The Education Ministry has pledged its support to all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to effectively oversee basic education in their respective areas.
A Deputy Education Minister in charge of pre-tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh on the Citi Breakfast Show said the Ministry is “solidly behind them and we are only praying that they will take their proper place in education.”
He acknowledged that since Article 506 [GES Act] of the 1992 Constitution gives MMDCEs oversight responsibilities in education, the Ministry organized dialogue sessions across the country to enlighten them on their constitutional mandate to guarantee improved standards in Ghana’s education system.
His assurance comes on the back of strategies which have been put in place by the Agona East DCE to improve the standards of education in his District.
The DCE, Martin Luther Obeng explained that schools in the district performed poorly in the 2013 West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations and since the President has charged MMDCEs to take responsibility of schools in their Districts, it is imperative he delivers.
Some of the strategic measures include, increasing contact hours between teachers and students, increasing number of assignments given to students weekly, the setting of academic objectives for teachers among others.
In terms of sanctions, Mr. Obeng said teachers who under-perform will be made to leave the District or their salaries will be withheld because “you can’t waste your own time, waste people’s time for government to spend money on you to pay you.”
In addition, teachers who fail to deliver good results will not be promoted even if they are due.
Regular visit to schools will also be instituted while resources will be provided to aid effective teaching and learning.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana