Some students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are protesting a decision by the school’s management to convert two all-male halls into mixed halls.

Management wants University Hall, popularly known as Katanga and Unity Hall to now accommodate females.

The students have vowed to resist the move saying that they will stage a massive demonstration to register their displeasure over the decision.

They argue that the decision, should it stand, will erode a long-standing tradition of the two halls, which must be guarded.

The spokesperson of the University, Kwame Yeboah Jnr., told Gemma Appiah of Citi FM’s partner station, Focus FM that, the University seeks to meet international standards of gender balance on University campuses.

“It is to provide accommodation for more females students in the University. We will need more places for females so the result has been to continue the process of making the male halls mixed ones,” he said.

Halls such as Independence Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Republic Hall were all occupied by only males in the past but were converted to mixed halls.

Africa Hall remains the only single-sex hall at the school for only females.

But some students believe that management’s decision is a strategy to curtail the long-standing feud between the two halls which has often turned bloody.

Meanwhile, the President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the school, David Dannah says it is making efforts to ensure that students understand the motive behind the decision.

“We also have a responsibility to protect what KNUST stands for. We are serving the interest of our students, making sure that everyone is okay with every decision that is being taken,” he said.

‘UG’s Commonwealth Hall to be mixed hall’

In 2010, there was an attempt to convert Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana to a mixed hall.

The Hall, which is the only men-only hall at the University had gained notoriety for resistance to many University policies and have openly staged protests against University management.

The attempt to convert the hall to a mixed-sex hall was seen as an attempt to limit the hall’s influence against management.

It came at a time when members of the hall heckled the Chancellor and former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and other dignitaries who attended the 2010 Congregation of the University.

The University described their behaviour as “unruly”.

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By: Jonas Nyabor & Gemma Appiah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post KNUST: Students protest conversion of Katanga, Conti to mixed halls appeared first on Ghana News.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says Africa has the resources and capacity to finance access to quality education of its citizens, and also promote the interests of the continent.

According to President Akufo-Addo, “We cannot depend on other people to finance the education on our continent. I am saying that not to turn my back or to be ungrateful to all these important or noble people who have committed themselves to helping, no.

“But, if we make our policy dependent on other people, when their policy changes, we will suffer. But, if we make the policy for ourselves, then it means that, at all times, we will be in control of our own destiny.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 2nd February, 2018, when he led the Ghanaian delegation to the 3rd International Conference on the “Replenishment of the Funds of the Global Partnership for Education”, at the invitation of their Excellencies, M. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.

Reiterating his belief that there is an abundance of resources on the continent to finance the development of Africa, President Akufo-Addo stated that the resources can be put to good use by eliminating corruption in public life; having more intelligent arrangements for those who want to exploit the resources on the continent; and preventing the flight of capital out of the Continent.

“Thabo Mbeki’s Commission that looked at the illicit flows of capital out of Africa, has estimated that for every year, in the last ten years, $50 billion goes out of Africa through illicit means. Can you imagine what those monies, if we had our eyes open, and we were not complicit in that illicit outflow, would mean for the capacity of our nations?” he asked.

The challenge, therefore, confronting Africa, the President opined, is “how we can organise ourselves to make sure that the wealth, the huge wealth of this great continent, at least, in the first time in modern history, is used on behalf on the peoples of the continent, and not those outside.”

President Akufo-Addo was confident that “if we are able to close that gap, we will come here to Dakar to talk about education, and not the funding of education by others. We will be talking about the quality of our education, the changes we need to make to our curricula, and the emphasis we have to place on our history and sociology.”

He continued, “So that, I am not misunderstood, all those who have been making the pledges, it is all good. But, I think it is extremely important for us to get our whole mindset right. We have within us the capacity to develop and promote the interest of our continent ourselves. Let’s do it.”

Importance of Education

Touching on the importance of education to the advancement of the continent, President Akufo-Addo stated that the paradox of Africa having the youngest population, and being the richest continent on the planet, but with the worst living conditions can only be broken by education.

He indicated that “we are going to have to make sure that every young child, boy and girl, has access to education. Not only do they have access to education, but they have access to an education that will allow them to be able to address the challenges of the 21st century.”

Narrating the experience of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo stated that the country is determined to open opportunities for everybody.

“So, in the last 5 years, before my government came, every year, over 100,000 young Ghanaian students were unable to transition from Junior High School to Senior High School, largely because of money. Many of them fully qualified, but their parents were unable to support their higher education. We felt that at this stage in the history of our country, the Ghanaian State should take on that responsibility. So, as from September past, Senior High School education in the public school system has been made free,” he said.

The President continued, “What it has done is that the figures have revered. 90,000 more students entered senior school this year than the year before. It is the first step in ensuring that the educational system in our country, from kindergarten through primary to secondary, and ultimately through University, are open for everybody.”

In confronting the question of the quality of education that will prepare the young population of Africa for the life of the 21st century, he indicated that it is only a greater focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which will guarantee the future of the continent.

“We have seen that in the development of the economies of Asia, in China, India, Japan, and Korea. That is the way forward, to be able to make the transition from poor to prosperity,” the President added.

President Akufo-Addo was accompanied to the Conference by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway MP; the Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh; and officials of the Presidency, Foreign and Education Ministries.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Africa has resources to fund education – Nana Addo appeared first on Ghana News.

A 12-year-old first-time contestant from the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi, rose above 196 others to emerge as the winner of the 2018 National Spelling Bee held at the Accra Digital Centre yesterday [Saturday].

The winner, Shifa Amankwah-Gabbey from Nagie’s Angels Educational Centre burst into tears upon the realisation she had correctly spelt the championship word, ‘Wamara’ to win the competition on her first attempt.

Her victory was met with cheers and a standing ovation from the spectators who had spent the final moments of the competition on the edge of their seats.

Shifa will now represent Ghana at the Scripps Spelling Bee international competition at Washington DC in the United States of America.

She walked away with GHc 5,000 in scholarship money as well as a ticket to Washington for the Scripps Spelling Bee international competition and $500 spending money.

Shifa was pushed hard by the two runners-up, Raj Thakwani and Akshaya Janikiraman, both from DPS International Ghana at Tema.

Various sponsors also presented bags of goodies to the winner and runners-up.

This was the 11th edition of the spelling bee and it was organised by the Young Educators Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation.

In all, the contestants came from Tamale, Techiman, Kumasi, Ho, Aflao, Kasoa, Tema, Akosombo, Accra and Akropong.

The Spelling Bee 2018 was sponsored by Indomie Instant Noodles with support from South African Airways, DStv Ghana, Blue Knights Bookshop, Rufus Green Parks, and PAS – US Embassy, iSpace and Voltic Mineral Water.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 12-year-old debutant wins 2018 National Spelling Bee appeared first on Ghana News.

The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie has reiterated government’s plan to construct 20 new technical and vocational institutes across the country.

This, he said would provide employable skills and training to the youth to enable them create their own jobs.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of “Skills and Technical Education Programme (STEP)/Technical and Vocation Education Training (TVET) project” organised by the Western Youth Network For Development (WYNED) in Takoradi.

The aim of the launch is to address the shortfall of students in choosing TVET programmes in basic schools.

The launch was attended by traditional authorities, heads of departments, representatives from GES and GNPC as well as other Stakeholders.

Dr Afriyie hinted that the government was considering a bill to re-align all TVET institutions across the country under the Ministry of Education.

‘’A skill development fund is to be set-up to aid skills acquisition with the goal to assist and provide industries with requisite power needs’’, he added.

According to him, the government was also considering revamping all the existing Technical and Vocational institutions to help enhance the quality and standards of Vocation in particular to develop global competitive workforce.

Mrs Barbara Ayisi, the Deputy Minister of Education who launched the project indicated that, TVET was in the heart of the government and would be given the needed attention to enhance acquisition of skills for industrialisation.

She pointed out that the reason for the government to re-align TVET under the Ministry of Education was to have an effective teaching and learning and the needed skills which in turn would help the youth develop entrepreneurial skills in setting up small scale industries.

Nana Kwesi Agyeman, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove, who presided over the programme appealed to the government to take a keen interest in TVET and therefore advised Ghanaians to have a change of attitude towards TVET, ‘’nobody wants his ward to attend technical school because they will be regarded as not doing well students’’.

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Source: GNA

The post 20 technical, vocational schools to be established – Minister appeared first on Ghana News.

More than 60 adolescent girls and parent peer counselors within the Kochem, Ngogu and Bogunaayili communities in the Northern region, will receive training on community response and accountability strategies to reduce the school drop-out rate among adolescent girls. This is part of a series of trainings and support seminars being organized to empower the girls, parents and community leaders.

The program, Investing in Adolescent Girls Strengthens our Community, which was launched on February 2, 2018, will also equip at least 30 local leaders from these communities (religious and traditional leaders, school administration, and business leaders) with similar strategies.

The project is being led by Danielle Taylor, the founder and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization, Òman Baako. It is being carried out in collaboration with two local development organizations.

The communities requested the project be carried out there to reduce the number of adolescent girls who drop out of school shortly after entering Junior High School.

This worrying development is common in many rural villages of northern Ghana where girls desert their communities to hawk along the streets of Accra.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Ms Taylor described the impact of the abandonment of their education and homes as “immediate and profound”. “It reduces their critical thinking skills, their future earning potential and their capacity to contribute to their community’s well-being”, she lamented.

She further explained that members of these communities felt “existing social norms contribute to gross gender inequity that leaves girls ill-equipped to seek and take advantage of opportunities that would increase their physical, social, and economic security and welfare”.

The approach being used by Òman Baako is to work collaboratively with and through diverse segments of communities’ members and leaders, to build a more equitable community that celebrates and elevates the contributions and inherent human rights of its young girls.

By doing so, the community is better positioned to tackle a variety of interconnected Sustainable Development Goals.

About Òman Baako

Òman Baako translates into “One Community” in Twi. The name reflects the organization’s belief that in levelling the playing field for women and girls, all of society benefits as one. Òman Baako has a unique model of development, different from that of traditional international development organizations in that it supports communities in collectively setting their own vision for development and allows locals to be the drivers of progress as opposed to fulfilling an externally prescribed process.

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Source: Òman Baako

The post Sixty adolescent girls to receive community training appeared first on Ghana News.

The National Council for Tertiary Education, NCTE, has blamed Parliament for the delay in the approval of fees for the 2017/2018 academic year for public universities.

Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. Salifu Mahama, told Citi News that the delay has negative implications for the running of public tertiary institutions.

“Parliament is the institution that directed all the institutions to bring their proposed fees for consideration and approval. If parliament does not get back in time, all that it means is that, this year effectively will be the same fees as last academic year,” he said

Parliament, through its Subsidiary Legislation Committee, demanded a halt in the implementation of proposed fees for the academic year pending the house’s approval. Though public tertiary institutions have reopened for second-semester activities, the proposed fees are yet to be approved.

The National Council for Tertiary Education in August 2017, asked the management of public institutions to maintain the 2016/2017 Academic Year levels of fees and charges; while Parliamentary approval is sought for any adjustments for this academic year.

A statement issued by the Council, and signed by the Executive Secretary, Professor Mohamed Salifu, said: “The proposed fees and charges for the 2017/2018 Academic Year have been collated for consideration and approval by Parliament. This is in accordance with the requirements of the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (Act 793) and Amendment Instrument 2016 (L.I.2228).”

The University Students Association of Ghana [USAG)], has welcomed a directive by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), ordering the various public tertiary institutions to maintain the fees they charged for the 2016/2017 academic year.

NCTE directed management of the universities not to charge new fees until Parliament approves their charges.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NCTE blames parliament for delay in approving new fees for 2017/2018 appeared first on Ghana News.

Wulensi Senior High School in the Nanumba South District of the Northern Region, has been saddled with infrastructure challenges hampering effective teaching and learning.

The school has also not been able to raise the standard of teaching and learning over a number of years, which has left up to about 80 percent of second and third-year students unable to properly read and write.

Chief Mohammed Zakaria, the headmaster of the school, told Citi News the school’s “main challenge is the furniture. We need at least 500 pieces of furniture to be able to accommodate the students. We write our exams in turns because of inadequate furniture. Students are overcrowded in the classrooms because there is not enough furniture for them to sit on during lessons.”

According to him, “70 to 80 percent of the students, that is in form 2 and 3, cannot properly read and write, and this has affected the performance of the school for several years now. We are doing our best to help the situation, we have organized extra classes for them to at least learn to read and I think this, in the long run, will help improve the performance.”

A visit to the school by Citi News, revealed that the school lacks adequate accommodation for students and teachers, as well as limited classroom space leading to overcrowding.

There are over 80 students in one class making it difficult for teachers to attend to students’ individual needs.

Wulensi SHS established in 1991, has a current student population of about 1,200, and a staff strength of about 30.

The Assistant Headmaster of the school in charge of academics, Kwame Rockson Ntewiah, outlined some of these problems to Citi News.

“Two classes are combined into one, we have over seventy to eighty students in one classroom. This obviously is not the best for learning. Teachers cannot attend to all students, marking of assignments is difficult.  Teachers’ accommodation is more serious, stores have been converted into houses for teachers. You cannot say this situation is fair. We need more classrooms and decent accommodation for teachers.”

Uncompleted projects

There are also a number of uncompleted projects that have been abandoned in the school including an ICT lab started during the Kufour administration, and a boys dormitory block.

The school also has only one pickup truck wich was donated by the parent-teacher association (PTA).

Stores and other offices have been converted to house teachers, and there is also no staff common room for teachers.

Thus, they have had to make do with meeting under a mango tree that serves as a staff common room.

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By: Mohammed Aminu M Alabira/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Wulensi SHS students struggling with literacy, poor infrastructure appeared first on Ghana News.

As part of efforts to ensure that students in Ashaiman improve their performance academically, the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, has launched the second edition of the Ashaiman constituency inter-schools quiz competition.

The initiative, according to the Member of Parliament, seeks to encourage students to take their books seriously.

About one hundred private and public schools within the constituency are set to take part in the inter-schools quiz competition.

The MP, who launched the competition noted that, the inter-schools quiz competition is a programme that he believed would help raise academic standards within the Ashaiman municipality.

“Ashaiman, we all know is an area with so many less endowed students and it is about time we initiate programmes to whip up the zeal for books among the students. This is the only surest way in building a brighter future for our future leaders.”

Mr. Norgbey noted that “education is the only key that is able to close the gap between the elite and the downtrodden, and so as the MP for the area, I believe this is one way to ensure that students fall in love with their books to enable them grow into becoming responsible citizens in future.”

The Ashaiman Municipal Educational Director, Rev. Joyce Orleans Madjitey on her part noted that, the quiz would be a springboard to prepare students within the municipality for greater heights in future.

“This quiz competition will be very exciting, and I can see all the children are really into it; everybody wants to win. I believe it really came at the right time since it will help them in preparing for their future exams.”

Some of the students from the participating schools who spoke with Citi News were very optimistic of emerging winners. They thus promised to study extra hard in ensuring their dreams are fulfilled.

The launch of the second edition of the Ashaiman MP’s quiz saw a fully packed auditorium with students from about one hundred schools.

The quiz will last for a period of three months where winners would walk away with cash prizes and some giveaways from the MP.

Other educational programmes being rolled out by the MP include the MP’s mock for final year students within Junior High and  Senior High Schools in the municipality.

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ashaiman MP launches second inter-schools quiz competition appeared first on Ghana News.

Some alumni of the Unity Hall at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), say they will petition the Ministry of Education to halt a decision by the University’s management to convert all male halls into mixed residential accommodation.

The Unity Hall, also known as Conti, along with University Hall, also known as Katanga, are being converted to boost the female intake and meet international standards of gender balance, according to the school’s management.

Some students, however believe that the management’s decision to convert the halls into mixed, is a strategy to curtail the long-standing feud between the two halls, which has been known to turn bloody in the past.

The alumni of the two halls are however resisting the move, saying the reason given by the school is not good enough to collapse the tradition and heritage of the two male halls.

A former Unity Hall President, George Tetteh Wayo, indicated their resolve to Citi News, saying the alumni will go every length to see that the decision is reversed.

“We’ll put up a petition to the Education Minister because, definitely, it is that arm of government that looks into matters of education. So we would have to apply and we will put in that petition for the minister to look into the matter, and we have justifiable reasons why we think that this move by the university is not proper,” Mr. Wayo said.

The Spokesperson of the University, Kwame Yeboah Jnr., told Gemma Appiah of Citi FM’s partner station, Focus FM that, the University seeks to meet international standards of gender balance on University campuses.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Old students to petition gov’t over Katanga, Conti conversion appeared first on Ghana News.

Residents of Pakyi, a community in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region have expressed their appreciation to mining, construction and materials technology company, Sandvik Gh Ltd, for the construction of a six-unit classroom block.

The management of the company presented the keys to the new block to authorities of the school at a short ceremony.

The Vice President in charge of Sales at Sanvik West Africa, Nuhu Salifu, said the company had decided to support the school with the classroom unit after an earlier tour had revealed the deplorable state in which the pupils were studying.

The school was first built in 1968 but a rainstorm devastated parts of the old structure more than three years ago, with pupils having to take their classes under trees.

He told journalists that the construction, for which funding was secured in May 2016, had become necessary to ensure that the about 830 children who are currently enrolled at the school get the best possible education.

“We witnessed first-hand, many classes combined to fit into the remaining  3-classroom JHS block. The school’s recently constructed ICT block had also been turned into a classroom,” he said.

“Other students held their classes under trees. Teachers had to make do with desks on verandas to prepare for lessons. In the rainy seasons, classes had to be called off as soon as clouds began to gather. Clearly, teaching and learning were never going to be effective under such circumstances.”

Nuhu Salifu also acknowledged the relevance of education to the children in the community particularly the girl because of the “impact that females have on family life on this side of the world.”

He expressed the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II for his facilitation of Sandvik’s establishment of a service centre in the Region.

Sandvik Mining and Construction Ghana Ltd, is a company that markets a broad range of products and services utilized in the mining industry

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sandvik Gh Ltd builds 6-unit classroom block at Pakyi appeared first on Ghana News.

Students of Zorko Senior High School in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have complained that some abandoned GETFund infrastructure projects at the school are impeding effective teaching and learning.

The students, who eat in the open, rent accommodation outside the school and have to contend with the inadequate number of classrooms are calling on the government to ensure contractors fast-trackwork on projects meant to address these challenges.

Construction of a two-storey, eighteen classroom block project, awarded to Alhaji Mumuni Bolnaba in 2012 has stalled.

Work on a dining hall and a boy’s dormitory which were awarded to  P.B Ziblim and Alhaji Zaaki in 2016 respectively are yet to start.

The Zorko Senior High School which was established in 2012 has a population of one thousand and ten students.

The students say, the situation is hindering effective academic work.

“We don’t have classrooms, the classrooms at the uncompleted building are occupied by the form ones but even there, there is no light in the classrooms for ‘preps,’ one student lamented.

“We don’t have a dining hall and boys dormitory, so we eat in the open and rent our own rooms at GHC300.00 per year”

The Headteacher of the school, Tahiru Seidu said, the construction of the projects have halted due to government’s inability to pay the contractors.

He complained that the failure of the contractors to complete work on the projects has meant that the school is facing serious challenges in dealing with the increased numbers due to the Free SHS programme.

“Prior to the implementation of the Free Senior High education programme, we had met with the contractors who assured us that, the projects would be completed before the implementation of the programme,” he said.

“The assurance by the contractors made us applied for more placement into the school but when the academic year was beginning, we contacted the contractors to ascertain why they hadn’t completed the projects but all of them said government had not paid them” Mr. Tahiru stated.

But the District Chief Executive for Bongo, Peter Ayinbisa refuted the claims that the contractors have not been paid by government, adding that, government had paid half of the amount owed the GETFund contractors.

He further warned that, the projects will be awarded to other contractors if those put on the projects do not return to the site to complete the work.

Mr. Ayinbisa stated that, in the interim, the assembly will get a temporary structure for students to eat in.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Abandoned projects affecting academic work at Zorko SHS [Photos] appeared first on Ghana News.

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA), of the Tsito-Awudome Senior High School (AWUSCO), in the Volta Region, have explained that the decision to levy students despite the implementation of government’s Free Senior High School Policy was a collective resolve by parents to support the school’s efforts to enhance the academic performance of students.

In a statement issued and copied to citifmonline.com, signed by the Chairperson, Felicity Ahiafianyo, she said the although the Head Master of the school cautioned them against the collection of such fees, they were compelled by the school’s challenges to offer their support for the benefit of their wards.

“The Head Master Emmanuel Amu did remind the P.T.A of the implications of charging the levies due to implementation of government’s new policy. However, we have agreed to pay the levies considering the overwhelming nature of the problems in the school which as parents we could no longer afford to wait for government interventions. Nonetheless, we are in the process of securing approval from GES for the collection of such levies. The headmaster and the school administration therefore have no underhand dealings, and is not part of the decision taken to charge these fees.”

The statement was in response to concerns by some parents over the levying of their wards contrary to conditions under the Free SHS where students are to enjoy quality education free of charge.

The statement however insisted that, decisions taken at the Association’s AGM binds all parents, as they only seek to enhance academic performance.

“We again wish to state that, decisions taken at PTA AGM binds all parents whether they attended that particular meeting or not. Just like AGM of any other bodies, levy issues raised at PTA AGMs are discussed extensively until consensus is finally reached.

“We are each other’s keeper. PTAs are a major stakeholder in the educational system, and it is an appendage to Ghana Education service that has been assisting governments over the years. It is a contract between us and the teachers to help our wards to be engaged in extra classes so they pass their examinations”.

The P.T.A disclosed to Citi News that most of the projects in the school including accommodation for students and those abandoned by past governments are being taken up by them with funds from such levies.

Citi News‘ tour of the school saw one of the projects being undertaken by the P.T.A to expand the school’s Dinning Hall to accommodate the increased enrollment.

The news team was also shown some dormitories constructed by the P.T.A, and an abandoned GET Fund project which the Association took up to complete.

Felicity Ahiafianyo therefore entreated all parents having challenges regarding the welfare of their wards to channel them to the Headmaster or the executives of the school’s P.T.A

“We therefore wish to encourage all parents to heartily support these initiatives and not hesitate to approach the P.T.A Executives, the Ghana Education Service, AWUSCO School’s management for redress of any challenge before resorting to the media”.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We levied ourselves to support Awudome SHS – PTA appeared first on Ghana News.

The Headmistress of Osudoku Senior High Technical School in the Greater Accra Region,  Sylvia Baaba Yankey, has confirmed to Citi News that the school has been shutdown temporarily because they can no longer endure harmful smoke emitted by a toiletries and plastics manufacturing Chinese company close to the school.

According to her, the pollution from the company has worsened such that they had no option than to send the students home for health and safety reasons.

She said all efforts made by the management of the school and the district education office to get the situation addressed have proven futile.

“Some time ago, we were all invited to a meeting, the management of the school, the District Education Office and the management of the company, and then when we expressed our concerns, we were asked to put certain measures in place which to some extent we did, but we do not know what happened, and this week since Tuesday the smoke and the stench are being coming again,”she said.

The pollution by the Chinese company at Asutsuare in the Greater Accra Region, is reportedly affecting the health of some two thousand students of the school.

Speaking to Citi News about the situation, the Headmistress of the school, Sylvia Baaba Yankey, said academic work is being affected by the pollution.

“We experience the fumes on the compound every now and then, some of them who took ill were taken to the hospital. According to some of them, the doctor advised them to stop smoking, meanwhile they don’t smoke” she said.

Pollution by Kuntunse tomato factory

Residents at Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, last year raised similar concerns about how the activities of a Chinese Tomato paste factory was affecting them.

The residents first raised concerns over the possible long-term health hazards, following the improper disposal of waste by operators of the factory.

According to them, thick smoke filled the air during the company’s operation during the day and at night, with excessive noise.

Independent investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA revealed that the tomato factory was operating illegally and the agency proceeded to fine the company GHc15,000.

The company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

The factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, stopped operating for a while but resumed full production again.

After a back and forth between residents and the Ga West Municipal Assembly, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, ordered the company to close down.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Harmful smoke from Chinese factory forces closure of Osudoku SHS appeared first on Ghana News.

The Deputy Minister of Education, in charge of General Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, has said government, as part of its secondary education reforms, will introduce a professional leadership course for teachers aspiring to be headmasters.

The Deputy Minister said the initiative would help build the capacity of headmasters in the secondary schools to be abreast with current development in the management of schools.

He said the Ministry had realised that some of the headmasters performance was below average and that there was the need to organise a leadership course for them to up their responsibilities and also ensure accountability in the school system.

“I was shocked to ask a headmaster of a school about the performance of the school and he said he doesn’t know, how can that be possible, a whole headmaster who is not interested in knowing how well the school had performed,” he added.

He said it was important for headmasters to know the performances of their schools to enable them to plan ahead and improve in the previous performance.

Dr Adutwum said in line with the reforms, any teacher who aspires to be a headmaster or headmistress would have to undergo a compulsory professional training course to be equipped with the needed skills to manage a school.

According to the Deputy Minister, if the performance of a headmaster or headmistress was not encouraging, in terms of consistent failure in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations, that headmaster or headmistress would be re-assigned.

He believed that as a headmaster or headmistress, productivity and performance should be the key consideration in promotion and not only focusing on the number of years served.

Dr Adutwum said the government would soon introduce a system to rank Senior High Schools in the country, adding that, the approach would be a nationwide ranking of schools as well as a ranking of similar schools.

He explained that the top schools with the same facilities and infrastructure would be ranked together while the so-called lower schools would also be ranked together.

The Deputy Minister said the aim of the ranking was to help schools with the lowest ranking to learn from best practices and improve upon their performance and the educational sector as a whole.

He said other reforms include understanding diverse or specialised learner’s background, gifted and talented education and the transformation of the inner city schools.

He said all these reforms were in line with the government’s free Senior High School policy to improve the country’s educational curriculum.

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Source: GNA

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The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Mr Paul Essien has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the provision of quality and affordable education in his constituency.

He said education remains a vital tool to personal and national development especially with the depletion of land through oil, gas and mining explorations.

Mr Essien said “my term will witness an unprecedented and massive infrastructural and human resource development in the arena of education”.

Mr Essien, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, made this known during a ground-breaking ceremony at Mangyea and Bonyere near Half-Assini to kick start the construction of seven quarters for Circuit Supervisors in the Jomoro Constituency.

He said the quarters included four three-bedroom residences with a hall plus kitchen, toilet and a bath self-contained which will be built by the end of 2018 at Mangyea,Bonyere,Twenene and New Nzulezo with the additional three(3) to be sited and built next year under the MP Education Project Fund.

Mr Essien said supervision and monitoring was at the heart of good quality education delivery and it is imperative to accommodate each Circuit Supervisor in his circuit.

He charged the Circuit Supervisors to discharge their oversight responsibilities with diligence for the schools to produce better results in academics.

As part of the MP’s commitment towards the pursuit of education, he has also organized free classes for 437 remedial students and quiz competitions on FM stations for the Junior High Schools.

Mr Essien said computer laboratories would be established in the schools which emerge first to fourth and an additional computer laptop would be given to each school child who excels in the six month competition.

The MP said nine (9) schools in the District would benefit from the School Feeding Programme this year

He promised to refurbish the Half-Assini Senior High School and urged the people to initiate self-help development projects for the government to assist them.

Mr Blay Ackah, the District Director of Education, said accommodation is a major challenge facing Circuit Supervisors posted to the District.

He appealed to the citizens of the area to pursue higher education before they could be absorbed in the oil and gas industry.

Mr Ernest Kofie, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Jomoro, pledged the Assembly”s resolve to assist the MP”s project.

He said the Assembly has signed a contract to procure furniture for the schools and promised to assist the Bonyere community to upgrade its Kindergarten block.

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Source: GNA

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Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The head of the Agricultural Science Department of the Osudoku Senior High Technical School at Asutuare in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region, Martin Fianu, has told Citi News that the severe pollution by Shine Feel, a toiletries and plastics manufacturing Chinese factory in the area, compelled the transfer of the school’s Assistant Headmaster.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, he said the Assistant Headmaster who had health issues with his lungs, could no longer stay in the school as the pollution from the factory worsened.

School shut down

The over 1,200 students of the school were last week, a decision management took to protect them from the health hazard.

According to the headmistress of the school,  Sylvia Baaba Yankey, the decision was taken because they can no longer endure the harmful smoke emitted by the factory.

She lamented that the pollution from the company has worsened such that they had no option than to send the students home.

“The students agitated that because of the smoke they could not stay. The boy’s dormitory and the classroom block are close to the factory. Since Tuesday the stench and the smoke which for some time now has subsided erupted again. Ghana Education Service is very much aware of the situation,” she added in a Citi News interview.

Respiratory problems rampant  

The Agric Science tutor of the school, also said on the Citi Breakfast Show that respiratory problems had become very common in the school due to the toxic fumes.

“The children have been having respiratory difficulties, when they go to the hospital; the doctors accuse them of being smokers. Not only the students, the staff also. One assistant headmaster in charge of administration also suffered same.”

Asutuare farmers to lose livelihoods

Mr. Fianu also claimed that, farmers in Asuature and surrounding communities risk losing their livelihoods because of the fumes and other waste materials released into the environment from the factory.

He said tilapia production along the Volta Lake, rice production at Asutuare, as well as banana farmers, are likely to be affected.

“The waste material from their paper is dumped into a drain which leads into a catchment drain of the canal. So the canal system where the catchment drain is supposed to protect the main canal from being breached is also now under threat. And it has gone all the way into polluting the drainage system and this drainage system discharges waste water into the Volta.”

“The factory fumes, together with the toilet roll fumes are causing serious problems. If this continues, it means the rice production at Asutsuare, other agriculture producing companies like tilapia production, banana farms are all under threat because of the discharge from the factory,” the agricultural science tutor added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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Cabinet has approved a five-year strategic plan to transform Technical and Vocational, Education Training (TVET) across the country.

Under the plan, all public pre-tertiary and tertiary TVET institutions with delivery fragmented under 15 Ministries, will be realigned under the Ministry of Education.

The implementation of the plan will also see the following;

1. Establishment and operationalization of Technical and Vocational Education Service (TVES) as a delivery agency under Education Ministry.
2. Establishment of an apex Training institution for the training of TVET staff
3. Addition of Department of Education to Technical Universities
4. Strengthening Agricultural training in TVET
5. Establishment of Sector Skills Councils

As part of efforts to transform the country’s Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) to meet the needs of industries, the government has decided to realign all aspects of TVET provision under the Ministry of Education.

Hitherto, the over 400 public and 180 private pre-tertiary and tertiary TVET institutions were very fragmented with negative implications, which affected governance system, development and coordination of TVET for efficiency, quality and relevance.

The over 400 public pre-tertiary and tertiary TVET institutions were being managed by four different ministries namely: the Education Ministry, (Technical and Vocational Institutions, Secondary Technical Schools,  Non-Formal Education, National Vocational Training Institutions (NVTI),  Employment and labour Ministry, (Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES), Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC), Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS),  Trade Ministry, (Rural Technology Training Centre), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (Colleges of Agriculture, Farm Institutes).

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of a three-day workshop for journalists in Accra, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, the Executive Director of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), indicated that when the plan is fully implemented, all Technical and Vocational Training institutions will be standardized.

He added that, it will also strengthen, improve and revitalize the skills development sector in the country to contribute meaningfully to industrial development and economic growth.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The 2017/2018 edition  of the Basic Education Certificate Examination [BECE], for private candidates, commenced today [Monday], in forty-four centres across the country.

The examination, which is organized by the West African Examinations Council [WAEC], offers an avenue for candidates of previous examinations to improve their grades. It was first introduced in 2014.

She said students allowed to take the examination includes re-sitters and  those not in school who wish to take the exams the first time.

“We have re-sitters that are candidates who want to better their grades in one paper or the other, and we have first-timers, people who want to take the BECE for the first time, so these are the categories of people who are eligible to write the BECE for private candidates,” she said.

She also added that, students who take the examination can apply for Senior High School placement and also be added to regular students who will be writing the BECE in June.

“Candidates who take this examination, can apply for senior high school application online by going through the process and they can be added to regular students who would take the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in June when the placement is being done” she said.

Some candidates of the Private BECE who took part in the first day of the exams spoke to Citi News’ Marie-Franz Fordjour.

“I missed science, mathematics and English, I am positive I will pass this time around,” a candidate said.

“This is my first time of taking the BECE resit examination. I did not pass English and R.M.E in the previous one I took, so I wrote English today it was good,” another candidate said.

“I am just trying, this is my first time, I am writing all subjects, just to experience the pressure of writing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE),” a candidate said

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Osuduku Senior High Technical School at Asutsuare in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region, will resume classes on Friday after it was closed last week over complaints of pollution from a nearby Chinese-owned factory.

The over 1,200 students of the school including beneficiaries of the government’s Free SHS program were last week asked to go home, a decision management took to protect them from the health hazards of the activities of the factory, Shine Feel Ghana Limited.

She lamented that, the pollution from the company had worsened such that they had no option than to send the students home.

“The students agitated that because of the smoke they could not stay. The boy’s dormitory and the classroom block are close to the factory. Since Tuesday the stench and the smoke which for some time now has subsided erupted again. Ghana Education Service is very much aware of the situation,” she added in a Citi News interview.

Following reports by Citi News on the matter, the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], on Monday ordered the shut down of the plastic processing unit of the company.

This was after a trip to the facility by a three-man team of the EPA from Accra.

After a site tour, the EPA team concluded that, the plastic unit plant was not observing standards. Furthermore, the EPA said the company had no permit to process plastics, and was thus to shut down till a permit is issued.

“The fact of the matter is that, they are permitted to do the paper aspect of the operations. They may have been permitted for a plastic operation in Accra, but not for Asutsuare. On record, we don’t have that,” Executive Director in charge of Technical at the EPA, Ebenezer Sampong told Citi News.

Mr. Sampong indicated that, this was not the first time they were dealing with this issue as prior complaints had been made in relation to noise and the emissions.

But he added that “from our interaction with the teachers, it appears that the problem rests more with the plastic operations. So that is where we are going to focus our attention on.”

GES to tour school

Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service [GES] will today [Tuesday], embark on a fact-finding mission to the school.

The Head of the Public Relations Unit of GES, Cassandra Twum-Ampofo, told Citi News the visit has become necessary due to the disruption of academic activities at the school due to the activities of the factory.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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