EAI RELEASE
THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS DODGING RESPONSIBILITY, CLOSING DOWN NON-PERFORMING SCHOOLS IS AN EMPTY SUGGESTION – William Boadi, EAI
Dear all, the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has threatened the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions that he will close down the non-performing schools.
He went ahead and clarified that those schools with low scores in exams ought to develop a strategy to guarantee excellence.
Besides, the Minister said that closing down the non-performing schools would recoup the nation from the vast financial casualties.
His best option is that the affected students would be added to other nearby schools to proceed with their schooling.
And on a more serious note, the minister must rather be blamed for the bad results proclaimed. The below problems contribute to the poor performance in such schools.
Some challenges confronting Ghanaian schools:
- Lack of Teaching and Learning Materials (audio/visual) and a serene environment that is supposed to enhance effective teaching and learning.
- 93.7% of schools especially those in rural areas don’t have computers and internet access. And, so they are teaching and learning Information and Communication Technology on chalkboards.
- There are 5,403 schools under trees and in dilapidated structures with 2,417. The northern region has 304 schools under trees and 229 deplorable structures. And, over 7,000 pupils lack furniture in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri district, Northeast region.
- 97.2% of teachers are psychologically molested and wobbling in poor conditions of service.
- The teacher unions that are expected to advocate for the well-being of teachers are only interested in monthly dues and mutual fund increments.
- The government has tamed well-trained professional teachers to be silent on the issues. Due to that, they are too coward to complain to the media just to protect their jobs and scanty monthly salaries.
- Government is yet to settle an amount of GHC315 million in Capitation Grant Arrears.
- School children are being forced to pay electricity and water bills.
Our recommendations.
- The government must provide all educational needs to ensure quality education.
- It is time to polish and localize our educational curriculum holistically with serious technical and vocational skills.
- The concentration should not be on those in the cities alone. We must widen the scope.
- Depoliticize Ghana’s educational policies, activate the national policy, and avoid party manifestos.
- The government must relegate the missionary schools to churches.
- COCOBOD and other scholarship schemes must be awarded to needy children etc.
Educate Africa Institute (EAI) deem that when the above-mentioned challenges are addressed, it would boost the performance of the dreary score schools the minister wants to collapse.
Leadership is everything.
I am a Ghanaian and African is born in me.
Signed
William Boadi
CEO of EAI, Educationist, Political analyst, Journalist, and Socialist.
+233541935106
