he launched the maiden edition of the “Ghana TVET report 2021” put together by the Commission for TVET in Accra on Friday.
The 132-page report gives a background to the TVET agenda, TVET Governance, Access to TVET, Quality TVET delivery system, TVET Financing, Industry Engagement and International Cooperation among others.
The launching brought together various players in the education sector and the TVET space as well as partners from the international platform.
Dr Adutwum also announced that the country would soon become an industrial hub of Africa which stood the chance of turning the economic fortunes of the nation leading to an improved standard of living for the people. According to the Minister, looking at the policies, support, acceptability and the huge investment being made by the government in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space would bring about the transformation of the industrial sector leading to the socio-economic gains for the country.
The Education Minister commended Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the tremendous resources and support he had provided in order to make a more vibrant TVET regime and an ecosystem to make the TVET system to thrive amid the economic challenges like the Covid-19 and the Russia Ukraine war confronting the country and the rest of the world.
He cited for instance that despite all the challenges confronting the nation’s economy seven new Colleges focussing on TVET were under construction at various locations across the country to help train much youth to support industrial growth in the country.
Dr Adutwum who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe hinted again that with effect from the next academic year, some selected TVET institutions in the country would begin operationalizing the “German Dual System”.
He explained the Dual System is a process whereby students would be granted the opportunity to study at school and also take part in industrial attachment to sharpen their skills to boost their training at school in turns.
“This would see TVET students spending some days in school and some days with industry to enhance their learning skills and this would help create more employment to make the sector more relevant to the society and the nation as a whole”. Dr Adutwum said. All these training and skills sharpening he said were being done in partnership with industry who would allow students to use their facilities and equipment for training which could lead to creating employment opportunities mostly for the youth. The Director General of the Commission TVET, Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, in his welcome address lauded the various partners and all stakeholders who helped put together the maiden report.
He stated that the TVET sector was very crucial for the training and recruitment of the right skills needed to boost the nation’s socio-economic development of the country. The Director General was upbeat that the sharpening of the skills of people as it was very crucial in poverty reduction in the country as well as empowering the people to be self-dependent.
He was not happy with the general bias people had for the general education in the country at the expense of TVET which provided the right skills needed to create a job to support the nation’s gross domestic product.
Dr Asamoah indicated that the TVET sector is positioning itself to train those skills in short supply in the job market for the industry in the country and the rest of the sub-region.
Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has said Ghanaian medical students in Ukrainian schools who were displaced because of the war will be admitted into Ghanaian universities to complete their programmes.
According to the Minister who was responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, a committee chaired by the Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Nsiah Asare has been set up and has identified the affected students.
He explained that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is conducting an audit of the list after which eligible students will be admitted into Ghanaian medical schools.
“Mr. Speaker regarding what is happening to them now, I have inaugurated a committee chaired by Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, the Presidential advisor on health to compile the list of all students who were displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The Committee comprises representatives of all stakeholders including the Deans of all medical schools in Ghana. So far, the Committee has collated information on 300 students. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is currently validating their credentials, once the process is completed the eligible students will be admitted into our Ghanaian universities at various levels,†he said.
The Russian-Ukraine war which started a couple of months ago affected many people in diverse ways. One of such people is Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine who have to run for their lives and now seeking support to go back to the classroom to continue their studies.
The Government in May established a 13-member committee to come out with guidelines to help absorb them into Ghanaian universities to continue their studies.
The Committee is constituted as follows: representatives of the Students Representative Council (SRC), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ministry of Health, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Medical and Dental Council, Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Vice Chancellors of Medical Schools, the Rector of College of Physicians and Surgeons among others.
Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has supported the call for a review of basic and secondary education in Ghana with immediate well-thought-out measures to salvage it from collapse.
He said many children were not literate and numerate at their levels owing to the failure to provide the right input and resources, including well-qualified teachers with the right pedagogy.
“So, if you are in class three, you have to read class three books but the majority are reading class one books and a few are doing class two books,†he observed.
“We said everybody should be computer literate but if you go to some Junior High Schools (JHS), there are no computers to do anything. So, what are you teaching? Are you helping them to obtain digital knowledge?†he queried.
Prof Anamuah-Mensah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), blamed the situation on the lack of proper training for teachers on the new standard-based basic school curriculum.
He said even though the structure and purpose of the new curriculum carried the potential to transform basic education, the situation would remain precarious if teachers were not properly trained on the same.
“What is being done needs to be directed in such a way that the teachers who are teaching are very comfortable and confident in teaching what they are teaching, they are using the right approaches and pedagogies to do it, and they have the resources that they need to do it and they have the support of the ministry and parents in doing their work,†he said.
At the secondary education level, Prof Anamuah-Mensah observed that the lack of resources was a fundamental problem of the structure which had led to many students failing in examinations.
He averred that because JHS was part of basic school, the students tend to think as such and, therefore, struggled to cope in Senior High School.
“It is like a whole new atmosphere because the curriculum is different from what they were doing,†the former Vice-Chancellor stressed.
He, therefore, called for a restructuring of secondary education to add JHS to SHS to realign the thinking of students.
“From Junior High School, they will know that they are not really part of the primary school; they have moved to a higher level in the Senior School.
“So JHS should have similar facilities like SHS. They should have teachers qualified to teach JHS and be able to even teach SHS,†he said.
Prof Anamuah-Mensah acknowledged efforts by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister for Education, to introduce a similar system and expressed his support for the same.
