While in Ghana, the 23^rd President of Yale University granted an exclusive interview to Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah touching on issues of racism in the Yale, and how he is dealing with it.

He touched on the government of Ghana’s free SHS policy, Yale’s funding model and how Ghanaian tertiary institutions can adopt same, the future of tertiary institutions and Yale’s plan for Africa.

Below is a transcription of the full interview:

Caleb: You will be the first ever President of Yale University to visit Africa after nearly 317 years of your establishment. Hasn’t that been long in coming?

Salovey: Yes, I would guess it has been. But you know it’s so interesting at this moment where 12 African countries are in the top 20 among the fastest growing economies in the world, it’s an incredible moment.  But mostly, we’re just seeing so much interest in Africa by Yale students and so much interest in Yale here in Africa so it seems that the time has come.

Caleb: So the time has come and there is a great opportunity for Yale to take advantage of…

Salovey: I think that’s true. Our way of working in countries beyond the United States is to develop partnerships. We don’t build campuses. But what we really like to do is form partnerships so that it is a genuine collaborative relationship where both parties learn from each other. Those partnerships can be built on student to student, faculty to faculty, institution to institution and we are here trying to do all of that.

Caleb: During your inauguration as President of Yale in 2013, you promised a more unified, accessible, innovative and excellent Yale how well are you doing on that promise?

Salovey: Thank you. These are broad goals. But by a more unified Yale what we meant is bringing the campus together across boundaries. Whether there are boundaries that separate the different kinds of students, or boundaries that separate the disciplines, we could be better together as the expression goes. Accessibility largely meant making university education at Yale affordable for people of all economic backgrounds. And we now give very aggressive financial support to domestic and to international students. We admit them without regard to their financial background. We call it need blind – meaning that the admissions office tries to put together  the most interesting class it can based on peoples intelligence, talents and motivations, and is blind to whether they need financial help to come to Yale and we give that financial support in the same way whether they are domestic students or international students. And so more than half of our international students receive financial aid from the University for Yale College, they receive on average more than $50,000 a year. Most international students are going to come to Yale without a cost to their families. There are a few universities in the US who do this. We are not the only one but it is still unusual.

CALEB: As the proponent of emotional intelligence how intelligent will you say Yale University has become in the face of stark racism against its 21% international student population?

SALOVEY: This is a complicated question. By emotional intelligence what John Mayer and I meant was that we all have a set of skills that we can refine, develop and measure that allow us to process emotional information and to take advantage of what that information provides. So these are skills around identifying emotions, understanding them, managing them and using them in interpersonal ways. Now to say that an institution is emotionally intelligent is an interesting question. I guess what the real thing is as an institution is, are we cultivating empathy, an understanding of others, our willingness to learn from others.

One of the ways we do that is through the diversity of our student body. Undergraduates at Yale are 11%, international graduate students are about 30-35%.

In Yale College, if you combine the international students with American minority groups, African-American, Asian, Latino and Native Americans, all that combined is more than half of the class. Having that kind of diversity really helps people learn in an emotionally intelligent way from people whose backgrounds are different from their own.

We do have moments where we are not best ourselves. Like almost every campus in America there have been incidents where people are not tolerant, but I will say we learn from them and move on. Yale is a very welcoming community. The idea of inclusion is now very important to us.  Diversity is a statistical issue, what are your numbers? That only takes you so far. Inclusion means everybody feels this is their place. And when Yale started I wouldn’t have been welcomed, you might not have been welcomed, none of us. But it’s a very different place now than it was in 1701. But how do we ensure that despite not sharing nearly 317 years of history, it’s our place?

CALEB: We read on the internet and our friends at Yale tell us contrary to all the massive publicity about Yale there are everyday cases of racism in their face. And they feel that is still an issue that the University hasn’t been able to address. What are you doing to ensure that Yale is a more inclusive institution these days?

SALOVEY: I hope there aren’t everyday examples. But we have to teach in classrooms. We have to develop friendships in our residential colleges, our students all live together, they are randomly put together so the most likely scenario is you are living with someone who is not like yourself and we learn from those examples. We have to be always talking about the challenges that confront our country. Listen, what you are describing and what friends are describing are not unique to Yale. It’s pervasive in the American society. But we can be better than that.

CALEB: Especially when you say you want to build a better world, a better future…

SALOVEY: That’s the first sentence of our mission. To improve the world today for future generations. I don’t think today in America on University campuses like Yale, you’ll see a lot of explicit racism where people will say they don’t like someone because of their background.

CALEB: There was an all-white girls’ party recently which banned black girls from attending, there was the Halloween custom controversy all on Yale campus which sparked heated debates the world over on racism at Yale that challenges your claim.

SALOVEY:  I think the issue is something more unconscious. People need to examine to our assumption. It’s a little hard to examine something that is unconscious but I think we have to become more aware of the biases that everyone holds. But we do not see a lot of explicit racism what we see is unconscious bias that we see rear its head.

CALEB: So we will see a more inclusive Yale very soon?

SALOVEY: I think that’s already well underway. Those difficulties that you described the Halloween a few years ago, people learnt from them, and learnt the importance of taking the perspective of someone else and how they will view our custom and our inaction.

CALEB: How about Calhoun College? (One of 12 undergraduate residential colleges in Yale, named after America’s most prominent defender of slavery and 7^th Vice President 1825-1832)

SALOVEY: At the time, the University named the College after John C. Calhoun, an alumnus of Yale College who became Vice President of the United States, the University was proud of his legacy. But his stance on racism is something the University is not proud of. It does not conform to our mission and values. We will rather keep his statue in our art gallery for purposes of historical studies. We have renamed Calhoun College. We have named it Grace Hopper. Grace Hopper was a woman who was very early in computer science field, she invented the first compiler. Also we have a College named after Pauli Murray. She was a civil rights leader, worked on gender and racial equality and came to Ghana to teach at the University of Ghana.

CALEB:   So clearly women are being celebrated here.

SALOVEY: Exactly, that is my point.

CALEB: In Yale University’s nearly 317 years of illustrious history, you have produced 5 U.S presidents including Bill Clinton who you describe as highly emotionally intelligent. 4 of your graduates actually signed the American Declaration of Independence among many other products all over the world. What were the principles of the founders of Yale that have kept it going all these years?

SALOVEY: Now that’s a very interesting question. The University was founded essentially as a seminary and trained ministers. That gave it a very strong moral compass. But in 2018, we are a very different Yale than we were in 1701. In the 1700s, Yale largely trained ministers to work as preachers or scholars.

CALEB: That should explain why your first principal Abraham Pierson was a minister.

SALOVEY: Exactly. In fact, the first several principals were ministers. In the 1800s, Yale became a regional college training students in what was thought as the liberal arts in those days. In the 20^th Century Yale became a national university, adopted strong research programs and combined them with very intense focus on undergraduate liberal education. But in the 21^st century, we are a global university educating students from all over the world in the liberal tradition which means teaching general skills that helps one think critically, communicate better, work in teams and work in leadership positions anywhere in the world in any sector.

CALEB: Clearly, the phase of higher education is evolving. What would you say is the next phase of higher education globally?

SALOVEY: That’s a very good question. You know accessibility is a huge issue. We really need to make sure that students can afford a college education. It’s an issue here in Ghana, it’s an issue in the United States. Unfortunately right now, we are seeing our states investing less in their colleges and universities. I am worried about that, I am worried that a ticket to a better life which is what a college education was, is becoming very expensive. So Yale is trying to address that by giving very aggressive financial aid. If you are at the average income level in the US, your family is from the average income level or lower in the US, and you are admitted to Yale, you come to Yale with no financial burden to your family.  We have to be that aggressive or we are going to have a much skewed educated community.

You know my grandparents did not go to college. My dad was the first in his family but his parents really believed in the value of education. But when he went to college he went to City College of New York, it was free, he went to graduate school at Harvard it was free. I graduated from high school from the Bronx High School of Science it was free.

CALEB: That was free education all through.

SALOVEY: That was free education all through and that is hard to find now for a student from a family of limited financial background. We have to make sure that that doesn’t get lost.

CALEB: Here in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo has launched the Free Senior High School program. He believes the program will make Ghana like America in the next few years because when America started its free education program it did not have the financial muscle it has now. Giving every Ghanaian child free SHS education regardless of whether they can more than afford or they are really poor and cannot afford is the best way to go. You are an academic who believes in the value of education and an administrator of a university that knows the cost of education. What are your thoughts on a middle income country like Ghana rolling out free SHS?

SALOVEY: I can’t claim to be an expert on Ghana and the debate that you are having. But I think free education through high school is very very important. That’s where students learn basic skills – reading, writing, arithmetic. That’s where students learn what it takes to be ready to take a job and contribute to society. I think there is nothing more important than a society that can provide free education at least up to a point. In the US that’s up to age 18.

For colleges and universities, I think what we want to do is to create access for students who cannot afford to come, it’s free. For students somewhere in the middle, they pay a little bit, and for students who are from wealthy families they pay more. It’s a way of making it possible for everyone to get a college or university education. A kind of slide in scale model. So free up to a certain point that makes sense for society and then slide in scale after that.

CALEB: So the cost of tertiary education should be targeted, you propose?

SALOVEY: Yeah, College education should be targeted by how much income you earn.

CALEB: But Senior High education should be completely free for all?

SALOVEY: I would hope so. If a country can afford it, I think there is nothing more important for the future.

CALEB: After government rolled out Free SHS here in Ghana, enrollment has been huge shooting up by 90,000.  But the spaces in tertiary institutions are not expanding as fast as would be desired. What are the dangers if we do not expand to accommodate the huge numbers?

SALOVEY: You are right. This could be a very frustrating experience because you now have all of these college ready students but not an increase in College spaces. But I think as the country can afford it, increasing those opportunities are going to be important. But you know, we admit students from Ghana every year. In about another few weeks, we will learn many have been admitted this year. But I know there are Ghanaians in that group. And that’s another safety valve here, coming abroad, studying abroad and we will provide the financial support for all those who need it.

CALEB:  So Yale is ready to open its arms to every Ghanaian?

SALOVEY: Very much. I think Ghanaians will find that we have worked very hard to create an inclusive University where they will be valued and they will have a very very good experience.

CALEB: Talking about that, there are more notable Ghanaian alumni of Yale like our current Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, Executive Director of CDD, Prof. H.K Prempeh, Chief Executive of Tullow Oil Ghana Kweku Awotwi, how well would you say Yale alumni are doing in Ghana and Yale in particular?

SALOVEY: So we are very proud of the students from Ghana who came and studied at Yale and then returned home and became leaders in society.

Our goal is to educate leaders for all sectors of society throughout the world and so this makes us very very proud. I had breakfast with Finance Minister and last night he was wearing his Yale hat at our reception. He is proud of his time at Yale and we are very proud of him. It creates wonderful connections between our countries and we very much hope that future students from Ghana will lead similar lives of leadership.

CALEB: Do you consider the popularity of online courses like Coursera a threat or an opportunity?

SALOVEY: I think it’s more opportunity than threat, in two ways. First, it really can expand our reach. We can bring Yale Professors to the world and vice versa, and I think that’s a very important aspect of online education. We also can enhance classroom teaching with technology. If I was teaching interactive psychology class today, I would have students watch at home the lectures using online tools. And then in the classroom we will have more discussions, more debates, more demonstrations and experiments so the classroom becomes much more hands on kind of learning environment.  So I am a fun of learning of technology.

CALEB: We are seeing many UK universities building campuses here in Ghana. What is Yale’s plan for Africa particularly Ghana?

SALOVEY: I am delighted that other universities are building campuses, that’s fine. But what we want to do is to make sure that everyone involved in our programs internationally has an intercultural experience both of the place where we have our programs at New Haven Connecticut where we have our main campus. How do we do that? Well, we look for institutions where our faculty already have collaborative relationship with other faculty, we look for institutions where our students have visited and studied or we have students who have come from that institution and come to New Haven Connecticut to study at Yale, and then we try to build our partnership around that idea. We have with the University of Ghana for example such a partnership. It begun really with collaborative research in public health and now we can build on it and extend it. I like that idea because I worry when you build campuses, are you really having an intercultural exchange, are you really having a partnership that values, respects and integrates both cultures or you are just building a little enclave?

CALEB: Now let’s talk about funding. Here in Ghana, many universities are struggling because government contributions delay and dry up. So tell us the American model for funding tertiary education in America in general and Yale University in particular that your Ghanaian counterparts can learn from because I know Yale University is named after a philanthropist called Elihu Yale, and also Yale has an endowment fund that exceeds $25billion which makes it the second richest educational institution in the world.

SALOVEY: Essentially, there are two ways to fund education. One is from government support. And the United States has built a network of wonderful state colleges and Universities that have been the ticket for education for the vast majority of college students. I am very concerned right now that they tend to be supported at the state level not the federal level, and I am very concerned that some of those states are no longer investing at the same level that they once did.

This is very shortsighted as an educated population is one that is going to be innovative, that’s going to push the country in new directions, develop new sources of wealth and create jobs. The other way you can fund higher education is through philanthropy. Most of the private colleges and universities use some versions of philanthropy. Yale along with some other private universities has been lucky, we have had gifts to the university since 1701. The founding of the university was based on philanthropy.

CALEB: Including the very house you live in as President of Yale (Hillhouse Avenue).

SALOVEY: Yes, it is a gift to the University, good example. And then we can invest those gifts in an endowment it can grow over time. But then, we spend five and a quarter percent of that endowment a year, very important. It supports our one third of Yale’s budget and it’s what enables us to give the financial support that we give to students. The other sources of support at Yale are research grants from the government very important for work in the medical school, clinical activities, and physicians generate some money and then students in some programs are paying fees. Students who can afford in the programs for example in their college do pay and that generates some support too. But, the endowment model and investing it carefully, but then spending it every year is very important for us to be able to provide the financial support that we provide.

CALEB: To your Ghanaian counterparts what will be your advice on how to raise the funds?

SALOVEY: It’s hard for me to give advice now…

CALEB: But is it so easy to do?  

SALOVEY: Well it’s not so easy, you have to find people who can afford but there are many grateful people who have gone through the university here, some of whom have become wealthy and there is a culture in which they recognize the university has a target for their philanthropy is a good one to develop.

CALEB: In wrapping up, how has your first visit to Africa, Ghana for that matter been like?

SALOVEY: The visit has been fantastic. Ghanaian people have been so warm. I’ve had to do things like hang out in James Town and see the hip places in town at least one of them. And people have been very interested in Yale. But it’s a two way street, we are very interested in Africa. Our students want to come here and learn from their counterparts here in Africa, our faculty wants to collaborate with African professors and institutions. We want to build more of that. The way in which economies here are changing so rapidly, the obvious resources on the continent, the obvious importance of Africa to the future, to world peace, to climate change, to sustainability, we can’t solve global problems without partnerships that are international. And I don’t see any of those problems being solved without Africa and US working together. And I am pleased to help build those ties on behalf of my country but also on behalf of my university.

CALEB: Is this interest in Africa, its resources and emerging economies another power struggle and scramble for Africa’s remaining resources?

SALOVEY:  I hope not. I hope what we are doing here is looking for partnerships that are win-win. Whether they are partnerships around technology, around health care around environment, I think we work together for mutual benefit. If we are not doing that, then I think we are not doing the right thing.    

CALEB: So what Ghanaian experience have you had so far?

SALOVEY: Like many visitors I have really enjoyed the cuisine. The food here is absolutely delicious. I have been eating a lot of goat soup – absolutely fantastic.

And of course visiting the memorial of your founding President (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) very moving to me so what I learnt about the history of this country, the history of independence is also an important part of the visit here too. The only way these partnerships work is if it’s a two way street, what can I learn from you, what can you learn from me. And I have learnt a lot on this trip.

CALEB: It’s been a great pleasure speaking to you President Peter Salovey.

SALOVEY: Pleasure speaking with you too, thank you so much for your time.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Yale President speaks frankly on racism, free SHS and Yale Africa initiative appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the initiative will be launched later in the year to help equip the youth with skills for the transformation of the Ghanaian economy.

The initiative implies that, students within the various technical and vocational institutions as well as technical universities in Ghana will attend school free of charge.

Ghana currently has some form of free education from the basic level up to the senior high school level.

Delivering a keynote address at the National Conference on Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET), at the Koforidua Technical University on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said the free technical education will run parallel with the free basic and senior high school programme.

“This year, we are taking an equally dramatic and important step to align education to our needs.  We are this year launching the flip side of Free SHS. Government is launching a system of free technical and vocational education that runs parallel to the high school or secondary school. We are aiming to provide our young people with technical and vocational skills at both the secondary and tertiary sectors of education, to enable graduates employ themselves, and employ others after their training,” he added.

Akufo-Addo said the strategy of his government is to expand technical and vocational opportunities at both secondary and tertiary levels, and thereby strengthen the linkages between education and industry, as well as empower young people to deploy their skills to employ themselves and others.

“What I envisage in the technical and vocational education sector would involve a truly radical change in attitude on the part of all of us. Throughout the years, enough lip service has been paid to the TVET sector,” he said.

The President further stressed that “this time we are backing the talk with money and political will. This time, the interventions will be focused and seen through to proper conclusion.”

Nana Addo also told participants at the conference that his government is starting with the launch of a major project that will emphasize the importance of TVET, and redeem the misconception that technical and vocational education is inferior, and patronized only by less endowed students.

“We are aligning and bringing all public TVET institutions in the country under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education to streamline their curricula, and improve the co-ordination of their training. To this end, one Deputy Minister for Education is to be specifically responsible for technical and vocational education, like there is a dedicated Minister of State for Tertiary Education,” he said.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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This, according to Mr. Darfour will help prevent persons responsible for these items from stealing them as has been reported in some schools, following the implementation of the Free SHS programme.

[contextly_sidebar id=”a0u3KQl8tLdujCKdJYqqF0PQ723QO30E”]Speaking to Citi News, the Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour strict monitoring of the use of the items by the Heads of the Schools would nip the problem in the bud.

“Institutions are headed by management and they run with rules and regulations and they have a regional director who is directly responsible for the administrations of the schools…They must institute their own internal mechanisms to make sure that these things do not happen but being a human institution, sometimes one or two things will happen,” Mr. Darfour said.

Buipe SHS matron arrested 

There have been a number of reports of pilfering by some matrons in various schools including the Ghana Secondary Senior High School and Buipe Senior High Schools

In October 2017, the Matron of Buipe SHS in the Gonja District of the Northern Region was arrested for allegedly stealing foodstuffs belonging to the school.

The matron was arrested, together with a driver and his mate as they were transporting the food items from the school to her residence.

Small quantities of food 

The allegations of pilfering might, to some extent, account for the small quantities of food given to students in some schools.

In September 2017, first-year students of Mamfi Methodist Senior High Schools complained about the small portions of meals served them for lunch.

These complaints came days after the free SHS programme was implemented.

Aside from pilfering, the Free SHS programme has been fraught with several challenges including inadequate accommodation for students and the charging of unapproved fees by some schools.

Following these challenges, some sceptics have expressed doubts over the sustainability of the programme.

In a bid to address these challenges, President Nana Addo recently directed heads of institutions to stop the practice of charging unapproved fees.

President Nana Addo warned that any headteacher found culpable will be penalized.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at the 68th Speech and Prize-giving day of the T. I Ahmadiyya Senior High School in Kumasi,  the second lady, Samira Bawumia, said the government would put in place reforms to enhance the quality of teaching.

[contextly_sidebar id=”C9d4paqjGO0BFHhyTJjT1bW3fVECYtJg”]“The importance of the teacher to education can never be underestimated, that is why the NNP government believes in a teacher first policy. Therefore, we are introducing several reforms in teacher training skill upgrade and improving teaching and learning to deliver quality education outcome for our children,” she said.

She charged the teachers to support government’s initiatives such as the Free SHS policy, and be diligent in their work.

“Be diligent in your dealings with the children and encourage them to take their studies seriously, be effective role models for them because at their impressionable age, how you conduct yourself will have a huge impact on their lives,” she said.

‘Free SHS’

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, launched the Free Senior High School policy on Tuesday, 12th September 2017, with the aim of creating a society of opportunities and empowerment for every citizen.

The Free SHS policy implementation covers the full fees of students who attend public Senior High Schools in the country.

President Akufo-Addo said the policy will ensure that Ghanaians who qualify for SHS are not burdened with financial difficulties.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmomline.com/Ghana

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She has also called on teachers to be effective role models to students and guide them to become successful future leaders.

The Second Lady was speaking at the 68th Speech and Prize-giving day of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi where she represented the Vice President.

She said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government believes in a teacher-first approach to education and has begun introducing reforms such as teacher training, skills upgrade and improving teaching and learning materials to enable them deliver quality education outcomes for students.

“Government is confident that you will support its initiatives aimed at improving the quality of our education including the Free SHS policy. Be diligent in your dealings with the students and encourage them to take their studies seriously. Be effective role models for them, because at their impressionable ages how you conduct yourselves, will have a huge impact on their lives. Guide them to understand that they are the future leaders Ghana needs”.

Mrs. Bawumia said Government was aware of the challenges confronting the implementation of the Free SHS policy and is currently working to address them.

She added that government was also determined to ensure that the implementation of the policy does not compromise quality education and will work hard to resolve the challenges.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President also stated that any headteacher found charging fees already exempted under the Free SHS policy would be dealt with.

According to President Akufo-Addo, there are a handful of reactionary elements in the country determined to undermine the Free SHS policy.

“No headmaster or headmistress, therefore, is to charge any unapproved or illegal fees, or charging fees already exempted under the free SHS policy. Government will make sure of this, and sanction any school head who flouts this directive,” he said.

The President continued, “We have a sacred duty to our children, and to the generations beyond, in ensuring that, irrespective of their circumstances, their right to an education is preserved.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, February 17, 2018, when he attended the 60th-anniversary celebration of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary, in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region.

Addressing a gathering of staff, students and alumni of the school, the President indicated that a government may not be able to make every citizen rich, but with political will and responsible leadership, a government can help create a society of opportunities and empowerment for every citizen.

“I know no better way to do so but through access to education. Any country, that aims to transform itself into a modern productive player in the global marketplace, must get its educational policies right,” the President said.

He noted that citizens can only make informed choices if they are empowered with the capacity to make those choices.

Education, he added, is a key to human development, transforming a country, widening life’s options for individuals and society as a whole, and is a tool for the development of the nation and of a healthy democracy.

It is for this reason, the President stressed, that on 12th September 2017, he launched the Free Senior High School policy.

“It is public knowledge now that, prior to the launch of the Free SHS policy, our children were falling out of the educational system at every stage in alarming numbers. Free SHS has enabled 90,000 more students to gain access to Senior High School education in 2017 than in 2016,” the President indicated.

Without the implementation of this policy, he explained that the spectre of 90,000 young men and women, without any employable skills, and thrown onto the streets, would have further entrenched a future of hopelessness for Ghana’s youth.

Addressing the teething challenges confronting the Free SHS policy, the President told the gathering that procurement processes are currently on-going for the award of contracts for the provision of some 69,500 mono desks, 13,100 bunk beds, furniture for dining halls, staff rooms of teachers, computer laboratories, and the provision of marker boards for classrooms.

“Again, funding has been secured for the expansion and upgrading of facilities in 75 Senior High Schools across the country, with construction works on the existing Community Day Schools ongoing. Government, beginning this year, will also upgrade 42 Senior High Schools into model school status,” he said.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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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 Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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 Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement signed by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, said the government was rather “busy fixing the mess and rot that was bequeathed to them by the Mahama government, and does not have the luxury of time to indulge in orchestrations of lies and propaganda.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”kE7eKli8aKQbJf5eDajgeF0V2o2LJhMv”]The office of former President Mahama had issued a statement accusing the government of using the Daily Guide and the Statesman newspapers to attack him over allegations that he is using the African Watch Magazine to discredit the Free SHS policy.

Mr. Mahama’s office said there was a pattern of “spreading ridiculous untruths and a general smear campaign by assigns of government intended to malign the former President to satisfy an obvious political motive.”

But the government in a response denied any association with the said publications.

The statement further affirmed that, “President Akufo-Addo holds all former Presidents of the Republic in high regard, and will continue to treat all of them with dignity and respect, as he has consistently demonstrated since assuming the high office of President of the Republic.”

Find the full statement below

RE: STATEMENT IN REACTION TO MALICIOUS PUBLICATIONS AGAINST H.E. THE FORMER PRESIDENT

Government has taken note of a press statement signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to former President John Mahama, and dated January 25, 2018. The statement purports to react to “malicious publications against H.E. the former President”.

Rather, the statement makes a number of baseless allegations against the government and person of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Government responds as follows:

1. That, Daily Guide and Daily Statesman are NOT “government sponsored” newspapers. These newspapers have existed for many years, and the ownership of these papers is a matter of public record. Their general stance on political issues is also well known, predating the Akufo-Addo government.
2. That, to proceed on that false premise to attack the President is disingenuous.
3. To specifically allege that President Akufo-Addo is “orchestrating attacks” on the person of the former President “based on lies and pedestrian propaganda” without proof or evidence is unbefitting of a spokesperson of a former President.
4. President Akufo-Addo is busy fixing the mess and rot that was bequeathed to him by the Mahama government, and, therefore, does not have the luxury of time to indulge in orchestrations of lies and propaganda
5. That it is curious for the spokesperson of the former President to be issuing a statement denying that he is attacking the Free SHS programme, whilst that very same statement seeks to disparage the programme.

It is interesting that it is the spokesperson of former President Mahama who is urging Ghanaians to demand from the Akufo-Addo government “an improvement from the poor-governance it is serving this country.” We wish, in answer, to recall the words of the Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in his address at the New Year School, at Legon, when he stated:

“The question that we should ask is how can you inherit a budget deficit of 9.3% of GDP, proceed to reduce taxes, bring down inflation, bring down interest rates, increase economic growth (from 3.6% to 7.9%), increase your international reserves, maintain relative exchange rate stability, reduce the debt to GDP ratio and the rate of debt accumulation, pay almost half of arrears inherited, stay current on obligations to statutory funds, restore teacher and nursing training allowances, double the capitation grant, implement free senior high school education and yet still be able to reduce the fiscal deficit from 9.3% to an estimated 5.6% of GDP? Quite simple, this is a remarkable achievement and this is what we mean by competent economic management.”

We wish to reiterate that President Akufo-Addo holds all former Presidents of the Republic in high regard, and will continue to treat all of them with dignity and respect, as he has consistently demonstrated since assuming the high office of President of the Republic.

……signed……

Mustapha Abdul-Hamid

Minister for Information

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By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re too busy fixing Mahama’s mess to slander him – Gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“We wish to place on record that: Neither President John Mahama nor his office, has any interest in or working relationship with the AfricaWatch Magazine,” a statement from Mr. Mahama’s office said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yE4FS22VEo39cPjTL6kgQqfTGka5bDCK”]The claims were made by pro-New Patriotic Party [NPP], newspapers, Daily Guide and Statesman.

The statement said the publication was an attempt by the  government “to use false and malicious publications to bring the name of the former President into disrepute.”

It said there was a pattern of “spreading ridiculous untruths and a general smear campaign by assigns of government intended to malign the former President [Mahama] to satisfy an obvious political motive.”

Mr. Mahama has previously spoken of a media cabal against him, and his office has now indicated that such “falsehood” only fuels the perception that the media is “unprofessional and partisan.”

The statement further described Mr. Mahama as a man “deeply concerned about the horrible conditions under which SHS students are living and studying, out of which deaths have been recorded.”

“The Former President’s suggestion and advice to Government has been a call for a National Stakeholders Dialogue to chart a better and befitting way forward. President Akufo-Addo should heed that call, instead of orchestrating attacks based on lies and pedestrian propaganda,” the statement added.

Find the full statement below

STATEMENT IN REACTION TO MALICIOUS PUBLICATIONS AGAINST H.E. THE FORMER PRESIDENT

The Office of HE John Dramani Mahama has taken note of a false publication by two Government sponsored tabloids, Daily Guide and Statesman that the former President of the Republic of Ghana has contracted a magazine, the AfricaWatch to publish what it says are damaging reports about the Free SHS policy.

The said false claim, which has been attributed to the Ministry of Education, has been reproduced by some online news portals, in yet another sponsored attempt by Government to use false and malicious publications to bring the name of the former President into disrepute.

We wish to place on record that:

1. Neither President John Mahama nor his office has, any, interest in or working relationship with the AfricaWatch Magazine.
2. We have not seen or been offered an advance copy of the said publication to know what they have even written about the government’s Free SHS Policy.
3. The claims by the two government-sponsored tabloids and the alleged Ministry of Education statement are nothing but part of the usual set of lies conveniently being told to sway the attention and interest of the Ghanaian people from the dangerous developments of corruption, insecurity, hardships and poor governance by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
4. President Mahama holds the enviable record as a Ghanaian leader who has done more to broaden the frontiers of SHS education than many before him. He began with the implementation of the Progressively Free SHS, implemented the Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SEIP), built Community Day Senior High Schools- the largest addition to our school stock since independence, expanded infrastructure in hundreds of existing Senior High Schools among other interventions.
5. Like most Ghanaians, Mr. Mahama is deeply concerned about the horrible conditions under which SHS students are living and studying, out of which deaths have been recorded.
6. The Former President’s suggestion and advice to Government has been a call for  a National Stakeholders Dialogue to chart a better and befitting way forward.
7.  President Akufo-Addo should heed that call, instead of orchestrating attacks based on lies and pedestrian propaganda.

This Office would also like to point out that it has noted a pattern of spreading ridiculous untruths and a general smear campaign by assigns of government intended to malign the former President to satisfy an obvious political motive.

We condemn this approach and demand an immediate end to it. The media must also know that deliberately spreading such concocted falsehood and helping promote smear campaigns against the former President is worsening the dent and the characterisation of the Ghanaian media as unprofessional and partisan.

We encourage the Ghanaian public to continue to demand from the Akufo-Addo government, an improvement from the poor governance it is serving this country.

SIGNED

Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Special Aide
Thursday, January 25, 2018

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mahama not sponsoring magazine to smear Free SHS – Mogtari appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.