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C’ttee to present report on Gyaama Pensan SHS riot Friday 

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A committee constituted to investigate disturbances by students of the Gyaama Pensan Senior High/Technical School is expected to present its recommendations on Friday.

This was disclosed by the District Chief Executive for Kwabre East, Nana Osei Assibey Bonsu after an emergency meeting with stakeholders.

The students, who vandalized the headmaster’s bungalow and other school properties over what they described as his refusal to allow them to partake in activities such as inter-schools sports and entertainment.

The police were subsequently dispatched to the school to maintain law and order.

Four students were admitted following the protests but two were discharged on Monday. The other two are reported to be responding to treatment.

Mr Assibey Bonsu said the police officers deployed to the school will remain stationed there until there is absolute calm.

He further indicated that either the school or government will bear the cost of damages, depending on recommendations of the Committee.

“Experts will go round and assess the extent of the damages and let us have the cost of the total damages and we are waiting for the report of the committee. If the committee recommends that the schools will pay, fine they will pay. If the committee recommends that government will pay or the schools should pay, that is where we will take it from so we are waiting for the school’s recommendation.”

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post C’ttee to present report on Gyaama Pensan SHS riot Friday  appeared first on Ghana News.


Nana Addo to rename Wa Poly after Hilla Limann

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President Akufo-Addo has announced that the Wa Polytechnic will be named after Ghana’s former President, Dr. Hilla Liman.

The polytechnic, which is in the process of being re-branded as a Technical University, will be  known as the Hilla Limann Polytechnic, after Parliament’s approval of the proposal.

The late President hails from Gwolu in the Upper West Region.

The President, who made this known at the 20th anniversary celebration in remembrance of Dr. Hilla Limann at the Accra International Conference Centre, said the decision was taken after the school’s governing Council made the recommendation.

The President also pointed out that, the new name will reflect after the school is converted into a technical university.

“The governing Council of Wa Polytechnic in the Upper West Region, in its meeting on 18th January unanimously proposed to the dynamic Minister for Education that the institution should be renamed after Dr. Hilla Limann. The Minister has sought my view on this, and I have indicated to him my happy agreement to this proposal. Once the parliamentary process has been completed, the Wa polytechnic will henceforth be called the Hilla Limann Polytechnic. The name will remain with the conversion of the polytechnic into a technical university,” said the President.

UMaT renamed George Grant University of Mines and Technology

This comes days after the President similarly renamed the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), after the first President of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), George Grant.

The Tarkwa-based tertiary institution was renamed on Friday, January 12, 2018, at a special congregation held at the school to install former President John Kufuor as its Chancellor.

About Dr. Limann

•1941 – 1945: Lawra Confederacy Native Authority School (UIW)

•1946 – 1949: Government Middle School, Tamale (NIR) 1952 – 1955: District Councillor, Tlumu District Council (U/W)

•1954: Lost Parliamentary Election as an Independent Candidate

•1957 – 1960: London School of Economics (Political Science)

•1960 – 1962: Sorbonne University, France (Diploma in French)

•1962 – 1965: University of Paris, (Ph.D. Political Science & Constitutional Law)

•1962 – 1964: University of London (BA Hons) History

•1965 – 1968: Head, Europe Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

•1967: Member Constitutional Commission

•1968 – 1971: Head of Chancery/Official Secretary Ghana Mission, Lome, Togo.

•1971 – 1975: Counsellor, Ghana’s Permanent Mission, Geneva, Switzerland

•1975 (June): Returned to Ghana as Head, Europe, the Americans Southeast Asia Desk. When the ban on politics was lifted in 1979, the Nkrumaists grouped under the Peoples National Party (PNP). The most popular figure and the one most had tipped to lead them to elections was Alhaji Imoro Egala. Egala was however disqualified by SMC Two from running for political office. Egala nominated Limann to lead the Party.

•Although seen by many as a novice in politics, Limann, perhaps, shocked many by beating the more “popular” Victor Owusu of the Popular Front Party (PFP) in the run-off the 1979 elections.

•Limann polled 62 per cent of the votes as against 38 per cent by Owusu. In the Parliamentary election the PNP won 71 seats against 42 by the PFP, 13 by the United National Convention, 10 by the Action Congress Party, three by the Social Democratic Front and one by an Independent candidate.

•1979 (September 24): Sworn-in as President of Ghana’s Third Republic. One of Limann’s first acts was to replenish food stock, which had been depleted by the AFRC’s three-month rule. His government also launched the Gold Endowment Fund as a means of getting investors to Ghana.

•1981 (31 December): Overthrown by Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, leader of the AFRC who had handed over power to him about two and-a-half years earlier. Limann lived a private life and although he tried to re-enter politics in 1992, he failed in his bid to win the presidential elections of that year as the candidate of the People’s National Convention. His last effort in politics was to try and unite the fractured Nkrumaists front and was co-chairman of the Unity Talks aimed at bringing all Nkrumaists under one-fold.

•1998 (23 January): Died of natural causes.

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo to rename Wa Poly after Hilla Limann appeared first on Ghana News.

Stop charging unapproved fees – Volta GES warns headteachers

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Following a Citi News report that authorities of Tsito- Awudome Secondary School [AWUSCO], were charging students unapproved fees, the acting Volta Regional Director of Education has warned all heads of schools in the region to desist from such acts or risk disciplinary actions.

In a caution letter sent to all heads of Second Cycle and Basic Schools in the Region, John Kodzo Teku, the acting Regional Education Director, said his attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools in the region are charging fees that have not been approved by his office, and to a large extent, the Ghana Education Service.

“It has come to my attention that some Heads of Schools in the region are charging unapproved fees/levies, which is against the policy directives of the Ghana Education Service”

He added that “ I therefore wish to call on all Municipal/District Directors to draw the attention of all school heads in their Districts to stay within bounds of the directives for the sector, so to avoid infractions”.

The letter further stated that, all extra tuition (classes) fees have been abolished, unless its becomes extremely necessary which approval must be sought from the directorate.

He therefore warned that a breach of the said rules would be met with appropriate sanctions.

“Municipal/District Directors of Education are to ensure strict compliance as any misconduct on the part of any School Head regarding this directive shall be met with appropriate sanctions”.

under the implementation of the Free SHS policy, government is to ensure that students enjoy secondary education free of charge including shelter, food and educational materials.

But some parents who have their wards in AWUSCO say the school is charging each student an amount of about GHC 150.00. Most of the parents say they are unaware what the funds will be used for.

The Head Master of the Awudome Secondary School, Emmanuel Amu, who declined to speak to Citi News on the matter, was unable to provide any documents to back the approval of the charges.

Meanwhile, sources at the Regional Education Directorate told Citi News that the office has begun investigations into the AWUSCO incident and other similar cases in the region.

By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Stop charging unapproved fees – Volta GES warns headteachers appeared first on Ghana News.

GES sacks ‘runaway’ sex-tape Headmaster

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The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service [GES], has indicated that it has ordered the head teacher caught in a widely circulated sex video, Robert Seppey, to hand over the administration of the Breman Adamanu D/A Basic School to the circuit supervisor of the area.

In a release issued on Tuesday by the District Director of Education, Isaac Godwin Kwesi Acquaah-Arhin, the headteacher, who is believed to be in his forties confessed to the Education Directorate on January 19, that he was indeed the one in the video.

It also says the head teacher pleaded to be forgiven for his conduct, but he was instead ordered to report to the office to hand over his responsibility to the circuit supervisor, to enable him assist the police in their investigations.

The Directorate further noted that, the meeting with the head teacher came shortly after the office met the girl in the video, Priscilla Tettey, in the presence of the Assistant Headmaster of Odoben Senior High School, where she is a student.

The release says she confessed she was a former student Breman Adamanu D/A Basic School, and that she and the head teacher have been in a relationship for some time.

Again, the Directorate says she admitted that she and the head teacher agreed to film their sexual act.

However, a brother of the lady found the video on her memory chip after he took her phone to transfer some songs.

“Other friends of her brother also saw the video and they decided to spread it because they had proposed love to her and she refused,” an update from the Service on Tuesday explained.

According to the Directorate, it has set up a two member committee to probe the matter, while Mr. Seppey is to meet the District Education Disciplinary Committee for appropriate sanctions.

The head teacher is believed to be hiding somewhere, making it difficult for the police to carry out with their investigation.

As a further step, a team of officers led by the District Director of Education, met the community leaders and the Assembly Member of the area, as well as the girl’s parents on Monday to address the issue.

The release explained that, “The community members as well as the father of the girl told the District Director of Education and his team that they have no problem with the head teacher or teachers of the basic school, and have no intentions of harming them”.

Police chase 3 for leaking sex video of headmaster and 18-yr old girl

Meanwhile, the Central Regional Police Command says it is looking for the three young men who allegedly leaked the sex tape and widely circulated it on social media.

According to the police, the three are Bright Abdulai, Joe and Felix Quarm, all residents of Breman Adumanu in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region.

The police say the three will be charged with publication or sale of an obscene material.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Regional Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police, ASP Irene Serwa Oppong, the girl in the video has in her statement to the police, accused the three of circulating the content.

The police have also in their statement, indicated that they have traced the alleged girl, Priscilla Tettey, to her school, Agona Odoben SHS where she is a final year student.

According to the police, she has revealed in her statement that she was born in 1999, making her an eighteen (18) year old girl, and that she and the head teacher, Robert Seppey, have been lovers for some time.

Headteacher not charged with any crime

When Citi News contacted ASP Serwaa Oppong, she explained that the head teacher has not been charged with any crime.

By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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‘Suspended’ UEW VC, 4 others, demand immediate reinstatement

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Lawyers of the five interdicted principal officers of the University of Education, Winneba, have written to the University Council, demanding their immediate reinstatement.

They have threatened to go to Court if their demands are not met within 7 days.

The officers, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mawutor Avoke and Finance Officer, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, were directed by the University Council to step aside for investigations into allegations of financial malfeasance against them.

This follows legal actions involving the university, the local chapter of the teacher union, and some private citizens.

The Supreme Court last month quashed a guilty verdict handed down the officers by the High Court, while upholding the governing Council’s interdiction.

But the lawyers in a letter to the University’s Council, argued that the Council has a calculated agenda to frustrate the officers.

They thus demanded “An immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the Affected Officers, especially (Ing. Daniel Tetteh, Ms. Mary Dzimey, Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie and Prof. Mawutor Avoke,) to their various offices to perform their functions in accordance with law.”

The lawyers also demanded an an immediate and unconditional restoration of the salaries, allowances and privileges attached to the various offices of the Affected Officers, which have been withdrawn as well as an “immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances withheld from the affected officers together with interest thereon.”

Below are other reliefs sought by the lawyers:

  • An immediate cessation of all acts and practices calculated to frustrate the Affected Officers in the performance of their functions and/or remove them from office.
  • An immediate dissolution of the Fact-Finding Committee and an immediate halt to any investigations by the said Committee.
  • Definitive steps to ensure that the Chairperson of the Council and the Pro ViceChancellor are not involved in the setting up of any Committee to investigate the contracts, the subject matter of the court action, or any other contract in which they were involved in its promotion, negotiation, award, execution, payment or commissioning.
  • Definitive steps to ensure that any person or body of persons set up to consider the report of any Committee in respect of the said contracts does not include the Chairperson of the Council or the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Click here for the full letter

Background

In a 23rd May 2017 writ issued, the plaintiff [Supi Kwayera] adduced that the university’s council’s mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university, and rather allowed and permitted the defunct Governing Council which had no mandate whatsoever to continue the functions of a properly constituted Governing Council as if same had been properly constituted.

This Mr. Kwayera insisted was unlawful, and hence his legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.

However, before the substantive claims were looked into, the University, through its counsel, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts, but the application was dismissed.

The University’s branch of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) as a respondent subsequently applied to join the application.

In June this year, the plaintiff prayed the to effect an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st Respondent, its assigns, agents, officers and all other persons acting through the 1st Respondent or claiming to be the lawful representatives of the 1st Respondent from authorizing any payment to any contractor or supplier whose contract is the subject matter of the substantive application before the court.

Again,the injunction was to restrain the 2nd Respondent from recognizing any supposed Principal Officer or any person whose mandate as an officer of the 1st Respondent emanated from the defunct Governing Council as the lawful representative(s) of the 1st Respondent until the final determination of the substantive application.

The injunction also sought to restrain the 1st Respondent and its lawful representatives from making any payment to Ghana Highway Authority or any third party entity including Larmas Construction (GH) Ltd in respect of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ghana Highway Authority for road maintenance until the final determination of the substantive application.

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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TMA to wall all public schools in Tema

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The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema, Felix Mensah Nii Annan-La, says he would promote an agenda of infrastructural development within the Metropolis as part of restoring Tema to its past glory.

Mr. Felix Mensah Nii Annan-La says the TMA under his stewardship would pursue a sustained development on all facets of infrastructure in the Metropolis.

He said this during a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a fence wall for the Community Seven Number One Basic School as well as six other public schools in the Metropolis.

He said, “What we require as an Assembly is your support and assurance that as residents, teachers and parents, we shall uphold our civic responsibilities at all times and also support the Tema Restoration Agenda.

Pledging the construction of a twelve storey classroom block for the school in addition to the walls, the MCE assured that TMA would continue to make good use of revenue realized from rate payers in Tema.

He observed that as a result of the implementation of policies such as the School Feeding Programme, enrollment in basic schools had increased, and facilities overstretched “therefore there is the pressing need for the Assembly to modernize, expand and in some instances, completely overhaul the existing facilities to accommodate our children.”

Mr. Annan-La said, as part of the Tema Restoration Agenda, the TMA, is committed to providing access to quality education for every child in the Metropolis, adding that “our commitment hinges on the fact that a nation can only progress when its people are educated and have skills to support themselves.”

The Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs. Margaret Nsiah Asamoah, said the situation in most of the public schools within the Metropolis poses  a threat to students and teachers, because the schools had become dumping sites for refuse with people regularly encroaching their lands.

She observed that, teachers and students would feel safe to teach and learn respectively, and therefore urged the community members to support the TMA by taking care of the school facilities.

The Headmistress of the Community Seven Number One Basic School, Madam Gloria Agbeshie, said the school is in the middle of the community, and without walls, so the children easily go out of the school into the community.

She said, “Even in the evening, smokers settle here and the most annoying thing is when they finish smoking they would smear the place with toilet, making the children to clean up fecal matter most of the time before they start learning.”

Madam Agbeshie added that, “Others use the school as a walkway, with people walking through to their destinations and then thieves and mentally-ill people run through the facilities at anytime, so the construction of the wall is really a dream come through.”

The Tema Metropolitan Engineer, Maxwell Adu-Boateng, said the TMA had a plan to wall 36 public schools in the Tema Metropolis.

He said the first phase of the project which would be completed in three months, would see the walling of Adjetey Ansah Basic School, Manheam, Tema Newtown, Community Seven Number One Basic School, Kotobabi Basic School, Batsona, and Lashibi School Complex, Lashibi, among others.

Source: GNA

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Ewuraba Ekua is Chartered Accountant at 19

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It is said that, “Success in life is not for those who run fast, but for those who keep running and always on the move.”

This has been one of the motivating factors for one of Ghana’s youngest chartered accountants who is charting a good course for herself, family and the nation at large.

At age 19, young Ewuraba Ekua Aseda Tandoh, popularly referred to as Kukua, is already a qualified accountant.

For many, even the undergraduate experience is challenging, not to talk about studying for a professional qualification along with the degree programme.

However the young enterprising lady, although can work directly with her qualification, is also pursuing a four-year business programme at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), majoring in Accounting, and will complete next year.

This planned academic structure, according to Kukua, is to enable her to become a champion in the business field, with Accounting and Auditing as her backbone in the not-too-distant future.

The Mirror’s encounter

The Mirror came into contact with Kukua after it was informed that a young lady had broken the record of Christiana Opare, who also became a chartered accountant four years ago at age 21.

Young Kukua passed all the three levels of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) examinations.

The ACCA is a global professional body for chartered accountants. Graduates entering sectors such as finance or business are, in many cases, required to train for the ACCA qualification as part of their graduate scheme.

Gaining that qualification is evidence that the holder possesses skills and knowledge which are in high demand by employers in sectors such as banking, auditing and consulting, as well as other professions such as taxation and law.

The ACCA professional qualification is of a high standard and equivalent to completing a full university degree. Globally, it is a passport to mouth-watering job prospects.

ACCA programme

Kukua told The Mirror that after completing her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, she discussed with her father on the need to enrol on the ACCA programme, and started right away.

While pursuing the level one programme, she had admission to the UGBS to read Accounting, which she gladly accepted and combined the two.

“There weren’t many sacrifices to be made because I had a scheduled time for myself. I had to cut down on my social life and concentrate more on the programmes I was pursuing because I have been determined from day one.

“Whenever I had a clash on my timetable, I would go for the ACCA class and try and catch up with lectures at Legon,” she said.

She sat for her first set of three papers in August 2015 and passed all. In September 2016, she attempted her second level papers, but failed one out of the six papers, but had a re-sit and went through successfully.

In December last year, she sat for her last five papers in level three and also came out with flying colours.

She is currently offering an attachment at Virtual Point Associates at Spintex to gather a lot of experience, adding that: “I am always chasing experience to build myself up for greater things ahead of me.”

“As an accountant, I want to use my profession to change society for good, and that is what I want people to realise by contributing in their own small way to building the nation,” she emphasised.

Sharing her perspectives on taxation, Kukua said there was the need for people’s conscience to be pricked since that was used in developing the nation.

Parents’ assistance

Kukua is unassuming, but give her any task, and she is willing and ever ready to deliver it on time.

Her story is an inspiration that good things come to those who dream big and work assiduously to make their academic dreams come true.
She told The Mirror that apart from a lecturer at Legon, she owes much of her success to her father, Mr Bernard Oswald Tandoh, an auditor at UniBank.

“As children, my father identified our talents and passion from infancy. And so far, myself and my elder brother, who is also reading an LLB Programme at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), have never regretted any of his pieces of advice and coaching,” she stated.

The young lady is not prepared to rest on her oars, since she wants to pursue a masters degree and specialise in auditing after her four-year programme at Legon.

Her advice to her age mates and colleagues is “to always know what you want in spite of the challenges, and listen to your parents to direct your path”.

Background

Kukua was born on March 18, 1998 in Accra, but hails from Saltpond in the Central Region.

She attended Queensland International School in Accra, then proceeded to Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School where she pursued Business and came out with 5As, 2Bs and 1C.

She loves to read and research on topics on development, and she is a member of the University of Ghana Accra Campus Club and the African Union Hall, Junior Common Room (JCR).

When she is less busy, Kukua goes out with friends to unwind.

Mrs Laetitia Eba Tandoh, an English teacher at Queensland International School, is the brilliant lady’s mother.

She has an elder brother, Fiifi Tandoh (21), and a younger brother, Yooku Tandoh, who is 10 years old.

Source: Graphic Online

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Gedaid Foundation donates books to 13 Accra schools

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Gedaid Foundation, a local nongovernmental organization with the vision to help reduce illiteracy in basic schools across the country, has donated 3,000 reading books to 13 basic schools in the Accra Metropolis, Labone and 37 enclaves as part of its three-books-per-child literacy project.

The goal of the project is to ensure that every child in basic school reads at least one story book a term, three books a year and 18 books for the first six years of basic education.

The Executive Director of Gedaid Foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Asafo-Adjei presented the 3,000 books to head teachers of the 13 recipient schools at a brief donation ceremony held at the Kanda cluster of schools in Accra.

The lead sponsor of the donation was the Rotary Club of Labone.

Mr. Asafo-Adjei stated at the occasion that, the child literacy project envisioned helping government implement the 4Rs (Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic and Receation) as contained in Ghana’s 2018 Budget.

He stressed that, the project will be expanded to all basic schools, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service (GES) and other stakeholders from 2018 to 2030 to help pupils in basic schools develop better skills in reading and writing and also help Ghana work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Four of the United Nations.

According to the Executive Director, 750 million of the world’s population cannot read and write. Out of that figure, 250 million have stepped into the classroom but are illiterate.

He further stated that “current report in 2017 from UNESCO and the World Bank indicates that 600 million children are in school but cannot read.

The situation is not different in Ghana where a study commissioned by GES revealed that only two percent of class two pupils in basic schools are proficient in reading”.

Mr. Asafo-Adjei, said, his outfit conducted a literacy needs assessment to understand the reading trend in the beneficiary schools which showed that the literacy project will benefit 1,359 pupils in class one to three.

Out of the total, 394 pupils cannot read at all, 339 are struggling readers, and 629 are proficient readers.

The factors accounting for the literacy deficiency include the lack of parental involvement in their children’s education, access to supplementary reading books and inadequate literacy workshops.

He also emphasized, that, although the GES has introduced early morning reading to enhance literacy in basic schools, all the beneficiary schools do not have reading books apart from a few old textbooks.

He noted that “with the exception of one school, all the basic schools do not have libraries. With this trend of reading deficiency in public basic schools, there is the need to embark on such a project to reduce illiteracy in the country.”

Group photograph of Gedaid Foundation officials, GES Accra Metro, head teachers and members of Rotary Club of Labone

The Executive Director of Gedaid said his foundation has acquired over one hundred supplementary readers which have all been rigorously assessed and recommended by the Ghana Education Service and the Curriculum Research and Development Division for basic schools across the country.

He appealed to Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and the sub-metros to join Gedaid to make available 12 million copies of the foundation’s approved books to basic schools in order to reduce illiteracy across the country.

The Deputy Director responsible for Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ghana Education Service, Accra Metro, Madam Mable Esi Asigbetse commended the Foundation’s literacy initiative and promised that her outfit will supervise and ensure that the schools put the books to good use in order to achieve the purpose of the initiative.

She also charged the teachers to take good care of the books. A representative of the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Mr. Oladade Williams commended Gedaid Foundation for the laudable gesture; and affirmed that, the MP is ready to partner the foundation to extend the project to all the schools within his jurisdiction.

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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PwC to begin skills audit of COTVET

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PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana Limited is set to begin a Skills Gap Analysis and Audit in seven priority sectors under the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

COTVET has said this move is in line with government’s renewed focus on making Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) “the bedrock of its agenda to Industrialize the country’s economy.”

The priority sectors considered for the first phase of the audit are; Agriculture, Manufacturing, construction, information communication technology, tourism and hospitality, energy, electronics, automation and electricals.

Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah (R) and Maxwell Darkwa exchanging the Contract Document

“Among other things, PricewaterhouseCoopers (Ghana) Limited are expected to profile occupations in all sectors mentioned, develop a directory of the skill-sets requirement of all occupations along their value chains, conduct a skills audit of the industries within the sectors, conduct programmes audit of TVET institutions and Technical Universities and their related skills-sets, conduct analysis of the skills gap identified in occupations within various sectors, and determine the programmes relevant to the world of work with stakeholders,” a statement from COTVET said.

The findings of the audit are expected to “contribute to the setting up of Sector Skills Councils to help with the generation and upgrading of standards within the Competency-Based Training (CBT) Framework.”

Find the full statement below

COTVET and PWC Sign agreement for Skills Gap Analysis and Audit (Phase I)

The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), representing the Government of Ghana has signed an agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Ghana) Limited to conduct a Skills Gap Analysis and Audit in seven priority sectors.

In line with government’s renewed focus on making Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the bedrock of its agenda to Industrialise the country’s economy and Ghana beyond aid, COTVET as part of advancing its mandate of overseeing, regulating and giving policy advice to Government is leading the process of Transforming TVET delivery to make it relevant to industry by producing the required expertise to propel growth within specified sectors in the long term.

The priority sectors considered for the first phase are; Agriculture, Manufacturing, Construction, Information Communication Technology, Tourism and Hospitality, Energy (Renewable Energy and Oil & Gas), Electronics, Automation and Electrical.

Among other things, PricewaterhouseCoopers (Ghana) Limited are expected to profile occupations in all sectors mentioned, develop a directory of the skill-sets requirement of all occupations along their value chains, conduct a skills audit of the industries within the sectors, conduct programmes audit of TVET institutions and Technical Universities and their related skills-sets, conduct analysis of the skills gap identified in occupations within various sectors, and determine the programmes relevant to the world of work with stakeholders.

The exercise forms part of various measures outline in the TVET Transformational Agenda (2018-2022). The Ministry of Education (MOE) is working through COTVET to ensure that all stakeholders within the TVET and Skills development landscape are engaged.

The Analysis and Audit findings will contribute to the setting up of Sector Skills Councils to help with the generation and upgrading of standards within the Competency-Based Training (CBT) Framework.

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Nana Addo petitioned over LI for law school admissions

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The Association of Law Students has petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to cause the withdrawal of the controversial Legal Profession Regulations 2017 from Parliament.

The Association wants the President to impress on Members of Parliament to vote against the regulation.

The General Legal Council laid the Regulations in Parliament in mid-December 2017, in response to a Supreme Court order for a clear admission procedure into the Ghana School of Law, and call to the Ghana Bar.

The proposed LI in question, among other things, states that the General Legal Council will conduct an entrance exam for the admission of students to the school, and conduct interviews for all applicants who pass the Ghana School of Law Entrance Examination.

The LI is expected to become Law in February, 2018.

But the law students maintain that if the document is passed in its current form, it will restrict access to legal education.

Speaking to Citi News, the President of the Association, Noah Tetteh, said, “we are asking for students to be allowed to go to the law school, and directly after that, there should be an examination that they will take and if they pass that exam, then those who make it will be called to the Bar as lawyers. We are asking for the intervention of the President. Take away the exams. Take away the interview and allow students to go straight to the law school to be trained as lawyers.”

Noah Tetteh stressed that, the Legal Council should be more focused on improving the quality of legal education and not restricting access.

“The Act which regulates Legal education has been there since the inception of legal education in Ghana. It is not about restricting people’s access to the law school that will churn out quality lawyers in Ghana. It’s about allowing people to go to the law school to improve facilities to improve their education. That is the reason why we petitioned the President.”

Protest from students

A group calling itself the Concerned Law Students had earlier submitted a petition to Parliament against the new LI, describing it as a deliberate attempt by the GLC to frustrate them, something they considered a violation of their rights.

Ken Addor Donkor, the leader of the group, said the proposed LI was an attempt to kill the dreams of law students.

Exams, interviews barred for Law School

When the Supreme Court declared the interviews unconstitutional, it said the requirements are in violation of the Legislative Instrument 1296, which gives direction for the mode of admission.

The Justices in delivering their judgment, also indicated that their order should not take retrospective effect, but should be implemented in six months, when admissions for the 2018 academic year begin.

The plaintiff, Professor Kwaku Asare, a United States-based Ghanaian lawyer, went to court in 2015, challenging the legality of the modes of admission used by the Ghana School of Law.

According to him, the number of people who were admitted into the Ghana School of Law was woefully small considering the number of people who possessed LLB.

The Ghana Law School has been criticized for being overly rigid considering that it serves 12 schools providing LLB degrees.

The current training regime limits the intake into the Ghana Law School to under 500 of the about-2000 LLB graduates annually.

In his suit, Professor Kwaku Asare prayed for a declaration that GLC’s imposition of entrance examination and interview requirements for the Professional Law Course violates Articles ll (7) 297 (d) 23, 296 (a) (b) and 18 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.

By: Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo petitioned over LI for law school admissions appeared first on Ghana News.

U/West: Erimon SHS closed down after students’ riot

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The Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, has closed down Erimon Senior High Technical School in the Lawra District of the Upper West Region, after students of the institution went on a rampage supposedly in protest against the school’s authorities.

The Directorate has set up a five-member team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violent demonstration which destroyed sections of dormitories, administrative block and classroom structures last Saturday.

The Upper West Regional Director of Education, Evans Kpebah, told Citi News that the team has just a week to submit a report for a swift action to be taken.

He said the membership of the Committee investigating the incident includes the police, the regional directorate of education, and other stakeholders.

The Upper West Regional Director, who visited the school on Sunday morning with a police team, said: “the situation is currently under control.”

He however declined to comment on the issues that triggered the demonstration, saying “I don’t want to tamper with the investigations.”

Possible cause of rioting

Citi News sources however say the students acted in protest against a disciplinary measure imposed on one of them, by a friend of a teacher of the school, who had accompanied the teacher to the premises that night.

Sources said the visiting friend of the teacher went as far as lashing the student for a “misbehaviour” [improper dressing], a situation that angered the students who reacted in a violent manner.

Other student riots

The most recent student riots occurred at Dabokpa Technical Institute in the Northern Region, and the Gyaama Pensan Senior High Technical School in the Kwabre East District  of the Ashanti Region.

In March 2017, Dabokpa Technical Institute in the Northern Region was temporarily shut down following the riot.

In December 2017, angry Gyaama Pensan Senior High Technical School students protested against the headmaster of the school, whom they say prevented them from partaking in extracurricular activities such as inter-school sports competition, quizzes and entertainment.

The students have vandalized school properties including the vehicle of the headmaster and his apartment.

By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/West: Erimon SHS closed down after students’ riot appeared first on Ghana News.

C’ttee to present report on Erimon SHS students’ riot on Friday

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The Committee set up by the Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service [GES], to investigate circumstances surrounding a violent protest by students of Erimon Senior High Technical School in the Lawra District,  is expected to present its report on Friday, February 2.

Citi News sources say students acted in protest against a disciplinary measure imposed on one of them by a friend of a teacher of the school, who had accompanied the latter to the premises that night.

Sources say the visiting friend of the teacher went as far as lashing the student for a “misbehaviour” [improper dressing], a situation that angered the students who reacted in a violent manner.

The Upper West Regional Director of Education, Evans Kpebah, could not confirm whether the account given by these sources were true.

He however noted that, the Committee will reveal all details on the cause of the protest.

“We have set up a committee to investigate this and we are giving them five days to submit the report. As at now , like I mentioned, I cannot comment on the issues that might have been the cause..We are still waiting for the report,” he explained on Eyewitness News.

Students broke lamps, destroyed streetlights

Mr. Kpebah further painted a grim picture of the demonstration, saying the students “broke all the lamps, streetlights in the area” in the course of their protest.

The school , according to Mr. Kpebah, has since been closed down, but it is still unclear when it will reopen.

Other student riots

The most recent student riots occurred at Dabokpa Technical Institute in the Northern Region, and the Gyaama Pensan Senior High Technical School in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region.

In March 2017, Dabokpa Technical Institute in the Northern Region was temporarily shut down following the riot.

In December 2017, angry Gyaama Pensan Senior High Technical School students protested against the headmaster of the school, whom they say prevented them from partaking in extracurricular activities such as inter-school sports competition, quizzes and entertainment.

The students have vandalized school properties including the vehicle of the headmaster and his apartment.

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Rehabilitate abandoned children’s park – Students beg V/R Minister

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Some children in the Volta Region have appealed to the Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, to ensure the rehabilitation of their abandoned park.

The Regional Children’s Park, located at Anlo Kordzi in Ho, was acquired in 1988 with the purpose of developing it into a multipurpose Recreational Centre for children in the region.

It was also supposed to include, among other things, a library where various learning material would be available to the children to help them improve their cognitive skills.

But the park has since been abandoned, with encroachers taking over the land and refuse being dumped in some sections.

The area has become a haven for hooligans, making the area generally unsafe for children who would normally play at the park.

The situation, the children lamented, is denying them their right to rest and leisure per the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child which Ghana is subscribed to.

Presenting the petition to the Regional Minister during his end-of-year interaction with them, the children outlined the various benefits they would derive from the park if government showed commitment to rehabilitate it.

“….Article 31 of the United Nations Conventions on the Right of the Child states that, every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child to participate freely in cultural life and the arts. By the meaning of this article, we children in the region are losing out on a lot of fun, as we see children do on TV at the Afua Sutherland’s Children’s Park”

“The existence of the Children’s Park in the region will help us partake in adventure programmes which will teach us the importance of trust, appropriate risk-taking, supportive social interaction and personal challenges while creating valuable lifelong memories as well as social interaction through recreation and to break down fear and isolation among others” they stated.

The children also used the opportunity to plead with the Regional Minister to strengthen the various mechanisms ensure that their rights as children are protected and support their growth.

On his part, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, who was excited to host the children in what he described as an ‘all-important interaction’, pledged government’s commitments to improving the lives of children in the region and for that matter Ghana.

He reminded the children of the key role they play in the growth of the country’s human resources and advised them to be responsible citizens.

He assured them that urgent attention would be given to their concerns and to ensure the original plans for the park are realised.

By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rehabilitate abandoned children’s park – Students beg V/R Minister appeared first on Ghana News.

Gyamaa Pensan SHS students levied 100 cedis each after rioting

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Each student of the Gyaama Pensan Senior High Technical School in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region, has been asked to pay Ghc 100 to to cater for damage caused to properties following disturbances by some students.

The students were also made to sign a bond to be of good behavior.

Parents and guardians of the students have also signed an undertaking after a four-hour meeting with school authorities on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

The angry students on Sunday, January 22, protested against the headmaster, whom they say has prevented them from partaking in extra curricula activities such as inter-school sports competition, quizzes and entertainment.

Four of the students sustained injuries in the course of the riot. The students vandalized school properties including the vehicle of the headmaster and his apartment.

A five-member committee was set-up by the Ashanti Regional Education Directorate to investigate the cause of the disturbances.

At a meeting with parents on Tuesday, Board Chairman of the school, Stephen Anderson, announced that the District Engineer was directed to assess the damage caused by the students, and that each student was to be levied Ghc 100 to repair the damaged properties.

He also asked parents to sign an undertaking and allow their wards to sign a bond to be of good behavior.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Anderson said the parents were complying with the payment process.

“The committee has come out based on the estimate from the District Engineer that every student should pay 100 cedis…Because most of the parents were not aware, the committee has come out that those who have the money should pay and then sign the bond with their wards and leave their children to attend classes. But those who don’t have the money can still sign the bond and pay the money by next week”, he added.

Some parents who paid the levies condemned the action by the students.

The parents who were equally not happy about the incident, appealed to authorities to ensure that they do not occur.

By: Hafiz Tijani/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Rigorous admission process to ensure quality – Law School Registrar

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The Registrar of the Ghana School of Law, Nana Osei Bonsu, has justified the rigorous admission procedures of the School saying it is to ensure quality.

According to him, the stringent admission procedures will help the school do away with students who have not had adequate training from their respective law faculties in tertiary institutions.

“As legal educators, our mandate is to give access and also ensure quality, so we are not going to allow anybody to just come and say he is going to do law when we are not sure you have had enough training at the LLB level… There are some products from the faculties who do not meet the standard required to do law,” Nana Osei Bonsu said in a Citi News interview.

Some law students and legal practitioners are resisting the passage of the Legal Profession Regulations 2017 currently before Parliament which seeks to scrutinize entry to the law school.

The concerned groups argue that, the LI, if implemented, will prevent otherwise qualified graduates from pursuing the law program.

The proposed LI among other things, states that the General Legal Council will conduct an entrance exam for the admission of students to the school, and conduct interviews for all applicants who pass the Ghana School of Law Entrance Examination.

The General Legal Council laid the Regulations in Parliament in mid-December 2017, in response to a Supreme Court order for a clear admission procedure into the Ghana School of Law, and call to the Ghana Bar.

Protest from students

A group calling itself the Concerned Law Students had earlier submitted a petition to Parliament against the new LI, describing it as a deliberate attempt by the GLC to frustrate them, something they considered a violation of their rights.

Ken Addor Donkor, the leader of the group, said the proposed LI was an attempt to kill the dreams of law students.

Exams, interviews barred for Law School

When the Supreme Court declared the interviews unconstitutional, it said the requirements are in violation of the Legislative Instrument 1296, which gives direction for the mode of admission.

The Justices in delivering their judgment, also indicated that their order should not take retrospective effect, but should be implemented in six months, when admissions for the 2018 academic year begin.

The plaintiff, Professor Kwaku Asare, a United States-based Ghanaian lawyer, went to court in 2015, challenging the legality of the modes of admission used by the Ghana School of Law.

According to him, the number of people who were admitted into the Ghana School of Law was woefully small considering the number of people who possessed LLB.

The Ghana Law School has been criticized for being overly rigid considering that it serves 12 schools providing LLB degrees.

The current training regime limits the intake into the Ghana Law School to under 500 of the about-2000 LLB graduates annually.

In his suit, Professor Kwaku Asare prayed for a declaration that GLC’s imposition of entrance examination and interview requirements for the Professional Law Course violates Articles ll (7) 297 (d) 23, 296 (a) (b) and 18 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.

By: Sixtus Dong-Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rigorous admission process to ensure quality – Law School Registrar appeared first on Ghana News.


GES begins probe into sexual abuse claims by Ejisuman SHS tutors

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The Ghana Education Service [GES], has set up a seven-member committee to investigate allegations that some male teachers of Ejisuman Senior High School are having sex with some of their female students.

Serving on this committee are representatives from the GES, the Ghana Police Service, the Municipal Assembly, the School’s Board of Governors and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

It is chaired by Patrick D. Boateng, and it has been given two weeks to submit its findings.

Mohammed Habib, the Municipal Coordinating Director at the official inauguration, reminded the members to be diligent in the assigned task, and do a thorough job to establish the truth or otherwise of the allegation that had triggered a wave of public outcry.

He added that, it was an opportunity for everybody with any shred of evidence relating to the matter to provide it.

The committee would begin its public hearing today [Wednesday].

Nana Kofi Poku, the Nkosuohene of Ejisu, who is reported to have made the sex misconduct claim, would be appearing before it.

Also expected to give evidence are teachers and students of the SHS and some journalists.

Source: GNA

The post GES begins probe into sexual abuse claims by Ejisuman SHS tutors appeared first on Ghana News.

Children study under trees as contractor abandons school project in U/W

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A six-unit classroom block and teachers’ bungalow for Tousa L/A Primary School in Wa East, awarded on contract in 2011, has been abandoned, forcing pupils and teachers to undertake lessons under trees and in crumbled old rooms.

The School with enrollment of 220, and located in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region, was expected to have been completed in 2012, but was soon deserted after the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2012.

Mr. Yussif Moomin, Headteacher of the School, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that the education facility also lacked furniture for both learners and teachers.

He appealed to education authorities and duty-bearers to take swift action to revamp the ‘dumped project’ and alleviate the plight of children and staff as the psychological and health implications of learning under trees could be severe.

Information gathered by the GNA indicated that, the contract was awarded in 2011, and work started immediately, but halted soon after the 2012 polls, when the then District Chief Executive also secured a parliamentary seat.

The situation in the school environment has created overcrowding in classrooms as multiple classes have been merged and the pupils forced into the joint rooms.

According to GNA’s checks, repeated attempts by the then District Chief Executive, Abudu Abdul-Karim who took over the administration in 2014 to get the contractor back to continue the project proved futile.

Mr. Bayorn Dramani, the Assembly Member for Tousa Electoral Area said “the issue of abandoned projects has become a concern on daily basis, yet we are not seeing any positive result.”

“At the moment, the pupils are pairing classrooms, class two and three pupils are always kept in a single classroom, and some of the pupils are sitting under tress to observe classes,” he said.

“Others also sit in a shed provided by the PTA [Parent Teacher Association], but during the rainy season when it’s cloudy and ready to rain, we do allow them to run into the structure,” he added: “We complained to the Assembly but they’ve also failed us.”

However, Mr. Evans Kpebah, the Upper West Regional Education Director, who is also the Acting Wa East District Director of Education, when contacted by the GNA, confirmed the six-unit primary school project had essentially been dumped, and that he could not find the contractor responsible for the project.

“I have sketchy information about the school project, the project commenced in 2011, it is actually true that it has been abandoned,” he said: “it is roofed but the floor is not plastered, no windows and no doors put in.”

“According to sources, the contractor is one Mr. Tanko and he is from Bawku, and I don’t know who awarded the contract, that is all what I can say about the project,” he added.

The District Chief Executive for the Wa East district, Moses Jotie, said he was aware of the uncompleted school building but pleaded for more time to have a full report on it.

His plea followed weeks of contacts by the GNA to have him speak on the matter, and how the Assembly could help salvage the 220 pupils and their teachers from having regular lessons under trees and in overcrowded classrooms that expose learners and teachers to health risks.

Source: GNA

The post Children study under trees as contractor abandons school project in U/W appeared first on Ghana News.

GIJ lifts ban on charging of phones, laptops on campus

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The Ghana Institute of Journalism [GIJ], has lifted a ban it imposed a year ago on the charging of mobile phones and laptops on campus.

This comes after the several petitions from the student leadership over the matter.

The management of the school earlier in 2017 imposed the ban supposedly because students were misusing sockets in the various lecture halls.

Among the reasons cited for the imposition of the ban was the lack of concentration by students who fidget with their phones and laptops while lecturers were ongoing.

The General Secretary of the Students Representative Council of GIJ, Nathaniel Alpha, in a statement announcing the decision by management on January 28, 2018, said, the lifting of the ban takes immediate effect.

Some students of the school have had their mobile phones and laptops seized by school authorities for flouting the ban when it was in force. They often had to go through tedious administrative processes before retrieving their devices.

Many students complained that the ban was regressive and negatively impacted on their academic work. However, the complaints did not yield positive results.

Nathaniel Alpha said, “The SRC President, aware of the seriousness of the issue, forwarded these concerns to the Governing Council of the Institute, and made submissions at Council sittings to this effect… after several days, weeks and months of petitions, letters, meetings and the deployment of various advocacy techniques, management backed by a decision of the school’s Governing Council; which the SRC President is a member of, has revoked this decision.”

While noting that all electrical sockets were being reconnected to enable students use them, he urged the student populace to “handle the sockets well.”

By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIJ lifts ban on charging of phones, laptops on campus appeared first on Ghana News.

Mawuko Girls SHS introduces e-voting in school elections

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The ICT Department of E.P.C Mawuko Girls, have for the time developed a novelty in the election of student leaders by introducing an Electronic Voting System.

The school, which has been using ballot paper system during previous student elections, have developed a virtual platform that allows students to vote for their preferred candidates in less than a minute process.

The procedure begins with the electorates validating their names in the voters’ register, followed by taking an automated generated identification number to enable them have access to the virtual platform.

They then follow the options provided to cast their ballot for their preferred candidates by clicking ‘Yes’ under the candidate’s photograph.

Cornelius Sekley, the Head of ICT Department of Mawuko Senior High School, told Citi News that the move is to make students aware of the various application in the Information Communication Technology space and to prepare them for electronic voting systems which would soon dominate major elections across nations.

“…Of cause this is our first time we are going for the E voting, ICT has come to stay and eventually it’s becoming part of our day to day activities so we thought it wise if we have been using ballot papers for all these years, why don’t us move to the next level by using the I.T materials that are available to us” he said.

The process is expected to enable a total number of about 2,500 students to cast their votes to elect candidates for the various positions of School prefect, Assistant Girls’ Prefect, Dining Hall perfect, Compound overseer and entertainment prefect for the 2018/ 2019 academic year.

By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mawuko Girls SHS introduces e-voting in school elections appeared first on Ghana News.

Youth illiteracy highest in disaster, conflict-hit countries – UNICEF

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UNICEF, in a new study, says 30 percent of 59 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in countries affected by conflict and disaster are illiterate.

It said that number is triple the global rate and girls are at the biggest disadvantage when it comes to getting an education.

UNICEF said four impoverished African countries with a long history of instability have the highest rates of young people unable to read or write — Niger with 76 percent, Chad with 69 percent, South Sudan with 68 percent and the Central African Republic with 64 percent.

Henrietta Fore, new Executive Director of UNICEF, said “these numbers are a stark reminder of the tragic impact that the crises has on children’s education, their futures, and the stability and growth of their economies and societies.”

“An uneducated child who grows into an illiterate youth in a country ripped apart by conflict or destroyed by disasters may not have much of a chance.”

UNICEF said it used the last data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics to calculate illiteracy rates among young people aged 15 to 24 in 27 of the 32 countries where the children’s agency has launched humanitarian appeals. Comparable data was not available for the five other countries, it said.

UNICEF said that despite the critical importance of schooling for boys and girls, only 3.6 percent of humanitarian funding goes toward providing education for children living in emergencies, making it one of the least-funded sectors in humanitarian appeals.

Overall, the agency estimates it will spend approximately $1 billion a year on education programmes over the next four years.

UNICEF urged governments and other partners to provide young children with access to quality early education programs, offer illiterate young people the opportunity to learn to read and write, and increase investment in education, particularly for the most disadvantaged.

“For all children to fully reap the benefits of learning, it is key that they get the best quality education, as early as possible,” Fore said.

Source: GNA

The post Youth illiteracy highest in disaster, conflict-hit countries – UNICEF appeared first on Ghana News.

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