According to the Upper East Regional Education Director, Patricia Ayiko, an order was given from the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service instructing the immediate abrogation of their engagement.

Speaking to Citi News on the developments in Bolgatanga, Mrs Ayiko explained that the GES held that the recruits with such educational backgrounds will be of no use in the delivery of quality education.

“So headquarters said we should retrieve their appointment letters because the courses they went and did, they didn’t do the courses to come and teach because we don’t know what they are going to teach,” Mrs Ayiko stated

“We were authorized by the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to return all those letters. So they can’t teach in GES that is why we have been asked to retrieve their appointment letters.”

Mrs Ayiko could not give the number of recruits affected but emphasized that those who refused to return their appointment letters won’t be allowed to keep teaching.

It is, however, unclear why the Ghana Education Service would engage recruits with such qualifications if their services were not needed.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/E: GES ‘sacks’ teachers with banking, marketing certificates appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is because the students, who will be sitting for the 2018 WASSCE examinations will spend only seven weeks in school instead of the full 14 weeks.

A GES memo, sighted by Citi News, thus directed all Regional Directors of Education that “final year students should pay one half or fifty percent of the fees for the third term.”

“It is expected that the Regional Directors should ensure strict compliance of this directive,” the memo added.

Schools are set to re-open for the third term on April 16, and will vacate on July 20, 2018.

The final year students are expected to be in school up till June 1.

The memo added that adjustments could be made if students are made to stay through the Easter vacation.

“In the instance where the final year students will be asked to stay in school during the current holidays or will re-open on 16^th April 2018, the fees should be adjusted to reflect the number of weeks they will be spending in school.”

WAEC moves WASSCE to April to aid students’ preparations

The West African Examination Council, WAEC, announced in February that final year SHS students will henceforth write the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in April.

Head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Rev. Samuel Ollennu, said the move will guarantee that the nine terms allocated to teaching and learning in second cycle schools are fully exhausted by students before the examination.

“We are here to sanitize you about the forthcoming examination, which this time around is not starting February but on April 3. Formerly, we were going to start in February but the government appealed to us not to”, he said.

In November 2017, the Minister of Education announced the proposal, citing that students need adequate time for preparation, and after consultation with the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the date was reviewed.

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

The post Final year SHS students to pay half of third term fees – GES appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Jacob A. M. Kor,  he said “it has come to their notice that the ban on corporal punishment is not being enforced in schools.”

“We wish to indicate that Corporal punishment in our institutions is illegal and would not be tolerated in any form”

The Service explained that “The directive is in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the right of the child (CRC), which was corrected in Ghana in 1990, and the Children’s Act of 1998 m(Act 560).

“We strongly advise that teachers, Educational Workers and staff of Public and Private would continue to exhibit the best professional conduct throughout the entire process of educational service delivery to pupils and students, without having to resort to the use of corporal punishment”.

According to the GES, it was becoming public knowledge that teachers continued to apply the cane even though the GES had banned the practice.

Concerns are that, there have been instances where in the course of administering corporal punishment, the teachers ended up deforming the pupils.

The Service is of the firm belief that there are different ways by which pupils or students could be punished, citing for instance, giving students assignments to do while their mates are playing during break time among others.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Respect ban on corporal punishment – GES warns teachers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at the 87^th Speech and prize-giving Day celebration of the St Augustine’s College in Cape Coast on Saturday, Mr. Ashigbey said mobile phone usage could be properly regulated in schools to advance academic work of students.

The anniversary celebration which was on the theme: “The role of technology in preparing students for the future global economy” brought together people from all walks of life including; old boys, staff, parents and other distinguished personalities from across the country.

Mr. Ashigbey said allowing SHS students to use mobile phones must not be a problem because students could be guided on the effective use of the internet and its profitability.

He was of the view that students should be taught to create content that would promote development rather than just being taught the basics of a computer and internet.

“Help students develop digital strategies by teaching them how to code and making coding part of their syllabus”, he said.

Mr. Ashigbey encouraged teachers to embrace the current technological trend as it was a necessary requirement in the fast changing technological world.

This he said would help them direct student’s interest in technology, and make them better prepared in the key skills of critical thinking, communication and creativity to better succeed in the global economy.

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Source: GNA

The post Rethink stance on mobile phone use in SHS – Ken Ashigbey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Serving on this committee are representatives from the GES, the Ghana Police Service, the Municipal Assembly, the School’s Board of Governors and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

It is chaired by Patrick D. Boateng, and it has been given two weeks to submit its findings.

Mohammed Habib, the Municipal Coordinating Director at the official inauguration, reminded the members to be diligent in the assigned task, and do a thorough job to establish the truth or otherwise of the allegation that had triggered a wave of public outcry.

He added that, it was an opportunity for everybody with any shred of evidence relating to the matter to provide it.

The committee would begin its public hearing today [Wednesday].

Nana Kofi Poku, the Nkosuohene of Ejisu, who is reported to have made the sex misconduct claim, would be appearing before it.

Also expected to give evidence are teachers and students of the SHS and some journalists.

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Source: GNA

The post GES begins probe into sexual abuse claims by Ejisuman SHS tutors appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ms Twum Ampofo, is a professional teacher, and until her new appointment, she was the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer [PRO] of the Service.

She holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Cape Coast, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications Studies (with specialisation in Public Relations) from the Christian Service University College, a Diploma in Journalism from the Institute of Business Management and Journalism in Kumasi.

She also obtained her Post Sec Teachers Certificate from Holy Child College, Takoradi, and joined the Ghana Education Service in 2004.

Ms. Cassandra Twum Ampofo is also a member of the Institute of Public Relations, Ghana.

Her appointment comes after the transfer of the previous PRO, Rev. Jonathan Bettey.

The Acting Deputy Director General of GES, Anthony Boateng, in an interview on Accra-based Kasapam FM, alleged that Mr. Bettey had forged his promotional letter hence the decision to transfer him from the Headquarters in Accra to Cape Coast.

Mr. Bettey has however rejected the claims, saying his transfer was politically motivated.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cassandra Twum-Ampofo is new GES PRO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the educational sector laws, specifically the Act governing the operations of the Ghana Education Service, have been breached with the allocation of GHc 1.2 billion to the secretariat.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wbggpr3MBDYMpaCUpXZWCRBKHBOIzr6u”]The government said the allocation was made because of the good track record of the secretariat.

But debating the budget estimates of the office of government machinery, Haruna Iddrisu said the GES under the Ministry of Education should be responsible for the Free SHS allocation “if we are respecting the laws of Ghana.”

“The Scholarship Secretariat deals with scholarships. This [the Fre SHS policy], is a major government policy of providing bursaries to ensure free secondary education… the scholarship secretariat must focus on Cuban students, Ghanaians students in Moscow.”

The Minority Leader further argued that “the President swore to uphold the laws of Ghana and the GES Act is part of the laws of Ghana.”

Thus, Mr. Idrissu said President Nana Akufo-Addo must “demonstrate respect to it [the GES Act], and send that GHc 1.2 billion back to the Ministry of Education and back to the GES for proper supervision.”

The GES Act states that “the Service shall be responsible for the implementation of approved national policies and programmes relating to pre-tertiary education.”

The Service is mandated to provide and oversee basic education, senior secondary education, technical education and special education.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Withdraw Free SHS funds from Scholarship Secretariat – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Vaccines for the swine flu are also expected in the country on Saturday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZSHPPWlWhIrNMtttLQ9yRIPhwatD4Xf2″]This is according to a Ghana Education Service (GES) statement issued after a meeting with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The drug, Tamiflu, was given to tens of thousands of people during the swine flu pandemic in 2009.

The disease has been detected in at least a dozen students of Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti Region, where four students are suspected to have died from it.

The school’s students and staff were administered some other antiviral agents, and the school was also fumigated, following the detection of the swine flu.

According to the GES statement, “arrangements have been made to procure and airlift antiviral agent, Tamiflu, and vaccines for use.

Tamiflu is expected in the country by 15^th December, 2017 [today] and the vaccines by 16^th December 2017.”

The statement also noted that, the Ministry of Health has “sent alerts to all the regions, districts and facilities, to enhance surveillance and strengthen systems for prevention, early detection and timely responses.”

“The situation is under control, and there have not been any new reported cases,” the GES further assured.

Aside from the suspected outbreak of swine flu at Kumasi Academy, a death from meningitis was recorded at the Koforidua Secondary Technical School in the Eastern Region.

Other meningitis deaths were noted at the Damango Senior High School in the Northern Region from meningitis, and the Bawku Secondary Technical School.

For the cases of suspected meningitis, the GES said it was “awaiting the medical report from the Ghana Health Service, including their recommendations on the way forward, and will update the public accordingly upon receipt.”

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

The post Swine Flu drug arrives today, vaccines expected on Saturday appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The President of the council, Alexander Yaw Danso, who revealed this in an interview with Citi News, stated that an agreement with an insurance company to charge each student GHc 7.00 a term has been reached.

He also noted that the Ghana Education Service was in favour of their proposals.

Mr. Danso’s comments follow the suspected outbreak of swine flu that has resulted in four deaths at the Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti Region.

A student of Koforidua Secondary Technical School also died from a meningitis infection over the weekend.

There were also concerns at the St. Martin’s Senior High School at Nsawam in the Eastern Region after over 20 students reportedly collapsed in the school over the weekend though medical officials have attributed the occurrence to panic attacks.

“For tragedies of this nature, you cannot prevent it. It started as something that you would say is normal, but it has developed to a stage that is a national tragedy,” he said of the recent deaths.

“We are in touch with an insurance company to insure our students for us at a minimum premium. Fortunately, the company is not only insuring the students. They are insuring the students and sponsoring parents and guardians as well, at a premium of GHc 7.00 per term.”

“The parents have accepted. We have written to the Ghana Education Service and they have given us the approval. The letter is there, and has been  copied to all the Senior High school heads, the Regional Directors and all that.”

“It’s unfortunate that the roll out didn’t come before this tragedy otherwise the families of the dead would have received some benefits and those on admission would have also gotten some benefits,” Mr. Danso concluded.

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By: Hafiz Tijani & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Health scare: PTA council pushes for insurance for SHS students appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the GES did not give him a fair hearing, expressing surprise at the decision to transfer him from the school.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vnFyYbZ5QXpjGsDOzzMQR4Z6IHTOwshe”]“It is unfortunate that despite the relationship I have with the Ministry of Education, they could not invite me to find my side of the story. I feel very very hurt,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday.

While suggesting that someone at the Education Service was using the situation to settle a personal score with him, he lamented that, “I have done a lot of work for the Ministry of Education, and I have not taken a pesewa…. Anyway, I will take it like that… I believe that somebody over there is using the official medium to settle a score with me and the person knows himself or herself. The person can go on because I am very surprised about the turn of events.”

Citi News gathered that the headmaster of the school, Samuel Salamat, was transferred to the Curriculum Research of Development Division (CRDD) at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) in Accra from La PRESEC last week.

Initial reports said the transfer was orchestrated by his opening up to the media about the challenges of the school, however the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said that the transfer was because he charged parents “illegal fees” contrary to government’s instruction.

But Mr. Salamat said on the Citi Breakfast Show that he did not charge parents’ fees, instead, he asked for voluntary contribution to provide classroom desks to serve the over 600 fresh students.

He noted that the school at the start of the academic year, had just about 90 desks in good shape for the Free SHS beneficiaries.

He, however said he will not protest his transfer as he believes he can still make a positive impact at his new place of work.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GES didn’t treat me well; I’m hurt – Fmr. La PRESEC head appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.