NON-FORMAL EDUCATION DIVISION-CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, 2009

Yersterday, September 8th was International Literacy Day. The Day was set aside by the UN to sensitize the world generally about the problems and challenges posed by illiteracy to personal growth; community development; national progress and global advancement.

The platform has been used every year to roll out the debilitating effects of illiteracy and its ramifications to development into the public domain Through this the public is informed about the dangerous effect of illiteracy which is subtly eating deep into the social, economic and political fibre of our society.

Illiteracy is not a respecter of persons, communities and nations. Its striking effects could be seen wherever it shows its ugly head. It is the main cause for ignorance, poverty, disease, squalor and underdevelopment. Nations that bear the brunt of illiteracy have often shown visible signs of underdevelopment. It has been established that literacy has undeniably very strong links with development. Nations with high levels of literacy are found in the top echelons of development.

THE POWER OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Literacy is the diagnosis for addressing the problems and challenges created by illiteracy. There is certainly an invisible power in literacy that can overturn the gloomy picture created by illiteracy. It has the power to turn ignorant persons into knowledgeable people; poverty stricken families into economically sound ones and dependable economies into independent ones. The theme for the 2009-2010 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade is “Literacy and Empowerment”.

This year’s International Literacy Day therefore puts the spot light on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development.

THEME

Flowing from the above, the theme for this year’s International Literacy Day Celebration in Ghana is “Functional Literacy-Key to National Participation, Good Citizenship and Social Development” There is no doubt that the three core areas of this year’s theme are heavily dependent on functional literacy. Functional literacy is an indispensable means for ensuring sound human development which is the main tool for expressing good citizenship, national participation and social development.


ACTIVITIES

The Week long celebration is being commemorated with clean-up exercises at the national, regional, district and community levels. In Accra, the clean-up exercise was undertaken at the Maamobi Polyclinic. Special Christian and Moslem Thanks Giving Services were also held to thank the Almighty God for His support for literacy work as part of the celebration. Learners from adult literacy classes, staff of the NFED and other stakeholders will participate in the exercise. There will also be radio and TV discussion programmes on the significance of the day.

ACHIEVEMENTS

It is widely accepted that literacy skills are basic necessities for informed decision- making and personal empowerment. It is an undeniable fact that the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP) being implemented by the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ministry of Education has contributed immensely towards ensuring good citizenship, national participation and socio-economic development.

It has provided graduates with the essential life, civic and occupational skills which are prerequisites for participation in national development programmes. Its civic awareness component has prepared learners to actively and effectively take part in governance programmes at the community levels and accept the views of others as necessary ingredients for deepening democracy and community participation.

The infusion of income generating projects as part of the overall literacy delivery of the NFLP has given thousands of adult learners the impetus for their economic liberation and that of their families. In addition, learners have also contributed towards the direct socio-economic development of their communities through the empowerment received from the discussion of the pictures in the primer. Some have led their communities to provide market sheds, wells, schools and other social facilities to improve the living conditions of their people.

The NFLP has also churned out literacy graduates into the mainstream formal educational sector and have through that opened wider opportunities for climbing to further heights in life. Some of the learners have also taken-up responsible roles in their communities such as Traditional Birth Attendants, Pastors, Deacons, Assemblymen and Women, Catechists, Businessmen and Unit Committees members.

As we celebrate International Literacy Day today, September 8th, 2009, we extend warm felicitations to all who have contributed towards the success of the NFLP, especially, facilitators, supervisors, district, regional and national staff as well as collaborating agencies, community based organizations, donors and other adult literacy providers.

We want to take the opportunity to call on all stakeholders of literacy not to relent on their oars but to continue to strive to ensure the reduction of illiteracy to single digits in the not too distant future. To achieve this vision, we want to urge each literate person to teach one adult learner.





ISSUED BY THE NON-FORMAL EDUCATION DIVISION
OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

May’s Day Care holds 20th anniversary graduation, speech and prize giving day.

May’s Day Care and Educational Centre has held its 20th anniversary graduation, speech and prize giving day in Accra. The event which took place over the weekends at Dansoman was under the theme “Linking fun with learning, the dawn of a new era”. Students at the graduation put up displays to entertain parents and visitors who trooped in.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Women and Children Affairs congratulated the proprietors of the school for its enormous achievements over the past 20 years and encourage them to take higher steps to realize the objectives of the school. Gariba Hawawu-Boya said education of the child is an important investment and therefore challenged parents to invest more in education. “When you educate your child it’s a good sign of giving hope to your child therefore this should always be at the heart of every parent”.
Government will also play an effective role in providing citizens with good formal and non formal education through the provision of subsidies including effective programs such as school feeding and free uniform among others “said Hawawu-Boya. Nevertheless we appreciate the efforts of the private sector in terms of education and pledge high support towards their good works in the country.

The Minister further charged private school operators to make their school fees more moderate to help the less privilege in society to also enjoy education and join the literate train for better socio-economic developments. She challenged students to take extra interest in their studies to help them achieve their aims in life and also emulate good behaviors of high profile personalities in society to help them in realizing their dreams.

The Director of the school also called on parents to visit the school at all times to ascertain the performance of their children. Mrs.Efua Bram-Larbi also added that children play a lot through playing and therefore parents should adhere to these methods even when they are home.
The Head of Academics of May’s Day Care and Educational centre said the general performance of the students are encouraging and most students make excellent grades during their basic certificate examinations due to the professional methods of teaching adopted by her outfit. Ewuraba Bram-Larbi encouraged students to read more and make story books their friends. Some dignitaries at the event included Prof. Badu Akosa of Ghana medical School, Stephen Adongo from the Departments of Social Welfare, Ato Ahowi and Rev.Laryea-Adjei among others.
Source: Ghanaian Reactor Online (GRO)

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY COMMEMORATES WITH A CLEAN UP EXERCISE.

This year’s international Literacy Day of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) commemorated with a clean up exercise at the Maamobi Polyclinic in Accra. The main theme of the celebration which falls tomorrow 8th September 2009 is “Functional literacy –Key to national participation, Good citizenship and social development”. The clean-up exercise which took place over the weekends witnessed huge number of workers of the division who weeded, cleaned, swept and fumigated the entire clinic with anti- mosquito ides to make the hospital malaria free with the help of some workers from Zoom lion Ghana Limited.

Speaking to Journalists at the event, the Director of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) said the main idea behind the cleaning on Saturday was because Tuesday which is a working day will not be appropriate for the activity. Mr. Samuel salifu Mogre stated that the clean-up exercise signified the achievement of the National Functional Literacy Programme’s (NFLP) which spelt’s out clearly the empowering beneficiaries to maintain a clean environment and indeed all Ghanaians should apply that in their communities at all times. “Undoubtly a clean environment is a necessary ingredient for creating a healthy society which is also a key requirement for socio-economic development.”

Mr.Mogre further called all to address the sanitation problems in the country especially a quite substantive number of illiterates who are unaware of the damaging effects of filth on the their health. Any society that is not health conscious is bound to face challenges with its socio-economic development.

“I call on Ghanaians to contribute to the reduction of illiteracy in the country in order to bring our illiterate ones into the train of development” said Mogre.This call is very important because the country can never meet its desire when large number of population is denied participation in the national developmental efforts through illiteracy and ignorance. He thanked all stakeholders who contributed fervently towards the success of the NFLP program.

Source:Ghanaian Reactor Online (GRO)

University of Ghana introduces Masters Degree in Petroleum

The University of Ghana, Legon, has introduced a Petroleum Geoscience course as part of the university's new post-graduate programmes to respond to the high professional demand in Ghana's petroleum industry.The new master's degree programme was developed in collaboration with the university's Geology Department and supported by the Ghana National Petroleum Company.Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University announced this on Saturday in Accra at the matriculation ceremony held for students admitted for the 2009/ 2010 academic year.Other newly introduced programmes include a master's degree in Clinical Trials, mounted by the School of Public Health and higher degrees in Biotechnology and Plant Breeding.The university had also introduced a Graduate-entry programme in the Medical School aimed at giving science graduates the opportunity to pursue medicine over reduced duration.Prof. Tagoe said the university had introduced bachelor's degree courses in Adult Education and Sign Language as well as professional programmes in Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. He said the university had made conscious efforts to revise the course curricula to meet national demands and added that more than 130 courses had so far been revised.Prof. Tagoe said the university had put in place scholarship schemes to complement the 10 scholarships, sponsored by a US charity organisation, for bright but needy students admitted this year at an average amount of GH¢ 2,000 per year.Speaking on the issue of accommodation he expressed the hope that the construction of the university's hostels complex would facilitate the accommodation of some 3,000 students in order to ease the stress. He said the university authority would start investigating the several allegations of students who sublet their beds to their counterparts."Let me say that those caught to have indulged in this as well as the so-called tenants will be summarily dismissed," he said. He cautioned students against the flippant use of the media in resolving matters that could otherwise be amicably addressed, through dialogue with the university authorities and stressed the use of institutional channels available on campus to solve complaints and other concerns.Prof. Tagoe told the matriculants to take advantage of other activities such as seminars, studio performances and sports to enrich their life on campus."While developing your intellectual capacities, do not forget to also develop your spiritual life by devoting some of your time to worship and serve God," he said.The university offered 16,943 applicants admission to pursue either the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes out of which 9,361 so far have enrolled.
Source:GNA

Government to absorb teacher's tuition fees for distance learning

Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, on Thursday said government would absorb the tuition fees of teachers pursuing distance learning programme from next year. "About 3,000 teachers have been approved to benefit from study leave with pay to participate in the programme this year," he said. Mr Agyenim-Boateng announced this in an interaction with the Ghanaian public on the programme, Facebook, under the topic, "Ghanaian Education System".This is the second time the Minister has appeared on the programme since its inception on Friday, August 28. The programme was initiated by the Ministry of Information to interact with Ghanaians to ensure accountability and transparency in governance. Mr Agyenim-Boateng said the gesture was an evidence of government's efforts to improve the educational qualification of teachers that would in turn improve standards of education.He said government valued Science and Technology education and would provide the necessary logistics to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools through-out the country."Education remains the government's priority, because we believe in developing and improving the quality of the human capital," he said. Mr Isha Sidiq, a contributor to the programme, called on government to provide vehicles for the schools to ease their transportation problems and mentioned the Prang Senior High School, in the Pru District of Brong Ahafo as an example. Mr Sidiq also appealed to government to pay attention to Visual Arts, Home Economics and Technical education, which he said, were equally important as science education.
Source:GNA

'License journalists' – Executive Secretary of NAB

The Executive Secretary of the National Accreditation Board (NAB), Mr. Kwame Dattey, has called for the licensing of journalists as a prerequisite to practice journalism in the country.The licensing, he said, did not imply that restrictions were being placed on journalists in the performance of their legitimate duties and work but rather to inject more sanity into media practice.Making the suggestion at the first meeting of the Governing Council of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) in Accra yesterday, Mr. Dattey said the licensing would rather help to improve the media landscape as the unprofessional ones would not be allowed to operate.He said there are too many individuals in the country who carry themselves as journalists, but whose conduct is questionable and denigrate the image of the profession.Providing further justification for his suggestion, Mr. Dattey said the measure, if implemented, would contribute to eliminating “mushroom” journalism schools, most of which are operating without proper accreditation from the NAB.By his suggestion, unless one is licensed by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) or an appropriate body, that person should not be allowed to do anything as a professional journalist or be recognized as such.The Chairman of the Governing Council of GIJ, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseni, assured the public of the council’s commitment to transform the institute to reflect the current trends in the media industry.Alhaji Fuseni explained that recent developments in the media landscape required a very high calibre of human resource to match the challenges of the industry.He said the challenge demands absolute commitment on the side of the council to formulate policies and give strategic direction to the institute to enhance the caliber of products it would turn out every year.Alhaji Fuseni added that one of the immediate tasks of the council was to help in shaping students for the job market, both in and outside the country.“To this end, our focus as council would be to update training facilities, especially in the areas of information communication technology (ICT), provision of basic infrastructure and the recruitment of seasoned staff, both teaching and non-teaching, for the institute,“ he said.He, however, expressed worry about the limited facilities in the school, saying the situation was driving away too many potential students from being enrolled in the institute.He, therefore, called for extra commitment on the side of council members to address the situation. The Rector of the institute, Mr. David Newton, in his report, gave an overview of previous strategic plans developed and what had been achieved in that direction.Mr. Newton said in 2006, another corporate strategic plan was developed, and noted that “so far, two major achievements have been recorded under the new corporate strategic plan”.The two, he said, included the passage of the new legislation, Act 717, to make GIJ a degree-awarding institution and the granting of a Presidential Charter to the institute in June, 2009.He informed the council on progress made so far on the construction of a 12-unit classroom block which was awarded as far back as 1998 and noted that only the basement of the project had so far been completed.Mr. Newton attributed the delay in the project to a lack of funds and the inability of the contractor to pre-finance the project.

Source:MacLiberty Misrowoda

Appointment of 110 teaching assistants terminated

The appointment of 110 teaching assistants in rural areas in Kintampo South District in Brong Ahafo has been terminated.The affected personnel are expected to re-apply, Mr. Martin Kodom, District Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has disclosed.Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Jema, the district capital, he said, the re-application exercise had already started and would be finalized before the end of the month. The District Coordinator said the contracts of the teachers under the programme would expire next month and there was the need for their renewal before schools would re-open.Mr. Kodom explained that applicants with a minimum qualification of SSSCE/WASSCE with passes in at least five subjects including Mathematics, English Language and Integrated Science were qualified to apply for consideration.Applicants are also expected to pass a competitive selection examination to be conducted by the district office of the National Youth Employment Scheme in Mathematics and English Language and this is to ensure that the right calibre of people are recruited, he said. Mr. Kodom dismissed the notion held by some people that the exercise was politically motivated and called on unemployed qualified persons to take advantage of the programme.
Source:GNA

700,000 Ghanaian children not in school

The Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education Mr Edward Gayuoni has indicated that about 700,000 Ghanaian children of school going age are not in school and over 54 per cent of them are females.He said this would draw back the government's efforts of having total literate citizens by 2015, a mandatory date for the MDG's. Mr Gayuoni was addressing the graduation ceremony of 93 students of Little Flowers School Complex in Tamale at the weekend. Speaking on the theme, "Quality education; the key to success", the Education Director said the government should intensify its sensitization programmes to remote and rural areas to get more pupils in school in order to meet the targets of the MDGs.Mr Gayuoni said despite the introduction of the Capitation grant, school feeding programme and other special initiatives to get children in schools, some people still do not see the essence of education. Madam Anna-Maria Fati, the Managing Director of Little Flower School Complex encouraged parents to give quality education to their wards.She said the government should assist the private sector to complement efforts at improving the educational sector. Madam Fati said Little Flower School Complex has been providing basic school needs and funds to 30 orphaned children to go to school. She said the rising cost of education in recent times and the inability of parents to meet educational expenses are putting a strain on quality education in the country.
Source:GNA

PILOT TRAINING CENTRE KOKOMLEMLE HOLDS 5TH GRADUATION.

The Pilot training centre based at Kokomlemle in Accra last weekend held its 5th graduation ceremony. The graduation was under the theme “Positioning the NVTI (PTC) graduate to strategically fit into the job market and national development agenda”.
With a total of 177 graduants from various departments of building construction, refrigeration and air-conditioning, carpentry and joinery, electronics, general electrical, welding and fabrication, machining and building draughtsman ship the National Vocational and Technical Institute Director; Mr.S.B.Amponsah urged them to make the maximum best of their acquired knowledge to help add to national development.

Source: Ghanaian Reactor Online

STARTRITE MONTESSORI HOLDS FIRST GRADUATION.

STARTRITE Montessori school based at New Bortianor off Weija-Kasoa road has held its first ever graduation ceremony .The graduation held last week within the school premises was dubbed “Quality education and national development.”The guest speaker for the graduation, Dr.George Owusu said the school s theme for the graduation “Quality education and national development” was appropriate as virtually every country in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana has identified improved quality education as the national highest priority. In this dimension, the key determinant of quality education is the critical role of teachers because studies revealed that, positive attitudes among teachers are critical given evidence that teaching performance is perhaps the main driver of student learning. Teacher’s motivation is important for promoting school reform and quality education. “Teachers actions need to be self-motivated, resulting from their acceptance of and identification with the values and objectives of practices and regulations in school”.He further stressed that, even though teachers’ salary is important, teacher policy needs to address a lot more than salaries. Teachers should place more emphasis on quality of their relations with students and colleagues.Dr.Owusu commended the school efforts to invite experienced teachers and volunteers from Europe and North America to assist them in terms of teaching and learning. He said that was an opportunity to open the school and students to the world beyond Ghana.The Director of Startrite Montessori School, Dr. Peter Quartey said the school through its tireless efforts made various achievement such as improvement in the number of school buses to three which have made transporting of students easy to school early to start learning, improvement in academic works due to great forbearance of dedicated teachers coupled with moderate fees compared to other schools with comparable facilities and the development of the school’s new site which will be ready in September for pre-school children to enable them enjoy ultra modern facilities to aid them learn more effectively.Dr.Quartey added that, the prospects of the school included continuous strive for excellence, registration of school to junior high school and senior high levels and also giving parents the option to choose between GES and the UK GSCE system of education, improvement of school library to ultra modern status and having links with collaborators among others.The Director challenged parents to get their kids ready in time to minimize lateness and also appealed to government to develop roads with in the area because it’s been a great challenge to the school especially during raining season such as this.Hard working staff members were awarded for their tireless efforts.

Source: Ghanaian Reactor Online/Michael Amedor

STARTRITE MONTESSORI HOLDS FIRST GRADUATION.

STARTRITE Montessori school based in Weija within the Greater Accra region has held its first ever graduation ceremony .The graduation held last week within the school premises was dubbed “Quality education and national development.”
The guest speaker for the graduation, Dr.George Owusu said the school s theme for the graduation “Quality education and national development” was appropriate as virtually every country in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana has identified improved quality education as the national highest priority. In this dimension, the key determinant of quality education is the critical role of teachers because studies revealed that, positive attitudes among teachers are critical given evidence that teaching performance is perhaps the main driver of student learning. Teacher’s motivation is important for promoting school reform and quality education. “Teachers actions need to be self-motivated, resulting from their acceptance of and identification with the values and objectives of practices and regulations in school”.
He further stressed that, even though teachers’ salary is important, teacher policy needs to address a lot more than salaries. Teachers should place more emphasis on quality of their relations with students and colleagues.
Dr.Owusu commended the school efforts to invite experienced teachers and volunteers from Europe and North America to assist them in terms of teaching and learning. He said that was an opportunity to open the school and students to the world beyond Ghana.
The Director of Startrite Montessori School, Dr. Peter Quartey said the school through its tireless efforts made various achievement such as improvement in the number of school buses to three which have made transporting of students easy to school early to start learning, improvement in academic works due to great forbearance of dedicated teachers coupled with moderate fees compared to other schools with comparable facilities and the development of the school’s new site which will be ready in September for pre-school children to enable them enjoy ultra modern facilities to aid them learn more effectively.
Dr.Quartey added that, the prospects of the school included continuous strive for excellence, registration of school to junior high school and senior high levels and also giving parents the option to choose between GES and the UK GSCE system of education, improvement of school library to ultra modern status and having links with collaborators among others.
The Director challenged parents to get their kids ready in time to minimize lateness and also appealed to government to develop roads with in the area because it’s been a great challenge to the school especially during raining season such as this.
Hard working staff members were awarded for their tireless efforts.
Source: Ghanaian Reactor Online/Michael Amedor

National Service week launched in Accra

The Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto, on Tuesday said the current global economic crisis has made access to capital difficult and urged the youth to be more creative and look out for available opportunities to better their lot. He said job offering by government could not cater for the many job seeking young Ghanaian school leavers.Mr Ablakwa said this when he launched the Greater Accra regional celebration of national service week on the theme "Rekindling the spirit of volunteerism, the role of the national service scheme." He called on volunteers not only to focus on the privileged educated but also those not privileged, adding that volunteers were very helpful service providers.Mr Ablakwa urged the youth to take advantage of areas such as the green movement, and to form non-governmental organizations to widen the employment net. "Let's look at ways of thinking of not only government employment but creative ideas. Let's make the necessary move and see what the small NGO can do."Mr Kwame Fosu Agyen, Regional Director of national service, said the service scheme had already blazed the trail by implementing a national volunteer scheme (NVS) since 2003.He said the target of the NVS is deprived schools in the rural and peri-urban areas, adding that in the 2005/2006 service years, the Greater Accra Region recorded 172 personnel, and 631 in the 2006/2007 service year. The 2007/2008 figure rose to 894 and reduced to 736 in 2008/2009 service year, he added.He said the service scheme had been of immense contribution in terms of teacher supply, as well as the provision of quality education in the Islamic schools.
Source:GNA

Pain association of Ghana launched

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Clifford Tagoe, on Thursday said the treatment of pain needed a multidisciplinary approach and called for cultural and financial considerations in the treatment procedure. Pain, he said, could be devastating and dehumanizing especially when it became chronic, coupled with its psychological and emotional aspects which were usually difficult to diagnose and or treat, and may last long after the physical pain has been managed.Speaking at the launch of the Pain Association of Ghana on the theme "Pain: Everyone's concern", he said pain was no respecter of persons and noted that it needed care and attention in reducing it for sufferers so that they did not become addicted.Pain is defined by the Taxonomy Committee of the International Association for the Study of Pain as the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.Prof. Tagoe charged the association to raise awareness to help improve effectiveness in the assessment and treatment of pain, especially in the era where traditional management of pain without medication had changed.The International Association, founded in 1973, is the world's multidisciplinary organization which focuses specifically on pain research and treatment.It currently has more than 6000 members from 123 countries and with 80 chapters.Membership is opened to scientist, physicians, dentists, psychologists, nurses, physical therapists and other health professions actively engaged in pain research, and those who have special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Dr Gladys Amponsah, President of the Association, said from the new born baby who experienced the pain of circumcision, the young adult who experienced pain due to trauma or surgery, to the labouring woman before childbirth and the elderly with a fractured hip, "pain is very real and has now become a human rights issue".She said the campaign for 2008-2009 was on cancer pain because over 10 million people worldwide were diagnosed with some form of cancer each year, adding that the pain associated with cancer was of serious concern and that pain was not necessarily inevitable for anyone with cancer. With the launching of the association, Dr. Amponsah said "perhaps the most important benefit which will be derived is quality pain relief for all our clients". Professor Nii Otu Nartey, Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, said the launch was long overdue because "we live in a country where pain has been accepted as a norm because people with severe and chronic colds do not know where to go". He supported the calls for the establishment of a pain clinic at Korle-Bu.
Source:GNA

Sensitize public on importance of education

A former Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has said it was important for the public to be sensitized on the importance of education to enable them contribute to quality education.Rev (Mrs) Ama Afo-Blay said knowledge about the importance of education would encourage the less educated ones, especially mothers, to place priority on it and invest in their children's education by willingly sending them to school and providing their basic needs. She was contributing to a discussion on quality education at the just ended Civil Society Forum on the critical role of women in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). It was organized by the Voices of African Mothers (VAM) in collaboration with the MDG Global Watch for selected women's groups, students, queen mothers and individuals. In attendance was a delegation from Suriname including the First Lady, Mrs Liesbeth Venetiaan-Vanenburg.Her contribution followed an intervention by a participant that most students in the rural areas ended their education at the Junior High School level no matter the performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).Rev. Mrs Afo-Blay said unless the mother is convinced about the importance of education, the battle about quality education would not be achieved.Touching on the plight of pupils with defects, she suggested that they should be subjected to thorough screening and be grouped for special attention. Rev. Mrs Afo-Blay expressed the readiness of retired educationists to contribute towards successful quality education in the country if invited.Mrs Diana Esi Mantey, a Deputy Director at the GES, said education is a shared responsibility of parents, teachers and the community and called on each of them to play vital role to achieve the desired results.She said communities must also provide infrastructure like libraries and accommodation for teachers. On complains about the absence of libraries in some rural areas, Mrs Faustina Boakye, Gender and Development Manager of World Vision International (Ghana) suggested the mobile system of library where books are kept in boxes for use by pupils and students and later transfer them to other schools.She said the WVI adopted the system in their catchments areas leading to improvement in the reading by the pupils rather than waiting for libraries to be constructed which takes longer time. Some of the female student participants complained about uncongenial conditions in homes and communities which affect their learning and appealed for the construction of more libraries in the communities for the unfortunate students.
Source:GNA

St.Thomas Aquinas Senior High holds its 57th speech and prize giving day.

St.Thomas Aquinas Senior High school in Accra this weekend held its 57th speech and prize giving day to award outstanding students. The speech and prize giving was under the theme “Empowering the youth, through quality education”. The Minister of Education Alex Tetteh-Enyo encourages students to desist from bad behaviors and adhere to their books and announced government’s new package for the education sector of the economy to improve it. The special guest of honor was the first lady of the republic of Ghana Mrs.Ernestina Naadu Mills and chairman of the event was Mr. John A.Larkai, president of the Parent, Teacher Association of Aquinas high school.
Source: The Ghanaian Reactor online

YWCA holds 13TH graduation ceremony.

The Young Women Christian Association has held its 13th graduation in Accra. The Theme for the occasion was Vocational Education and training in Ghana today-prospects and challenges for the youth. A total number of 312 graduated consisting of dressmaking, catering and secretary ship. The management of the school urged grandaunts to learn more and apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the world to work.” We have done our best for them and we hope that they will live up to our expectations after training.”

Source:Ghanaian Reactor Online

NAGRAT threatens to embark on strike action

The Northern Regional Branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has threatened to go on strike by 20th July, if the Ghana Education Service (GES) fails to address problems relating to salaries, allowances and other service conditions of members of the association. The group claimed that since April this year GH¢1 responsibility allowance for teachers had been slashed to 30 Ghana pesewas while vehicle maintenance allowance had also been reviewed from GH¢40 to GH¢8.Mr. Lordson Afedo, Northern Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, who issued the warning at a press conference in Tamale, alleged that the quarterly grant to educational institutions had been reduced by 51.8 per cent and all allowances paid to schools slashed by over 70 per cent. Mr. Afedo said another policy being implemented by the GES was denying some teachers promotions and that this year qualified teachers, who applied for promotion interviews had been ignored. He said by the policy, teachers who failed their promotion were going to "mark time" for another two years before applying again to the GES Council for consideration, meaning that some teachers would have their juniors promoted above them.Mr. Afedo alleged that teachers who were promoted in 2001 were not invited for interview because the GES complained about the lack of funds but ironically interviews were conducted for those who were promoted in 2003. He said the explanation by the GES that Teacher Training Colleges were being changed into tertiary institutions and teachers in the colleges were being left out of the interviews was wrong because the affected teachers should have been given the option to belong to the GES or the tertiary institution.Mr. Afedo said the GES should act cautiously regarding a proposal submitted to it by a consultant suggesting that the salaries of teachers should be slashed adding that NAGRAT would not accept any such move. He said the silence of the GES over the matter indicated that, "It has gone down well with them", and queried "Are teachers' salaries the highest in the country?, "Where is the labour commission? and "Where is the GES together with its Council?.
Source:GNA

"Telephone sex" prevailing in second cycle schools

Reverend Dennis Boadu, Guidance and Counseling Officer at the Mfantsipim School, has expressed concern about increasing incidence of "telephone sex" among students in second cycle schools.He said this had become more alarming due to the free night mobile phone calls.Rev Boadu said "telephone sex" involves the mutter of sexually arousing sounds or a conversation between two parties on phone and that gang rape, homosexuality and lesbianism are other sexual issues confronting most students in the country. Rev. Boadu said this at a day's workshop in Cape Coast for Guidance and Counseling Coordinators in second cycle schools and District Education offices in the Central Region.The workshop was organized by the Counseling Unit of the Central Region Education office under the theme: "Equipping Guidance and Counseling Coordinators to Handle Key Current Issues Facing the Students Today".Rev Boadu said moral decadence among the youth had become so serious that boys instead of shying away would now brag of the numerous sexual affairs they have engaged in. Most of them would be found with girls' photographs in the first page of their note books.On drug abuse, Rev Boadu said drug addiction was no longer a problem for boys alone but some girls are also engaged in it. "Apart from the students peddling the drugs themselves, other teachers and staff on campus such as the kitchen hands, barbers, and shoemakers also sell the drugs to students."He said the student drug addicts had resorted to the use of oil produced out of the drugs called "sashes oil" and brewing of drugs into drinks in order to make it difficult for school authorities to detect them.Rev Boadu appealed to parents, guidance and counseling coordinators and civil society groups to brace themselves up to help stem immorality among the youth.Touching on "sakawa" and occultism in schools, Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, National Schools Ministry Coordinator of the Scripture Union-Ghana, said occultism was a major global phenomenon which is difficult to tackle and is also far beyond what rational evidence could help address."Sakawa," Nana Awuku said, began as cyber fraud, moved to the use of spells to charm victims before reaching the current stage of blood money and advised the counselors to suspect students who use strange symbols, candles and objects as engaging in occultism.Nana Awuku said research conducted in Akrofi Christaller Institute at Akropong in October 2006 revealed that out of 50 students involved in occultism, 56 per cent of them said they were engaged in medicinal occultism, 30 per cent in magic and 14 percent in divination. She said 40 per cent of the students said they got into it for protection, 10 per cent for powers, 30 per cent for success, 04 per cent to threaten colleagues and 6 per cent for love.Rev Professor Joseph Kwesi Essuman, former Head of the Counseling Unit of the University of Cape Coast, advised parents to strictly monitor and supervise their children to prevent them from engaging in such vices.Mrs Gladys Micah, Regional Guidance and Counseling Co-coordinator, called on the Ghana Education Service to provide funds to schools to enable them use counseling to stem the social canker.
Source:GNA

"Telephone sex" prevailing in second cycle schools

Reverend Dennis Boadu, Guidance and Counseling Officer at the Mfantsipim School, has expressed concern about increasing incidence of "telephone sex" among students in second cycle schools.He said this had become more alarming due to the free night mobile phone calls.Rev Boadu said "telephone sex" involves the mutter of sexually arousing sounds or a conversation between two parties on phone and that gang rape, homosexuality and lesbianism are other sexual issues confronting most students in the country. Rev. Boadu said this at a day's workshop in Cape Coast for Guidance and Counseling Coordinators in second cycle schools and District Education offices in the Central Region.The workshop was organized by the Counseling Unit of the Central Region Education office under the theme: "Equipping Guidance and Counseling Coordinators to Handle Key Current Issues Facing the Students Today".Rev Boadu said moral decadence among the youth had become so serious that boys instead of shying away would now brag of the numerous sexual affairs they have engaged in. Most of them would be found with girls' photographs in the first page of their note books.On drug abuse, Rev Boadu said drug addiction was no longer a problem for boys alone but some girls are also engaged in it. "Apart from the students peddling the drugs themselves, other teachers and staff on campus such as the kitchen hands, barbers, and shoemakers also sell the drugs to students."He said the student drug addicts had resorted to the use of oil produced out of the drugs called "sashes oil" and brewing of drugs into drinks in order to make it difficult for school authorities to detect them.Rev Boadu appealed to parents, guidance and counseling coordinators and civil society groups to brace themselves up to help stem immorality among the youth.Touching on "sakawa" and occultism in schools, Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, National Schools Ministry Coordinator of the Scripture Union-Ghana, said occultism was a major global phenomenon which is difficult to tackle and is also far beyond what rational evidence could help address."Sakawa," Nana Awuku said, began as cyber fraud, moved to the use of spells to charm victims before reaching the current stage of blood money and advised the counselors to suspect students who use strange symbols, candles and objects as engaging in occultism.Nana Awuku said research conducted in Akrofi Christaller Institute at Akropong in October 2006 revealed that out of 50 students involved in occultism, 56 per cent of them said they were engaged in medicinal occultism, 30 per cent in magic and 14 percent in divination. She said 40 per cent of the students said they got into it for protection, 10 per cent for powers, 30 per cent for success, 04 per cent to threaten colleagues and 6 per cent for love.Rev Professor Joseph Kwesi Essuman, former Head of the Counseling Unit of the University of Cape Coast, advised parents to strictly monitor and supervise their children to prevent them from engaging in such vices.Mrs Gladys Micah, Regional Guidance and Counseling Co-coordinator, called on the Ghana Education Service to provide funds to schools to enable them use counseling to stem the social canker.
Source:GNA

Danish NGO supports eight institutions

A Danish-based non governmental organization, has donated educational and medical materials worth GH¢40,000 to selected schools and medical centres in the Akuapem Traditional Area. The items were school furniture, computer accessories, printers, scanners, teaching aids, sport items as well as orthopaedic and clinical equipment.The donations were part of efforts by a Ghanaian resident in Denmark, Mr Kwame Owusu Danquah to help educational institutions and other community projects in the Akuapem traditional area. "We want to help the average Ghanaian child to take advantage of especially the computer, to enhance learning, socialization and communication skills," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday.Mr Owusu Danquah noted that many schools in Ghana had no computers and expressed the hope that with the little support from Computer Aid to Ghana, more students in Ghana would be introduced to Information Communication Technology."In our spare time, members of Computer Aid to Ghana from Denmark collect used computers and other useful equipment from Danish firms and educational institutions which we refurbish, pack and ship for distribution to schools in Ghana."Mr Owusu Danquah said the NGO's activities which were financed by the Danish Association for International Co-operation, an organization which administers funding of smaller projects in developing countries for DANIDA, would gradually be extended to the whole of the Eastern Region.Mr Kwame Awuku-Adu, Coordinator of Nimdea Foundation, a non governmental organisation operating in the Akuapem Traditional Area, who received the items for further distribution said his organisation wanted to supplements government's effort to provide basic education and quality health care to all."So far we have donated items to the Ghana Girls Guide, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Akropong Junior and Senior High Schools, all in Akuapem and some other health facilities in the area." Mr Awuku-Adu said he hoped his organisation's activities would help minimize illiteracy in the Akuapem Traditional area and enhance teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools in addition to improving health care delivery.
Source:GNA