The Ghana Library Authority’s (GLA) CEO, Hayford Siaw, has urged the Ministry of Education and theGhana Education Service (GES) to give the authority control over school libraries in the country.
Mr Siaw believes that the authority is well-positioned to support and operate many of these school libraries, ensuring their improved management and overall state.
Mr Siaw expressed confidence in the authority’s expertise to effectively handle and enhance the functionality of these facilities.
During an interview with the media on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, he made this appeal.
Currently, the authority boasts of a collection of approximately 1.4 million books and has expanded its library network from 61 to 118 branches across the country.
In addition, the authority has established a partnership with a Mobile Network Organization to provide internet services in all library facilities nationwide.
As one of the oldest public institutions in Ghana, the GLA utilizes innovation and technology to meet the evolving demands of education.
“Our commitment to innovation has resulted in 1.5 million library visits last year, and we have the aim to reach 2 million visits by the end of this year,” he revealed.
Mr Siaw further highlighted that the authority has renovated its mobile library vans to reach out to underserved areas, particularly cluster schools lacking proper library facilities.
In conclusion, the CEO of the Ghana Library Authority has called for the incorporation of school libraries into the authority’s management, citing their vision, expertise, and commitment to improving library services across the country.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has rescinded its earlier approval of Tug of War and Pillow Fight as sports in basic and second-cycle schools in the country.
On 2nd May 2023, the Ghana Tug of War/Pillow Fight Federation wrote a letter to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service requesting the approval of the sports.
The GES in a letter dated 18th May, 2023, approved of the two sports and requested Regional Directors to officially inform Metro, Municipal and District Directors and Heads of Second Cycle Institutions that approval has been granted.
But in a statement on 8th June 2023, the GES ordered the suspension of the games. According to the GES, this is to deepen stakeholder engagement on the policy.
The Service has therefore directed all Regional Directors of Education to inform Metro, Municipal, District Directors of Education and Heads of Second Cycle Institutions of the said suspension.
Prior to the suspension, some social media users raised concern over the safety of students who engage in these sporting activities.
Tug of War
Tug of War involves two teams competing against each other in a test of strength. The objective of the game is for each team to pull the rope in opposite directions, with the goal of moving a designated marker on the ground in their favor.
The teams are positioned on either end of a long rope, and they pull the rope with all their strength in an attempt to overpower the opposing team and drag them across a center line or into a marked zone.
The team that successfully moves the marker past the designated line or zone wins the game.
Tug of War requires a combination of physical strength, teamwork, and strategy. It is often played as a recreational activity, as well as a competitive sport at various levels, including local, national, and international competitions.
Pillow Fight
A pillow fight is an activity in which participants engage in mock combat using pillows as “weapons.”
It typically involves individuals or groups engaging in a friendly, non-violent pillow fight. Participants swing pillows at each other, attempting to hit opponents while avoiding being hit themselves.
A Viral photo of Achimota School’s potential NSMQ team has caused social media buzzing.
Conspicuously visible among the students was Tyrone Marhguy, a young man who found himself at the center of a controversy that shook the education sector two years ago.
Tyrone was spotted in the social media post depicting Achimota School’s trial session ahead of the 2023 NSMQ season.
#AchimotaAt96 🎹 Last month, our @nsmqghana team participated in a Trial session as we prepare for the upcoming quiz season.
We encourage all members of our community to reach out to the team and help equip them for a successful season. pic.twitter.com/dyVTDMVoGR
He was one of two boys who cried foul because the school had denied them admission, citing their hairstyle as a violation of the school’s code of conduct.
The Rastafarian students dragged the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Minister of Education, Ghana Education Service, and the Attorney General to court for refusing to enroll them. Achimota School insisted that they comply with the school’s regulations by shaving their dreadlocks.
On May 31, 2021, a High Court ruling directed the school to admit the students.
However, his colleague, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, enrolled at Ghana International School on a scholarship.
In June 2021, following the court ruling, Tyrone Marhguy went to Achimota School and sat for his end-of-term examination just hours after being enrolled.
On the back of the latest development, social media users appear to be reeling over the possibility of this narrative developing into a ‘zero-to-hero’ story as the national quiz takes off soon.
This is not the first time Tyrone has been associated with the school’s NSMQ team.
He was also spotted among the team last year which sparked another conversation regarding his participation.
Find more reactions below:
Very progressive and a beautiful story. Tyrone, the “rasta student” who was nearly denied admission to Achimota School because of his hair. He’s now part of the #Nsmq team of the school. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZzqTUGtgMf— WhyAlwaysEQ (@WhyAlwaysEkow) June 2, 2023
The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for junior high school students is not going to be canceled, according to the Ghana Education Service (GES).
GES explained that it is moving from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, which is likely to change the nature and form of the BECE.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the grading system by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Director General of GES, Dr. Eric Nkansah, said reports of the purported cancellation of the BECE are untrue.
“We are not cancelling the BECE. What is confusing people or some of our people is that we are now moving away from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, and it does not mean that those on the standards-based curriculum will not write BECE. They will also write but perhaps the nature and form may change. So please don’t communicate that we are not writing BECE.”
The Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) is conducted by WAEC and serves as a standard exam for junior high school graduates who are about to enter senior high school.
In partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and with support from the GIZ Governance for Inclusive Development Programme, co-funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has successfully conducted awareness sessions on prohibited cyber activities and related issues in selected Senior High Schools located in the Eastern Region.
The five-day sensitisation programme which targeted some selected Senior High Schools in the Eastern Region started on the 15th May, 2023 and ended on 19th May, 2023.
The objectives of the programme was to create awareness on the mandate of EOCO, Prohibited Cyber Activities and the rippling effects these activities have on individuals (perpetrators and victims), families, businesses and the country as a whole.
The programme benefitted over Twenty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and twelve (29,512) students made up of 14,316 male students and 15,196 female students.
The beneficiary schools included Akuse Methodist Senior High School, Akro Senior High, Manyakrobo Senior High, Ghana Senior High, and New Jaubeng Senior High School. Others were Oti Boateng Senior High School, Larteh Presby Senior High School, Mampong Presby Senior High School, Adonteng Senior High School, Okuapemman Senior High School and Nifa Senior High School. Also, Yilokrobo Senior High School, Suhum Senior High School, Abuakwah State College, Nsawam Senior High School, St. Martin Senior High School benefitted from the programme.
In an introductory remark, the Eastern Regional Director, Mr. Justice Agbemava stated the purpose of the visit and gave a brief overview of the spate of cybercrime activities in the country and their negative effects on the nation and the individuals who are involved. He also added that despite various efforts being implemented by the Office to curb this menace, statistics still reveal that Ghana is increasingly becoming a hub for cybercrime activities hence the need for EOCO to reach as many young people as they can to spread awareness of this menace.
Head of Public Affairs, EOCO, Mrs. Faustina Lartey in her presentation, stressed on how the use of the internet has made the world a global village. She stated that despite the many positive things that the internet can be used for, some recalcitrant persons have resorted to using it for unexplainable negativities such as cybercrime.
She mentioned, Romance and Dating Scam, Mobile Money Fraud, Scholarship Scam, Hacking, Advance Fee Fraud (419), Examination Results Scam, Spam, Phishing and Identity Theft among others. While explaining these various types of cybercrimes to the students, she mentioned that persons engaged in advance fee fraud could spend up to twenty-five years’ imprisonment when convicted.
In addition, she emphasized that ignorance of the law is no excuse and that children who engage in these crimes could end up in the Juvenile Correctional Centre.
Mrs. Faustina Lartey, encouraged students who are engaged in hacking, that as a matter of urgency, should desist from it. She advised them to concentrate on their studies to pass their exams and apply for a course in “Ethical Hacking” and its related courses rather than becoming black hackers.
She concluded by stating that, it is important that Ghanaians work hard to maintain a positive global image of the country in order to appeal to foreign investors and make it a more attractive tourist destination. She further encouraged all persons present, to report perpetrators of cybercrimes to EOCO and other law enforcement agencies stressing on the protection of privacy and safety of complainants.
Also embedded in the presentation was a special message for all students from the Executive Director – EOCO, Mrs. Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah encouraging students to take their studies seriously and desist from engaging in criminal activities which could end up truncating their educational ambitions.
Heads and teachers of the beneficiary schools numbering about 167 were elated and encouraged the team to make routine visits to remind students of the need to desist from engaging in such criminal activities and also pledged to share the information with family and friends who were not privileged to benefit from the programme.
Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), Doughlas Haruna, who was interdicted over the alleged conversion of washrooms into dormitories has reportedly been reinstated.
The GES in a statement issued dated April 16, the Regional Director of Education asked both the head and senior housemaster to step aside for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The Headmaster and the Senior Housemaster have been directed to step aside to allow for further investigations into the matter by the Regional Director of Education and report back in two weeks,” the statement signed by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo disclosed.
On the matter, Mr Haruna denied the claim of washrooms being converted into dormitories to address accommodation challenges in the school.
Following this, many organisations called on the GES to immediately reverse the decision.
Amongst the organisations and persons were the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Builsa South MP Dr Clement Abass and Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu.
For GNAT, it said the move by the GES would affect the confidence of the embattled headmaster, Doughlas Haruna.
An official communique from the Ghana Education Service to confirm the report is yet to be obtained.
Also, it is unknown whether the GES has completed its investigations into the matter.
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.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has dispatched a committee on a fact-finding expedition to the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale in order to confirm the accuracy of rumors that bathroom cubicles have been converted into a housing facility for students.
This comes after the Ghana Education Service (GES) asked the headmaster and senior housemaster of the school to step aside following a viral video which indicated that students are using converted toilet cubicles as a boys’ dormitory.
The Ghana Education Service’s delegation to the school on Monday morning which was made up of the Deputy Director General of GES,Stephen Kweku Owusu, the Acting Northern Regional Director of Education and others inspected the said Gbanzaba dormitory and the cubicles which were said to be toilet facilities and converted into accommodation.
The Deputy Director General of GES, Stephen Kwaku Owusu speaking to the media said findings of their mission will be made public after the Director General is briefed.
“GES’ management attention was drawn to a video circulating in the media, regarding the management of GHANASCO putting students in a toilet. And we decided that the regional director should come down here to verify the truth of the report. We have received a bit of the report, therefore we decided to come from GES headquarters to find things for ourselves”.
“In a way to corroborate with what is happening in the media or otherwise, that is why I’m here, detailed by the director general of GES to come to the school to find out how the situation is. So that management can make a final decision on this. I will get back to my director and report to him, we will get back to the media on the next line of action,” he said.
Some students have also been speaking to Citi News on the issue.
“The actual fact where they said is toilet is not actually toilet. There’s no feature indicating that it’s a toilet. No one sleeps there,” he stated
Meanwhile, old students of the school have expressed disappointment in the report, insisting that there are enough bed spaces for students in the school.
“We have more than enough space, accommodation for students isn’t a problem at all, let alone to force them to sleep on the floor of the toilet cubicles that were showcased to the whole public,” Alhaji Baba Yakubu, President of the school’s Old Students of Association said.
Due to the delay in paying its members’ professional and skills development allowance, the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) has given notice that it would stop providing its services.
The Union claims that it has waited in vain for the concerned parties to address the issue, together with its members in the Ghana Education Service (GES).
A statement issued by the Union signed by its Secretary, Mark Dankyira Korankye, noted: “We have come to the conclusion that although processes leading to the payment of the allowance have been concluded, our Employer and the Government side are deliberately frustrating the union’s effort in getting this legitimate for our members.”
It noted that leadership of the Union can no more hold the pressure mounting on them by members.
It, therefore, served notice that if no pragmatic steps are put in place towards payment of the allowances, it will withdraw its services.
“If by 15 April 2023, we do not hear of pragmatic and positive measures put in place to ensure payment of the allowances, we will have no option than to resume our strike action which was suspended on 5 January 2023, in good faith and full of trust which has been broken on the side of government,” the statement added.
TEWU, whose members include bursars, cooks, cleaners, administrators, accountants, auditors, among others, called off its nationwide strike last year after a meeting with stakeholders to discuss their grievances.
A committee was set up to deliberate on their grievances after it had called off the strike.
On Wednesday, 13 January 2021, TEWU went on a similar strike over the government’s failure to finalise their conditions of service.
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has petitioned government to engage teacher unions in the creation of policy.
The group explains that as an implementer of policies from the ministry, it is necessary to include its leaders for the intended purpose to be achieved.
Speaking to Citi News, the Greater Accra General Secretary of NAGRAT, Peter Boateng, said this will prevent the opposition to reforms by teachers.
“One of the issues we need to look at is the relationship betweenGES, the policy formulator and the teachers. It’s more or less a master-servant relationship, and it doesn’t promote acceptance of reforms. We think that at the conception stage of the policy, everybody is involved. Getting documents, and having meetings with them is always a problem.”
“Nobody is willing to give information about what they are doing until they are done. When they are done, they call you for a meeting and do a PowerPoint presentation, and then they say they have consulted the unions,” Greater Accra General Secretary of NAGRAT stated.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has refuted claims that it is demanding money from individuals who are hoping to be recruited into the Service.
According to the GES, its attention has been drawn to dubious actions against unsuspecting Nation Builders Corp (NABCO) beneficiaries seeking recruitment into the Service.
The GES has noted that “it is not the practice of the Service to take money from applicants before recruiting them” hence disassociates itself from such allegations.
“These complaints are very disturbing and bring the image of the Service to disrepute.”
“We wish to emphasize that the Service has not contracted any individual to collect any money on its behalf in connection with recruitment,” the GES added.
The general public are advised to report such unscrupulous persons to the police or pay such monies at their risk.
“Ghana Education Service shall not be held liable for such payment.”
Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch Kofi Asare has chided District Directors of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for being silent and cowardly as the government fails to release funds to them to run basic public schools in the country.
Mr. Asare lamented that even as these District Directors are faced with financial challenges, they have remained timid concerning demanding funds for the administration of their schools but have rather looked on as parents are billed to pay for aspects of their children’s education which should be paid for by the government.
He cited the example of an examination fee that is being paid by parents when government is supposed to do so.
He noted that, unlike heads of senior high schools who consistently demand funds to run their schools, district directors have been laid-back and silent over the lack of funds to run basic schools.
Read his full statement below:
As usual, I have a list of District Education Directorates that collected up to GHC15 from pupils to conduct end-of-term exams in public basic schools. I know this is no news-actually a norm! Everyone from the Ministry of Education GH to Ghana Education Service is aware but silent because they have no alternative.
The District Directors, as usual, claim government has not sent any money for exam. I am aware only 12% of the Capitation & Base Grant required for this year was even budgeted by Ken, so I appreciate how basic education will suffer this year too.
While I am not against parental contribution to basic education, I will continue to reiterate that it is the responsibility of the GES under the MOE to fund examinations through the Capitation Grant.
Denying basic school funds and watching teachers tax parents to fund terminal examinations is against the free, compulsory, universal basic education policy and constitutional provision per Article 38(2).
Instead of always pouncing on poor parents to demand cash to fund basic education in the midst of low commitment by government, District Directors should rather muster courage and tell government that they cannot run basic schools with PR.
District Directors of Education must be bold and learn from CHASS to get results. Under the free SHS, immediately CHASS ‘shouts’, a ‘state of emergency’ is declared at the MoE for fear of closure of SHS. Quickly, money is found from nowhere and thrown at them.
This cowardice of District Directors who are responsible for managing basic education will continue to make government even more docile towards financing basic education.
There is too much timidity of leadership at the basic school level to attract any positive response from government.
After a 30 percent raise in the Single Spine Salary Structurefor public sector employees, teachers and staff at the Ghana Education Service (GES) have seen a boost in their basic salary.
This increment took effect from January 1, 2023, and also includes a 15 percent market premium which the government has also agreed to for all teachers and other public sector workers.
The 30 percent is the biggest increment organised labour has secured out of negotiations with the government since 2010 when the government increased the base pay by 20 percent and again by the same margin in 2011.
Since the current administration came to power in 2017, the highest increment has been 12 percent, which was secured in 2017.
The latest increment means the lowest-paid teacher takes home a net salary of GH¢434.01 while the highest-paid teacher takes home a net salary of GH¢8,271.95.
Social Media users have criticised the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Gushegu Districtfor making a student travel 428km to receive Ghc200 award.
Abdul-Latif Fawei who was adjudged the 2022 best student in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the Gushegu district, had to travel 306,4 kilomtres from Wa to Tamale and another 122kilometres to the Gushegu at the invitation of authorities for the award.
The shock has however been the fact that only Ghc200 was concealed in the envelope presented to the awardee and a former student of Gushiegu Senior High school.
Narrating his frustration to the media, he revealed “I went to Gushegu on the 6th March day that was yesterday for the award as best WASSCE student of Gushegu SHS. I was presented with an envelope (containing 200 ghc) by the education director”
Angry social media reactions have greeted the conduct of theEducationDirectorate who took Ghc43,515.00 from the Member of Parliament(MP) from the area in organising the event which coincided with the 66th Independence Day Celebration.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency has denied his involvement in the award of GHc200to the Best WASSCE student in the Gushegu district.
In a release signed by the Gushegu NPP Communication Officer officer, Mohammed Imoro revealed that the MP bore the whole budget of GHC 43,515.00 the District Assembly had presented him as cost of the whole celebration, stressing that the MP had no knowledge that 200 Cedis was going to be awarded to the best 2022 WASSCE student.
A former director general of theGhana Education Service(GES), Charles Aheto Tsegah, has urged the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to switch back to the previous calendar system for second-cycle schools.
In a gbconline.com report, he argued that the new calendar is confusing and disjointed and does not benefit students.
Mr. Aheto-Tsegah called on the two education management institutions to find ways to make students have more contact hours in order to cover the curriculum.
He stated that the current system, which has shortened the academic year, is not conducive to effective learning and does not give students enough time to cover the necessary content.
Mr. Aheto-Tsegah also noted that the new calendar system is causing disruptions in the academic calendar, as some schools are starting at different times and students are missing out on important instructional time.
He suggested that a return to the old calendar system, which had a systematic and comprehensive approach, would be beneficial for both students and teachers.
The former GES Director General emphasized the need for students to have more instructional time to effectively cover the curriculum and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.
He urged the Ministry of Education and the GES to consider this when making decisions about the academic calendar.
A former director-general of the Ghana Education Service(GES), Charles Aheto-Tsegah, has advocated for the closure of schools in the Bawku municipality due to the ongoing chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He made the call on the back of reports that students offered admission to schools in Bawku have turned down the offer.
Sharing his thoughts on the report, the former educationist said the time has come for the government and educational authorities in the area to take drastic and lasting measures to ensure the situation is resolved once and for all.
Making the suggestion to Selorm Adonoo on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah said “no one can tell to what extent the conflict will go, and it has put peoples’ children in danger, so it is better the authorities ensure adequate security measures are put in place to ensure the safety of these students.”
Asked what he thinks of convincing students of schools in the area to report to campus and putting some security measures in place, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah intimated that “the system shouldn’t force students to go to the place because we don’t know when hooligans will enter there and do anything to the students and authorities in the schools.”
“This a good opportunity for the government to close down the schools inBawkuand redistribute the students into other schools so that they can continue their education,” he stressed.
The Free SHS Secretariat in the Upper East Region disclosed the disturbing situation during a media interaction and said the Secretariat was working on providing counselling services for students that were placed in schools in the area.
The Tema Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 28 hardworking teachers for their dedication and performance in teaching.
Each award winner received a television set, citation, and certificate.
This year’s ceremony, which was held on the theme “The transformation agenda of education begins with the teacher,” captured diligent teachers from 2018 to 2022.
Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Greater Accra Regional representative on the Council of State who chaired the programme said Tema had been a citadel of education with good teachers who helped students excel in their academics.
He mentioned that during their days in schools in Tema, the students excelled academically to the extent that the Education Service visited the region to organise unannounced exams to confirm the grades of the students.
Mr E. T. Mensah said with the support of diligent teachers and parental control, the Tema students passed every unannounced quiz with distinction.
He said discipline was at its peak, in those days recalcitrant, and truant students were corporally punished to deter others from adopting unacceptable behaviours and lauded teachers for their work in the life of students.
Mrs. Bernice Ofori, Tema Metro Education Director said teachers made significant impact on the life of students as they were the ones that inspired, challenged, and guided them to come out with their best.
She added that teachers do not only teach their students’ academic subjects but also instill moral values in them.
She said some values included compassion, respect, perseverance, and many other contributions to the personal development of the students since most of their time was spent in school.
Mrs. Ofori also mentioned some challenges teachers go through to manage a diverse student body, navigate challenges in technology, and pedagogy, and adapt to new curricula.
She stressed that teachers needed access to resources, technology, and support from the communities to overcome these challenges they encounter.
Mr. Yohane Armah Ashitey, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive said that the teacher was key to educational transformation in the country.
He said the TMA was taking steps to improve educational infrastructure throughout the Metropolis.
He commended the students for their cultural display and stated that steps were underway to organize an inter-school cultural display competition in the metropolis.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for the publication of the “School placement for sale” committee report.
This comes on the back of the Education Ministry’s alleged refusal to take responsibility for errors and rather dragging GNAT in the widespread scandal that has hit the school placement system.
The Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Mr. Kwasi Kwarteng, according to reports had revealed that janitors and security personnel who were captured as middlemen in the investigative documentary by The Fourth Estate on the controversial ‘Computerised (School) Placement for Sale’ were not employees of the Education Ministry but of the GNAT Hostel.
However, GNAT in reaction to the matter described it as “unfortunate and unbecoming of a body with which we share a common aspiration of guaranteeing the country’s young ones a future of bliss and certainty through education.”
It added: “In view of the attacks by Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng on the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT, we demand the publication of the Committee’s report on ‘School placement for sale’ to assure parents, guardians, and the entire Ghanaian Public and all concerned of its (MOE/GES) continued commitment to upholding standards on the education front.”
Meanwhile, GNAT wants the Director-General to rebuke Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng to refrain from dragging the image of the Association into disrepute on any platform he appears on in the interest of ensuring industrial peace and harmony in the country and the educational front.
“The GNAT is happy that none of its staff was incriminated by the Fourth Estate and hopes that going into the future, the Ministry of Education would plug all loopholes, so that the exercise would not, in the words of Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, be turned into a marketplace where officials linked to the exercise would exercise their mandate through a network of intermediaries, such as security guards and cleaners, as exposed by the Fourth Estate.
“As a key stakeholder in the sector, GNAT will always collaborate with the Ministry of Education in its efforts to improve the sector but will not condone comments and acts that are intended to tarnish the image of the Association,” GNAT warned in its statement.
Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Kwesi Kwarteng, says majority of students received automatic placement under the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
According to him, the system was able to place about 69.24% of students.
He made the remark on Monday, February 20, 2023, while responding to questions about the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
The remaining 30.76% of students who qualified are expected to undertake self-placement to secure a school.
Speaking on other matters, he noted that it is impossible for students to be placed in schools that they didn’t choose.
“When you miss your first choice, the system will consider you for the second choice,” adding that his outfit examines the available slots and “match it up with the number of remaining students who have to be placed.”
He further noted that there has to be transparency and audit in the protocol system.
The GNAT Hall inAccra is crowded with parents and students who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2022 to get placement.
The center was set up by the Ghana Education Service(GES) to help with both self-placement and replacement of students in available schools in all categories, excerpt category ‘A’ schools.
According to the GES, “Out of the 547,329 candidates who sat for the examination, 538,399 qualified for school placement. out of these, 372,780 candidates have automatically been placed into various schools.”
This leaves a total of “165,601 candidates who will have to do self-placement because they could not be matched to their school of choice.”
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the Deputy Coordinator for Free SHS, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah said “the exercise is going to run for six weeks.”
“We are doing the placement into secondary schools, TVET schools and the new STEM schools” she added.
According to one parent, Meshach Fred Mintah, her daughter who got aggregate 9 could not get placement into her first choice school, Holy Child SHS.
“She was rather offered her 4th choice Suhum SHS. She has worked hard so I want a better school for her to study General science.”
Meanwhile, another parent who got a boarding school for his child said, he wants a Day School for her instead.
Reacting to the activities of middlemen, Nana Afrah Mensah warned parents against dealing with such persons.
“The only accredited people you can approach are the people wearing tags. If you are a parent and anyone approach to take money from you and place you in any school, report them to us ” she warned.
The GES has also set up help centers in all 16 regional offices to assist with placement issues across the country.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to make changes to the new academic calendar for schools released recently.
The Local Secretary for Kotobabi District, Gideon Pappoe, and the Chairman for Accra Metro West District of the Association, William Yitah, who have been speaking on Joy Prime’sPrime Morning indicated that there was no consultation before the changes.
The teachers, they said, got the information like everyone else after the calendar was published.
According to them, the current rest days for teachers are not adequate. Their concern is that it will cause a lot of stress and tiredness, thus reduce productivity in class.
Speaking to the host, Roselyn Felli, Mr. Pappoe said, “If you look at this calendar, the vacation is like ten or nine days. Was the strike the teachers had about the Director General legit? About him being a professional, an educationist or coming from another place. I believe a proper consultation should have been done because teachers are also stakeholders in education.”
“What goes on during vacation? Every good teacher sits down and does evaluations and analysis of each student. So at the end of the first term, I have to look at each student’s challenges and positives and know how to plan myself for the next term. Now, I have nine days to do that. You have a class of about 60 or 70, and you have nine days to do that. You also have to rest and spend time with the family. Are nine days enough? Are parents ready to take their kids back to school after nine days?” He quizzed.
He suggested that the previous 25 rest days, despite being less than a month, were a bit sufficient for the teachers.
He also opined that there could be more consultations concerning the amendments before their publication. He thinks there can be a two-year plan to gradually wipe off the new system.
“If it has to get to a point whereby we have to cut one term off to go by the system, it is done. It’s our education system; it can be structured in a way to fit in,” he said.
Adding his opinion to the teachers’ strike about the director-general issue, the Accra Metro West District Chairman of the Association indicated that “it’s not about his competence but the nature of the job that he’s tasked to do. He needs to have an in-depth knowledge of what really goes on in the GES.”
He cautioned the GES not to appoint people who are not professional educators to lead the sector.
As to whether the new calendar will help improve the students’ academics, he said, “It will have an untold hardship on even the children themselves.”
He further revealed that the pressure from GES is having a ripple effect on teachers, as most of them are facing health challenges and even death.
Although the Association is not against the reintroduction of the old academic calendar, they believe it can be done gradually instead of in a rush.
Even though the Association is not satisfied with the changes, Mr. Yitah said “they will manage it with pain” in order to help the students.
Meanwhile, the chairman has notified the public that the Association is putting measures in place to appeal to the GES to make changes to the new calendar.
The ranking member of the Parliament’s education committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to postpone the February 20 reporting deadline for freshmen entering Senior High Schools.
The Akatsi North lawmaker argued that parents will be financially stressed should the government decide to go ahead with such a short reporting notice for freshers considering that the GES is yet to release the school placements for the 2022 BECE graduates.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe said the February 20 date is further going to disrupt the already stressed academic calendar which the GES is trying to rectify by bringing it back to the usual September to July period from the current January to December.
“It is going to affect the calendar because even February 20 is not feasible, and I am of the view that the reopening date should be on March 1.”
He said the prospectus of students varies with respective schools and so ample time should be given to enable parents the time to raise the necessary funds to buy them.
“What you will buy and need to take to the school depends on the school the student will be attending, and I will advise that time should be given to give parents some relief.”
He also urged the government to take measures to resolve the accommodation challenges confronting senior high schools across the country so the double-track system can be abolished.
“Every year, numbers increase, so it should be the priority of authorities to plan ahead and complete all projects on our various school campuses. We should give GETFund enough funds to complete all these uncompleted projects to eliminate the double-track system.”
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe was commenting on the decision of the Ghana Education Service to return to the old academic calendar which was adjusted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who have received placement into various Senior High Schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutions are expected to report to school on February 20, 2023.
This is part of the timetable the Ghana Education Service (GES) has released for the academic year for all SHSs and also basic schools.
The timetable comes ahead of the release of the placements by the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The SHS timetable is in two categories — that for schools under the double-track system and that for those that will run a single stream.
Under the double-track system, freshers are expected to report to school on February 20 and stay in school until April 13 when the first part of the first semester is expected to be over.
They will, however, be required to return to school on June 9, 2023 and stay until August 10, when they will take a second break.
The last lap of the first year begins on September 18 and ends on November 30, 2023, when the students would have completed the second semester of the first year.
For freshers going to schools running the single track, the timetable is slightly different.
For instance, even though they will report on the same day as their counterparts in the double-track schools, they will break on April 5, resume on April 17 and stay until September 15 when their academic calendar will end.
Meanwhile, Form Two students in the double-track system will head home on February 18 and return to school on April 11 till June 1, 2023 for yet another break.
They will be expected to return to school on August 14 until November 30, when the academic year will be over for them.
Meanwhile, their counterparts in the single track, who reported to school on the same date, January 10, will go home on April 6, resume on April 17 and remain until August 25, 2023, when the academic year will end for them.
Final-year students of both the double track and the single stream who reported to school on January 10 will take an 11-day break from April 6 to 16 and return to school on April 17 until June 1 for yet another seven-day break, before going back on June 9 until they complete writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on September 15, 2023.
Transitional calendar
The academic calendar, described as a “transitional”, has been scheduled in such a way that there are two cohorts of students in school at any given time for the double-track schools.
Explaining, the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of Quality and Access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, said the timetable was designed to ensure that over the years, “all students will complete a minimum of 3,134 hours, averaging 1,134 hours per year”.
On the calendar for kindergarten, primary and junior high schools (JHSs), the first term spans January 10 to March 24, while the second term begins from April 3 to June 15.
The third term begins from June 27 to September 14, 2023, while for JHS Three students, the third term begins from June 27 until the end of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which will be written in September this year.
Directive
A letter signed and issued by Dr Tandoh to all regional directors of education asked them to ensure that all heads of basic and second-cycle schools in their respective regions took note of the calendar and complied accordingly to facilitate the smooth running of the academic year.
The letter, titled: “2023 Academic calendar for all Ghana Education Service schools”, wished all staff a successful and productive 2023.
The immediate past Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwah says he and the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum must take full responsibility for the fraudulent acts exposed in the Computerised Selection School Placement System (CSSPS).
Reacting to the “School Placement for Sale” documentary in an interview with JoyNews on Monday, Prof. Amankwah explained that he wrote to the Criminal Investigations Department of Ghana Police while he was in office, to deal with the alleged corruption issues in the CSSPS.
This, he said was part of measures to accept his responsibility as the Head of GES to ensure that corruption-related matters with CSSPS are dealt with.
“If there is fraud in the matter then myself as Director General and the Minister should take responsibility.
“I fully accept that and I fully agree, but that is also the reason why I knew that I am part of it, I took measures to ensure that the issues relating to corruption and payment of monies and things like that have been dealt with and I wrote to the CID and the PMI,” he stated.
This comes after The Fourth Estate released its new documentary ‘School Placement for Sale’.
The documentary captures parents, guardians and officials in charge of the school placement, making deals to put wards in desired institutions.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has assured that persons found wanting in the expose will be dealt with as he promises to work with the relevant security agencies.
“If this is going on, there is a cartel. It has to be stopped and I will work with security agencies to make sure this does not happen under me as the Minister for Education.
“Free SHS is not for sale, so if anybody thinks they can manipulate the system and do something untoward, it has to be stopped,” he told JoyNews.
The only people with access and passwords to approve protocol placement into Category A senior high schools were the Education Minister and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
This was done to prevent fraud, but The Fourth Estate’s investigations revealed that admission to these institutions was facilitated by a network of middlemen that included cleaners and security personnel.
Additionally, it discovered that two state security agencies unexpectedly halted an inquiry into charges of corruption in the placement system that had been sought by the Director-General of GES.
Watch the full investigative documentary by Adwoa Adobea-Owusu and Evans Aziamor-Mensah of The Fourth Estate.
Four Teacher Unions are accusing government of defaulting in the payment of contributions to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Occupational Pension Scheme (Tier 2).
The unions include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers, the Coalition of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ and Educational Workers Union (TEWU).
The unions say although government deducts these contributions every month from their salaries, it is in arrears of over GH¢400 million as payment has not been made since the last payment in March 2022.
The General Secretary of TEWU, Mark Dankyira Korankye, speaking to Citi News on behalf of the four unions, complained that, “We have written several letters to the regulator, that they should ensure that the employer pays the contributions as soon as it’s deducted. Unfortunately, the regulator appears helpless, that is why we have to quickly issue this statement.”
“If the regulator is failing to do its work, then as a first step, we are saying their allowances or fee due them must also not be paid. If they are not being paid their fee, then I think they will be compelled to tell government to pay the ordinary employee their due pensions”.
The students have pleaded with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allow them back to school.
The school was shut down temporarily by REGSEC after students went on rampage on Sunday destroying school properties including six vehicles.
The students caused a power outage and broke into the storerooms of the school and scattered food items.
The students have since been sent home with authorities finding solutions to the problem
Speaking to OTEC News Jacob Agyenim Boateng, on January 24, 2023, some female students of the school said they were worried the situation may affect their future.
While condemning the acts of their male colleagues, the students have appealed to authorities in the region to help re-open the facility for them to continue their education.
“Like any unqualified apology, the first step is to acknowledge that you were wrong. Then all you have to do is look in that person’s face and say we are truly sorry for what happened and we hope our teachers and the public will forgive us”.
“We would like to render an unqualified apology to all especially our tutors for the inconveniences caused by the excesses of the protest that resulted in the destruction of school properties and the consequential closure of the school”.
“We are grateful to all relevant stakeholders for the steps taken already to restore calm in the school, but we are still pleading with them to save our educational career,” they added.
Authorities at the Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District in the Upper East Region have heeded the directive of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reconsider its dismissal decision handed eight female students from the school.
The students have been recalled to start the semester with their mates after they were sacked for insulting president Akufo-Addo.
The dismissal of the students caused mixed reactions with many asking the GES to reverse the decision, while others called on the president to forgive the students and intervene for their recall which he eventually did.
The eight students were seen in a viral video insulting the president for poorly implementing the Free SHS policy which resulted in them going hungry because food items had not been supplied to their school at the time of recording the “very undesirable and unacceptable” video as per the dismissal note from the GES.
They were outrightly dismissed while serving a suspension punishment since November 15, 2022.
Calls were made for their recall and the students expressed remorse and apologized to the president for their misconduct, and he listened and intervened.
A parent of one of the girls confirmed via a telephone conversation he had been called by school authorities to bring back his girl to continue her studies.
Parents and guardians of the embattled students of Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region have expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for intervening in the matter.
“We are happy and grateful to the President for the intervention and all stakeholders who brought this to the attention of the President,” Mr Inusah Hamidu, a guardian of one of the dismissed students told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Chiana.
Eight girls in their final year were summarily dismissed by the Ghana Education Service on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, for insulting and using unprintable words on the President in a viral video in November 2022.
The affected girls and their parents and other members of the public urged the President to have mercy on them and restore their right to education.
As a result, the Ministry of Education, in a statement signed by Mr Kwasi Kwarteng, Spokesperson of the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said the President has intervened and asked for alternative punishment for the affected students.
“The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has intervened in the above subject after his attention was drawn to it.
“Consequently, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has directed the Ghana Education Service to consider an alternative disciplinary action instead of dismissal,” the statement said.
Mr Hamidu said although the alternative disciplinary action was unknown, he believed the stakeholders involved would comply with the President’s directive and allow the girls to return to school.
He said the intervention of the President was a big relief to them and expressed optimism that it would enable the girls to be able to prepare for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr Hamidu noted that in as much as there was the need for parents and guardians to chastise the girls for the bad behaviour exhibited, they needed to also provide counselling and advice to the girls to enable them to stay focused in school.
He said, “we are a humble family of practicing Muslims and we would not want any of our children to go out there and insult the elderly especially not mere person than the President, so, we have advised her and she is more reserved and quiet and I know other parents have equally done same, so we are praying that they will call them back and they will stay focus to write their exams and come back home.”
Meanwhile, Madam Anne Estella Kye-eebo, Upper East Acting Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, noted that a stakeholder meeting would be held on the way forward.
“The President is the father of all, and he has spoken, so there is nothing I can do than to obey. Besides, I am a mother, and they are my children, and we all want the development of the region, but it is not only my decision to take, but we must also meet the stakeholders involved to know what to do,” she added.
On Thursday, the GES dismissed the eight students in the Upper East Region for allegedly insulting President Akufo-Addo.
Prior to the dismissal, the students had been on suspension.
The GES says its investigation into the incident confirmed that the students used unsavoury language against the President in a viral video.
It thus described the actions of the students as “very undesirable, and contrary to the acceptable standards of the conduct generally required of any student in Ghana’s educational system”.
Prior to the dismissal of the students, the GES had earlier apologised to the President over the said conduct.
But the news of their dismissal generated a lot of reactions, with many people expressing mixed feelings about the development.
While some berated the GES, others praise the regulatory body.
According to the critics, the decision is simply untenable.
One of the critics, an advocate for children’s rights was unenthused about the decision.
The Country Director of the International Child Development Programme, Joyce Larnyoh said the Ghana Education Service should employ more appropriate means of punishment other than dismissal.
Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk, Mrs Larnyoh reiterated that no child should be denied the right to education no matter the circumstance.
The Minority in Parliament also stated that the decision was uncalled for and had to be reviewed.
In a statement signed by ranking member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Minority described the decision as ‘harsh’ and ‘retrogressive’.
According to the Minority, even though the students who insulted President Akufo-Addo in a viral video acted out of order, their right to education should not be curtailed.
The statement said the right to education is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution, hence the move by the GES must be reviewed.
“Whereas the Minority is against the misconduct of the eight students, and condemns same, we wish to state that the decision by the GES to dismiss them is harsh and retrogressive”, the statement emphasised.
Having criticised the decision by the GES, the Minority went ahead to plead with the President to intervene in the matter.
The statement from the Ministry of Education, which was signed by its spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, brings relief to the affected students.
Meanwhile, the eight female students have apologised for their conduct.
The dismissal of the eight female students from China Senior High School has been prevented by President Akufo-Addo.
The President took the action after it came to his attention, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Education on Friday.
Accordingly, the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) approval has been revised by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, according to the release.
On Thursday, the GES dismissed the eight students in the Upper East Region for allegedly insulting President Akufo-Addo.
Prior to the dismissal, the students had been on suspension.
The GES says its investigation into the incident confirmed that the students used unsavoury language against the President in a viral video.
It thus described the actions of the students as “very undesirable, and contrary to the acceptable standards of the conduct generally required of any student in Ghana’s educational system”.
Prior to the dismissal of the students, the GES had earlier apologised to the President over the said conduct.
But the news of their dismissal generated a lot of reactions, with many people expressing mixed feelings about the development.
While some berated the GES, others praise the regulatory body.
According to the critics, the decision is simply untenable.
One of the critics, an advocate for children’s rights was unenthused about the decision.
The Country Director of the International Child Development Programme, Joyce Larnyoh said the Ghana Education Service should employ more appropriate means of punishment other than dismissal.
The Minority in Parliament also stated that the decision was uncalled for and had to be reviewed.
In a statement signed by ranking member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Minority described the decision as ‘harsh’ and ‘retrogressive’.
According to the Minority, even though the students who insulted President Akufo-Addo in a viral video acted out of order, their right to education should not be curtailed.
The statement said the right to education is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution, hence the move by the GES must be reviewed.
“Whereas the Minority is against the misconduct of the eight students, and condemns same, we wish to state that the decision by the GES to dismiss them is harsh and retrogressive”, the statement emphasised.
Having criticised the decision by the GES, the Minority went ahead to plead with the President to intervene in the matter.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has received criticism from Rev. Renault Amofa Danquah of the Asante Akyem Agogo Methodist Circuit for its prohibition on caning in elementary and senior high schools (SHS).
Speaking at the Wob3tumi Career Seminar at Asante Akyem Kurofa, Rev. Amofa urged GES to reconsider its “no-cane in school” policy, claiming that it has currently increased indiscipline amongst students.
As part of efforts to make pre-tertiary schools in the country safe and secure for teaching and learning, GES introduced the Safe Schools policy, which is explained as a school with zero tolerance for any form of violence such as bullying, sexual harassment, corporal punishment, and other forms of violence.
In 2017, Ghana Education Service (GES) officially banned all forms of corporal punishment on children in schools as part of efforts to promote a safe and protective learning environment for children.
However, the Akyem Rev is unhappy about the policy saying that if GES refuses to budge on its ban on caning, students would go wayward and the school’s role of instilling discipline and shaping character of students not only on academics would become a daunting task to do.
He added that children were getting away with a lot of things in the schools in the name of child abuse by their teachers, who are supposed to be correcting them.
Meanwhile, Founder of Matumi a Wob3tumi Career Seminar, Williams Amoako, also urged the youth in the country to strive hard for success, inculcating in
themselves the “Can Do Spirit” and advised the youth to be focused and determined in pursuing their dreams.
The ban was met with several concerns, with many saying the move would have a severe impact on the attitude of the youth.
It is also on record that some stakeholders in education, like Mr Angel Carbonu, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), have suggested that the increase in indiscipline in schools can be attributed to a relaxation of the school discipline policy, and that that directive needs to be reviewed.
But Ghana’s education minister, Dr Yaw Adutuwm, thinks otherwise. He believes that, comparatively, canning “hasn’t gotten the Ghanaian student anywhere.”
In agreement, an educationist and Christian counsellor, Dr. John Boakye, also pointed out that studies have shown that corporal punishment does not correct
children or solve problems, it creates fear and hatred in them, which leads them to abuse others as a result.
Some two hundred and fifty-six (256) teachers have filed lawsuits against the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Attorney General.
The lawsuit was initiated as a result of the widespread failure of the teachers’ promotion exams in December 2021.
In December 2021, the plaintiffs who registered for the Assistant Director Grade I position, sat for the exams at the Ada Training College Centre.
Speaking to the media, counsel for the applicants, Mr James Enu, asserted that neither of the teachers who took part in the tests at that center qualified, that, he said was unusual and must be delved in.
He revealed that candidates were apprised of the exam’s pass mark after they were done writing, but the GES was eager to inform them after they had all failed the exam.
According to him, the concerned teachers requested that the GES probe into what may have caused the failure, but the educational body said they found nothing after their investigations.
However, Mr Enu added that the educational body did not undertake thorough checks; the applicants also demander their scripts and scores, but all to no avail.
He disclosed that one of the plaintiffs, who claimed he did not own an index number, was required to use his staff number.
The spokesperson for the counsel also said that even candidates who did not participate in the exams due to reasons known to the GES scored zero.
The GES’ actions, according to the teachers, have had a negative impact as they are unable to carry out their jobs as required.
The teachers have therefore asked the court to throw out the exam results and order the accused to give the applicants their exam results and scripts.
In addition, there is an injunction barring the respondent from holding any additional exams till the case is resolved.
Ten students of Agogo State Senior High School in the Ashanti Akim North District of the Ashanti Region have been mercilessly beaten by teachers for fetching water outside the school campus.
According to the students, they went to the community near the school to fetch water following water shortage on the campus, and while returning to the campus, the teachers numbering about six called them into a staff room and flogged them.
The students after being beaten went home and were sent to the hospital for treatment by their parents.
The students told Abusua FM reporter, King, that this wasn’t the first time such inhumane treatment had been meted out to students for doing no wrong, adding that the teachers are fond of maltreating them.
Some parents in an interview expressed displeasure over the conduct of the teachers and asked the Ghana Education Service to reprimand the teachers.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) in 2019 banned any form of corporal punishment in primary and secondary schools all over Ghana.
In a statement issued by the then Deputy Director General of GES, Anthony Boateng, said teachers are expected to use alternative sanctions as measures for correcting students in schools.
“This is in view of the Positive Discipline Toolkit containing positive and constructive alternatives to correcting children was developed in 2016 as a component of the Safe Schools Resource Pack.”
The statement added that “apart from the physical pain corporal punishment inflicts on children, this approach also causes significant emotional damage. Some of the lasting effects of this method of disciplining school children include physical scars, emotional scars (trauma, fear, timidity etc.) and violent behaviour.”
Steps suggested in the toolkit to address student behaviour include setting class rules with students, encouraging them to be of good behaviour, getting students to recite statements periodically to confirm their adherence to standards of behaviour set for the classroom.
They also include explaining to the child why a particular behaviour he or she has exhibited is unacceptable.
The toolkit also recommended punishments such as withdrawal of responsibility or removal from a leadership position, cleaning, changing of seating position, assignment of extra tasks and writing of lines, eg. A full book of “I will never talk in class again.”
The Ghana Education Service(GES) has condemned the “misconduct” of some students of Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena Nankana West District who were seen in a viral video circulating on social media launching scathing attacks on the President.
In a 60 minutes video, the students of the said school were captured spewing insults at the President using vulgar and unprintable words.
A statement issued by the GES said the students in the video have been identified as second-year students of Chiana Senior High School.
It reiterated that management of the school has begun investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding “such unfortunate utterances and gestures,” adding parents of the students have also been invited to assist in the investigations.
“Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) condemns this unfortunate act which is against every educational and moral principle in our society.
“Management of GES wishes to extend our sincerest apology to H.E. the President and the general public on behalf of the students and school.
“We wish to also assure the general public that the outcome of the investigations will be made known as soon as it is concluded.”
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the heads of public kindergartens and primary schools, as well as junior and senior high schools, to move in to ensure that students at the pre-tertiary levels in the country are kept safe.
This is in the absence of teachers at the pre-tertiary levels after the three teacher unions declared a withdrawal of their services effective Friday, November 4, 2022.
The teacher unions withdrew their services in protest of the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the Director General of the GES.
The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, said in an earlier press conference that it was doing so in protest of the fact that the new GES boss was a banker.
“It is unacceptable for a banker to be appointed as a Director-General of the Ghana Education Service instead of an educationist at the same time when many teachers who did the same courses and related ones were rejected by GES because it is not related to education
“We stated that both the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should apologize to teachers for accepting the very qualifications they rejected when teachers presented them…We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians our intention to go on strike, having reached the November 4 deadline we gave the government. Consequently, we have decided to embark on strike from today, Friday, November 4, 2022. By this, we are informing the general public that we are withdrawing all our services in all the pre-tertiary institutions,” he said.
But the GES has called on the heads of the institutions to take over the safety of students who have been affected by this strike.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has read from the media that the three (3) Teacher Unions in the Pre-tertiary Education sector have declared withdrawal of their services effective Friday, November 4, 2022.
“Heads of public kindergarten and Primary Schools as well as Junior and Senior High Schools have been directed through the Regional and District Directors to mobilise their management teams to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in schools,” the statement, signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, Head of Public Relations, said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed Dr. Eric Nkansah to act as the new director general of the Ghana Education Service on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
The appointment, according to a statement signed by Secretary of the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, aligns with Section 19 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049).
Leadership of the three striking teacher unions will today, Monday, November 7, 2022, meet the Employment and Labour Ministry to continue deliberations over the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The unions declared a strike on Friday, November 4, following their demand for the withdrawal of Dr. Nkansah’s appointment.
An earlier engagement with the Ministry ended inconclusively.
Speaking to Citi News, the President of one of the unions, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu expressed disappointment at the Education Ministry for not addressing their concerns sooner.
“The invitation to even come and jaw-jaw was not from the Education Ministry. They were rather trying to banter us in the media through press conferences instead of sitting with us to discuss the issues. So we are on strike, expecting that our demands will be met at [today’s] meeting.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko-Brobby said he is optimistic that the concerns of the teachers will be addressed.
“This is a matter we can sit and discuss. So I am optimistic that nothing untoward will happen. The issues that they have raised will be looked at and will be resolved by Monday after we meet.”
The unions had requested time to seek the views of their members. They have argued in favour of a career teacher being made the GES boss.
The leaders of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) and the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) have expressed their displeasure over the government’s neglect of the welfare of their members in the 46 Colleges of Education over the years.
The associations in a joint statement accused the Government and the Ghana Education Service (GES) of unfair treatment over the years.
CETAG in January 2022 called off its weeks of strike action after the Government assured the association of taking stringent measures to resolve the non-implementation of its 2017-2020 conditions of service, but those resolutions are yet to be implemented 10 months on.
Leadership of the two associations in their statement have therefore given the Ghana Education Service (GES) five crucial working days to address the following outstanding concerns;
i) Non-finalisation of CETAG’s Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations which started on 14th August 2021 and have direct implications for CENTSAG’s own CoS.
ii)Unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS.
iii) Undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to our request for payment of compensation for all-year-round work to both teaching and non-teaching staff.
iv) Deliberate variation of Fuel, Vehicle Maintenance, and Off-Campus allowances of CETAG and CENTSAG members as compared to our counterparts in other analogous institutions in the face of the rising cost of fuel prices in the country.
v) Unfair retrospective deductions of office holding allowances paid to some members of CENTSAG and CETAG.
The unions added that if these concerns are not resolved by November 11, 2022, “we shall reactivate our indefinite strike actions which we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022, respectively.”
The teacher union has warned of dire consequences should the newly appointed GES boss remain in office by 4 November.
Nkansah took over from Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, who was reassigned to the KNUST after serving as GES boss for nearly six years.
In a communique read to the press at its annual meeting on Sunday (30 October), GNAT described the latest appointment as unfortunate, stressing that the appointee is not an educationist.
The general secretary of GNAT Thomas Tanko Musah, who read the communique was also concerned about the contract extension for the deputy director general of the GES.
“The position of the director general of Ghana Education Service is the preserve of educationists and has since been occupied by educationists since its creation in the 1970s and remains as such even in military regimes.
“Council finds the replacement of Prof Opoku-Amankwa with Dr Eric Nkansah, a banker as unfortunate and untenable,” he said.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has raised concerns over the Ghana Education Service‘s unwillingness to promote teachers and association members to their designated ranks.
According to him, this delay has caused increased agitation among teachers, which could lead to labour unrest.
In a communique signed by the president of GNAT, Rev Issac Owusu, he said some of the agitations, aside from the promotion, also include “failure to supply laptops, allowances payment and opening of base pay negotiations among others.
“Some teachers who were promoted/upgraded since 2015 have not been placed on the right scale. Council finds this irritating and provocative, and with the potential of disturbing the peace on the education front. Council therefore calls on the Ministry of Education/GES to resolve this issue and all other matters relating to Lower Rank promotions by the end of December 2022.” The president stated
Aside from that, GNAT said the decision by the Ministry of Education to appoint a Director General of the GES, Dr. Eric Nkansah, who is not an educationist, sets a lousy precedent among hardworking teachers and educationists; they, therefore, called for the removal of the new GES boss before November 4, 2022.
“The position of Director-General of the Ghana Education Service is the preserve of Educationists, and has been occupied by Educationists since its creation in the 1970s, and remained as such, even under the military regimes. Council found the replacement of Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa with Dr Eric Nkansah, a Banker, as both unfortunate and untenable. In the circumstance, therefore, Council calls for the revocation and subsequent appointment of an Educationist to occupy that office by 4′ November 2022.”
Africa Education Watch has criticised the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the large number of supervisors from the Ghana Education Service (GES) employed in this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Education think tank, in its 2022 WASSCE Ghana Monitoring Report, revealed that out of the 776 supervisors, about 636, representing 82%, were GES staff.
This implies that 18%, or 140 supervisors, were external to WACE.
Africa Education Watch argues that major representation of GES staff “raises potential Conflict of Interest since the WASSCE pass rateis a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for school heads and other GES directors.”
They further described the situation as “inadequate and ineffective external supervision” while indicating that centers that had GES supervisors recorded high cases of exam malpractice.
The Education Policy Research and Advocacy Organisation has therefore recommended that WAEC stops using GES staff as external supervisors.
“The GES cannot externally self-supervise their own in an exam in which many GES invigilators, supervisors, including school heads are at the centre of exam fraud for profit,” it explained.
They also want the Ghana Education Service to adopt a KPI that rewards SHS heads based on the record of no examination fraud during WASSCE as “this will checkmate the current KPI for school heads on WASSCE pass rate.”
“GES (should) sanction staff involved in examination fraud per their code of conduct,” the report added.
The 2022 WASSCE, which was written by Ghana alone this time round, commenced on August 1, with Visual Art Project Work options.
The theory papers started on Monday, August 22, 2022. On September 27, 2022, the pre-tertiary exam came to an end. 422,883 candidates from 977 schools sat for this year’s exams.
There was a collaboration between WAEC and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to monitor the printing of questions to prevent leakage.
Despite the joint efforts, questions for the Elective Mathematics 2 and Core Mathematics 2 papers leaked nine hours before their scheduled time to be written, Africa Education Watch reported.
It noted that “the involvement of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), a.k.a BNI, in the printing of questions led to minimal incidences of question leakages compared to WASSCE 2021.”
The organization’s 2021 WASSCE Monitoring Report found out that 11 papers had leaked.
A teacher union group known as All Teachers Alliance Ghana (ATAG) is describing the move by some teacher Unions to kick against the appointment of the new Director General of Ghana Education Service(GES), Dr. Eric Nkansah, as impulsive.
This comes on the back of the president’s appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service.
According to the union, Dr. Eric Nkansah’s appointment is proper and timely.
Speaking to Citi News, the National Chairman of ATAG, Isaac Ofori said he believes that the new Director General has come to make room for “smart and capable young teachers who have been excluded from power structures and decision-making processes at the education service.”
The Member of Parliament Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has backed teacher unions opposing the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.
Speaking at a Press conference, Dr. Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, said the president should have considered the views of the stakeholders before making the appointment.
The unions have argued that the new Director General of the GES is not a professional teacher and is not a good fit for the role.
Dr. Apaak said, “they are right. There are reasons why we have different professionals… Every profession tries to grow their own to eventually become the person at the apex.”
“So when you bring somebody who doesn’t have that requisite background or doesn’t meet their standard, it also affects morale.”
Dr. Apaak also said the appointment of Dr. Nkansah would also breed more friction between the unions and the government.
“It creates problems in terms of policy implementation because whether the President likes it or not, the director general would have to work with the teacher unions.”
“I have sided with the teacher unions because I believe they are in the theatre and I always give them the benefit of the doubt, believing full well that their request, in this case, is not outrageous,” Dr. Apaak added.
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.
A Public Relations Office (PRO) of the Ministry of Education has refuted assertions that the former Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, was fired because of a misunderstanding with the Education Minister.
According to Kwasi Kwarteng, most people think there was friction between the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the former GES boss because the minister was taking away some of the duties of the GES due to a new law.
His remarks follow an allegation by Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, that Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa was sacked because of his many disagreements with the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
“The real reasons for sending Prof back to the classroom are not in this letter. “The truth is that the tension and frosty relationship between Hon. Adutwum and Prof. Opoku-Amankwa led to this, nothing more, nothing less,” parts of a tweet the MP shared on October 19 read.
But Kwasi Kwarteng, in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, explained that the education ministry reassigning roles of the GES to other agencies of government does not mean that there was a bad relationship between Dr. Adutwum and Prof. Opoku-Amankwa
“The view that the Minister of Education and Prof Opoku-Amankwa did not have a good working relationship is not the case. People are saying this because they see the minister for education reassigning some of the duties of the GES to other agencies.
“But the explanation is that a new law enacted in 2020 by Parliament, the Education Bodies Regulatory Acts, took some of the roles previously played by the GES to other agencies.
“For example, the National Teaching Council, which caters for the well-being of all teachers, was previously just an office under the Ghana Education Services. Another example is the Schools Inspectorate, which is now national and has its director general and so on, used to be a unit under the Ghana Education Service,” he said in Twi.
A former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, says he is grateful for the “numerous” goodwill messages and prayers he has been receiving since his appointment was terminated by the president.
“What gladdens my heart is that the messages are not dirges… I highly appreciate your unfathomable love to me,” he wrote in a letter to directors and staff of GES.
He took the opportunity to express gratitude to everyone who supported him during his tenure to change the faces of pre-tertiary education and the Service, saying “we worked as a team.”
President Akufo-Addo – in a letter dated October 17, 2022 – terminated the appointment of Prof Opoku-Amankwa and directed him to resume his position at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
One of the reasons cited for the decision was that “the exigencies that required [his] skills and expertise as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service do not exist any longer.”
Barely two days after his sacking, the president announced the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah as acting Director-General of the Service.
His appointment took effect from Wednesday, October 19, 2022, pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing Council of the Service.
But Prof Opoku-Amankwa says he is excited at the “soothing and reassuring” words from the GES staff and the public.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for your dedication and the extremely good work relationship that existed between us.
You supported me in many ways to enhance my resumé to bring it to a distinguishing first class, world class CV, and I am highly grateful to you all,” he added.
Disappointment
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) says it is worried about President Akufo-Addo’s dismissal of the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
According to NAGRAT, the development is disappointing.
The President of the Association, Angel Carbonu, in a media interview on Tuesday, said it also has left his members overwhelmingly disappointed.
“This is very disappointing. We are surprised because we had someone who was able to build a very positive relationship and rapport with the union,” Mr Carbonu said.
The outgone Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, has thanked all the directors and staff of the Service who worked under him for helping him better his résumé.
Making his first public statement since he was relieved of secondment duties at the GES by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the professor said that since his removal, he has received countless well-wishing calls and messages.
“I have and continue to receive your calls and numerous messages. I have not been able to pick up your calls or reply to your messages due largely to the sheer volume.
“What gladdens my heart is that the messages are not dirges but goodwills and prayers and very soothing and reassuring messages.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for your dedication and the extremely good work relationship that existed between us,” he wrote.
Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa added that it gladdens his heart that from his work at the GES, he has been able to upgrade his Curriculum Vitae (CV).
“I highly appreciate your unfathomable love to me. We worked as a team and together we’ve changed the face of not only pre-tertiary education but also GES.
“You supported me in many ways to enhance my resumé to bring it to a distinguishing first-class, world-class CV. And I am highly grateful to you all,” he added.
In a letter dated October 17, 2022, and signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, President Akufo-Addo terminated the appointment of the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa.
This brought the appointment of the GES boss, who was appointed in 2017, to an end.
According to ges.gov.gh, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa was appointed as Acting Director-General by President Akufo-Addo in April 2017 and he assumed office on the May 15, 2017.
He was subsequently confirmed as Director-General in October 2017.’
President Akufo-Addo must immediately withdraw the appointment of Dr Eric Nkansah as the acting director-general of the Ghana education service, the National Association of Graduate Teachers has demanded.
Dr Nkansah’s appointment will be made permanent after the advice of the Governing Council of the GES and the Public Services Commission.
A letter from the office of the president announcing his appointment said Dr Nkansah is expected to indicate his acceptance of the role within 14 days.
However, the teacher unions say they are not happy with their new boos.
“The teacher unions started press conferences yesterday [Wednesday, 19 October 2022]. I did mine yesterday and this morning, my brothers in GNAT were supposed to do theirs until there was a development that annoyed and surprised all of us; that a new director-general has been appointed to the Ghana education service”, the President of NAGRAT, Mr Angel Carbonu told journalists at a press conference.
He said: “The authority to appoint a director-general is the president of the land. Unfortunately, contrary to what the teacher unions indicated – that we would want a director-general who is a professional teacher, who has passed through the mill, who can bring his knowledge, skills and influence to bear on the activities of teachers and non-teachers in the Ghana education service, contrary to that, the gentleman who was appointed yesterday, is not a teacher”.
“He is a banking officer who was a special assistant in the office of the minister, and has been appointed as the director-general of the Ghana education service”, he indicated.
“We are not happy with this development. It is as if we don’t have professionals and well-educated people who have gone through the mill in education in this country, to run education”, Mr Carbonu added.
He bemoaned: “It is as if we are being told that we, educationists in the Ghana education service, are not good to manage education in this country.
We are calling on the president to rescind this decision; that the gentleman who has been appointed, is not qualified by any standard, to be the director-general of the Ghana education service”.
Mr Carbonu said Dr Nkansah is an outlier.
“If you look at the history of directors-general of the Ghana education service, they are either senior officers within the Ghana education service or professors from universities who have an education background and we can take them one after the other and you’ll see and know their credentials”.
“The gentleman who has been appointed is qualified as a banking officer, who has done some small stints of teaching with Kumasi Polytechnic in those days”.
“When the minister was appointed, he became a special assistant to the minister and does not have any credentials or qualification to be director-general of the Ghana education service”.
The union of teachers demanded the withdrawal of Dr Nkansah’s appointment.
“We are calling for his removal, he is not qualified to be director-general of the Ghana education service and his presence will not motivate professionals who have been in this Service for more than 20 to 30 years and have risen to higher ranks within the Ghana education service”.
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa has been relieved of his duties.
His dismissal was announced in a letter from the Presidency signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, on Monday, October 17.
According to the letter, the circumstances that required his skills at the GES no longer exist.
“The Ministry of Education has informed this Office that the exigencies that required your skills and expertise as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service do not exist any longer”, part of the letter noted.
“The President thanks you for your service to the nation and wishes you the very best in your future endeavours”, the letter added.
Prof. Opoku-Amankwa was appointed on secondment from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in January 2021. His contract was extended again in June 2021.
However, according to his dismissal letter, the extension was in “contravention of the Human Resource Policy Framework and manual of the Public Services Commission as it purports to extend your secondment beyond the 3-year maximum limit.”
Before his appointment, Prof Opoku-Amankwa was the Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) before he was replaced by Mr Jacob Kor who was Director-General of the GES from January 2015 – April 2017.
Prof Opoku-Amankwa has a PHD in Language and Education from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He studied Social Sciences at the KNUST.
He was also was an Associate Professor in the Department of Publishing Studies at the KNUST and has knowledge about the social, political, economic, and cultural life in Ghana, having studied, worked, and researched in a number of communities across the country for over three decades.
