IT to be integral part of stenographer
course
Ofori Panin wins Independence debate
More students benefit from scholarship
scheme
Students show concern for falling education
standards
Private Schools denies charging arbitrary
fees
IT to be integral part of stenographer
course
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 March 2001
The Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment is to make Information Technology (IT) an integral part of the training course for clerical stenographers.
The Board of Directors of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) has therefore been directed to institute measures to incorporate this into its courses with immediate effect.
Mrs. Cecilia V.L. Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, announced this at a meeting with the Board in Kumasi on Thursday.
"It has been taken for granted. Therefore, any training programme from the basics to the highest stenographer grade should have a component of IT."
The minister, whose three-day official visit to the Ashanti Region coincided with the meeting of the NVTI Board, will meet regional heads of departments and agencies under the ministry. She will also visit the Ghana Co-operative College's new site and the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC), both in Kumasi.
Mrs. Bannerman will visit the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) at Tetrefu and Baworo and pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at Manhyia Palace.
Mrs. Bannerman said if the NVTI is the key to vocational training and manpower development that will bring about great strides and expansion in the government's new focus of making an impact on industry and the general administration in the country, then the best way to do this is to improve on the human resource available.
"As a country, we should not see things prevailing in the country as normal because we have been left behind by countries which concentrated on the development of their human resources and are making progress.
"There is no reason why we should not stimulate our human resources development."
On technology development, Mrs Bannerman appealed to all stakeholders to find support from partners in other countries to develop and upgrade the skills of the country's workforce.
Mrs. Bridget Katsriku, Chief Director of the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment and Vice-Chairman of the NVTI Board of Directors, said the Board, established in 1998 with emphasis on skill training, had made tremendous improvement in skills development.
She said that, through its policies, the intake of students at all the centres had increased. More hostels have been put up and it has acquired new plots of land for expansion in all the six centres throughout the country.
Mrs. Katsriku said the major problem has been finance to complete a permanent head office in Accra, which is 50 per cent complete.
Mr Moses Kodjo Aidoo, Manager of the Kumasi institute, who briefed Mrs Bannerman on a tour of the centre, said it was established in 1973 with assistance from the International Monetary Fund.
He explained that the idea was mainly to help upgrade the skills of artisans and mechanics at the Suame Light Industrial Area but added that junior secondary school graduates are now being admitted to the centre.
Mr Aidoo said the centre has acquired a 30-acre plot at Hemang Buoho to expand its operations and for mainly general electric training and masonry.
Work has also begun on a four-storey building for the centre to increase the intake of students, he said, adding that, so far, the centre has trained more than 2,000 graduates.
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Ofori Panin wins Independence debate
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
Ofori Panin secondary school, Kukurantumi emerged the winner of this year's Independence Anniversary debate for senior secondary schools.
Ofori Panin debated Saint James Seminary and Secondary school on the motion "Gender equity in education is necessary for national development," winning by a close margin of 22 against 20 points.
Ofori Panin represented the Southern Zone while St James represented the Northern Zone in the finals of the fourth national debate organised by the Ghana Education Service (GES) as part of activities marking Ghana's 44th independence anniversary.
Speaking for the motion, the all-girls team of speakers for Ofori Panin argued that girls over the years have proved that they can attain similar heights as boys when put under the same level without any form of discrimination.
Their opponents, all boys, countered by saying that gender equity is a misnomer because the 1997 educational reforms programme has no element of gender bias.
"If you want quality then don't talk about gender equality," they argued.
Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State for Basic and Girl-child Education said in closing remarks that the impressive performance of both schools was a clear manifestation that the youth are ready to face the challenges of gender issues.
"It is only when gender issues are effectively addressed that we can have a society devoid of discrimination, sexual harassment, and male chauvinism," she said.
The minister said given equal opportunity in education, women would rise to the level of men and competently assume their role in society adding, "strategic planning requires gender justice."
She suggested that the debate should be extended to other disciplines of the school curriculum to further enhance teaching and learning.
Mr. Budu Smith, a Deputy Director-General of the GES, said debate was to expose students to topical issues relevant to the concerns and aspirations of the country.
He said from the exercise, students are becoming more and more aware of the achievements of the nation and the issues that are confronting it.
"As you listen to one another's view, your literary skills will be enhanced and at the same time you will be learning to tolerate each other's view for oneness of purpose," Mr. Smith said.
The awards would be presented on March 5, 2001 at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.
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More students benefit from scholarship
scheme
Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 02 March 2001
More than 150 students have so far benefited from an educational scholarship scheme instituted 10 years ago by three eminent citizens of Techimantia and nearby Dwomo in the Tano South District.
The Praka-Asante, Andrew Aforo and Kwasi Boakye (PAB) Scholarship Scheme was set up to provide sustained support for senior secondary education, promote competitive spirit among schools and assist hard-working but needy students in the district.
This year's award ceremony was held at Techimantia on Wednesday during which 15 students were selected for awards.
More than 15 million cedis has so far been spent on the scheme.
Dr. Kwame Praka-Asante, one of the benefactors, urged beneficiaries to work hard to justify their selection as they could lose their awards to those who would be dedicated to their studies.
He said that efforts were being made to increase support for the scheme, and advised parents to attach great importance to the education of their children.
The Reverend Dr. Kwame Amoah-Kumah, chairman of the Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, advised the beneficiary students to take advantage of the scheme to attain higher educational laurels.
He commended the benefactors for their foresight, dedication and sacrifice, and appealed to other public-spirited citizens to emulate them to sustain the scheme.
Mr. S. Okoh Ameyaw, headmaster of Techimantia Presbyterian Secondary Commercial School, advised parents to provide for the needs of their children to encourage them to study hard.
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Students show concern for falling education
standards
Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 02 March 2001
Members of the Techiman Students Union have called on citizens of the area to help find a solution to the low level of education in the district.
Mr. Oppong Amponsah, Vice-President, made the call at a forum organised by the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Tunsuase at the weekend.
He said members of the union had taken particular interest in the district's educational fund, adding that members had pledged to sensitise the public through educational campaigns on the need to raise education standards in the area.
Mr. Osei Kwame, Secretary, called on people who have pledged to contribute towards the fund to fulfil their promises.
He said that even though cocoa continues to be the bread winner in most homes, "the best option now is for parents to invest in their children's education".
An elder of the church, Mr. Akwasi Oppong, appealed to the Omanhene, Osabarima Dotobibi Takyia Ameyaw, to make the contributions to the fund affordable to all.
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Private Schools denies charging arbitrary
fees
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
Mr. Wilberforce Owusu-Kyere, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), on Thursday denied that private schools charge high fees or increase fees arbitrarily.
He said fees fixed by the schools are presented to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the GES council and the Minister of Education for approval.
Mr. Owusu-Kyere, who was addressing a press conference in Accra explained that schools that are not members of the association, "and perceive themselves as strictly commercial entities," often use various indices to charge the exorbitant fees.
He said such schools have often had the nod, somehow overtly or covertly, from the authorities.
He said the GNAPS could therefore not be blamed for the exorbitant fees charged by "these untouchable schools in the system."
Mr. Owusu-Kyere complained that though the yearly statistics forwarded to the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on loans for schools, always included "our enrolment figures and also our comparatively excellent academic results," the GES often favours public schools against private schools.
Mr. Owusu-Kyere said it is on record that without the private schools, the whole educational reform programme, "at least at the basic level would have been a failure."
He defended the charging of extra fees by teachers of private institutions who offer remedial classes saying, the classes are chosen as an option to help cope with the short period of the Senior Secondary School programme.
He said when other civil servants work extra hours, they take over-time allowance. "Much in the same way, one should expect teachers to take something reasonable for the extra hours of work."
Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first Vice President of GNAPS encouraged parents to report to the association, any arbitrary charges by its members.
He also advised the media to crosscheck information they publish about members of the association.
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