The school’s headmistress, Madam Mahama Maria, revealed to Citi News that the only laptop used for teaching the pupils has been out of commission since 2015.

According to her, a philanthropist donated the said laptop to the school with a population of 430 students.

“We have an ICT teacher in the school. In the past we used to have a laptop which someone gave to the school to use but it’s been spoilt for about two years now,” she said

“It is a big problem for us that we have an ICT teacher in the school and yet there is no laptop for us to use and teach the students.”

The ICT teacher, Samuel Wedaga expressed his frustration with the current situation saying “We don’t even have a single computer and ICT is a practical subject. Without the computer when you teach the theory it becomes abstract to the kids and so we need computers for the pupils to feel the practical aspect.”

He appealed to government and other philanthropists to assist the school.

Given the importance of the practical aspects of studying ICT, the absence of the requisite infrastructure had created a huge problem.

With the world wholly embracing technology, the study of Information, Communication and Technology is an integral part of the academic schedule of schools in the country.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He said teachers were the key change agents needed for the acceleration of the transformative change programmes of his government, thus his administration would ensure that the Ghanaian teachers become pivotal in the development agenda of the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”m5VZPy7I2QYdJfnzmweWTyJIi0e3lv0i”]President Akufo-Addo said this at the second session of the 21st congregation of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), at which some 10,587 students graduated from the University at various levels.

The number comprised 6,644 and 3,943 graduands from the Northern and Southern sectors of the University respectively.

The total figure is made up of 904 postgraduate, 6,000 bachelor’s degrees and 3,675 diploma awards. Out of the lot, 1,464 have been certified as professional teachers in various fields of expertise.

Touching on the critical importance of teachers of developing the competencies of teachers, the President explained that the economic success of most modern societies was inter-related with the professional role of teachers and education in general.

“Almost all modern, successful societies that have had outstanding results in training and economic development such as Singapore, Finland, Korea and Canada have shown that teacher quality is the single most important determinant of their successes.

“For us also to make a success of our nation, we must pay attention to teachers. It is only a crop of well-trained, self-confident and contented teachers that can deliver the educated and skilled workforce we require to transform our economy,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo said Government intends to restore the teaching profession to the status it once enjoyed, and make it an attractive career choice.

He said teaching should no longer be seen as a stop-gap measure or a job of last resort, but as a viable choice to enter a well-paid, well-respected profession with long term career prospects and good benefits.

Accordingly, government, he said, intends to facilitate teacher training nationwide, as well as institute special incentives for them, such as support for teachers to acquire their own homes.

The President said in line with the policy to motivate teachers and reward their hard work in the classroom, government would also support teachers to enroll in Distance Education programmes to boost their capacity.

It is for this reason that government, he said, would from September 2017, re-introduce the teacher training allowance that was revoked by the previous government.

The President said government, as a policy measure, would partner and support the UEW, as well as all the other public Universities in the country, to raise and improving standards to enable them to compete with the best on the Continent.

He was hopeful that Ghanaian universities would be ranked amongst the top 10 on the continent after the many interventions being made, saying, “This is not beyond us to achieve, and my government will ensure that universities are equipped with the requisite logistics and guarantee that lecturers are well motivated to achieve this feat.”

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Source: GNA

The post We’ll make teaching profession prestigious again – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the group, there has been a steady decline in the academic performance of students over the past two years in the three regions, namely Northern, Upper East and Upper West.

The Public Affairs Officer of the NDF, Bennett Mahama, said it came to this conclusion after a two-year research on education, energy and health in the three regions.

“The research proved that we are still behind in education as compared to the other regions. There has not been any indication of improvement. We are still worse in performance at all levels,” he said.

He noted that, the situation has left a negative effect in the region with most graduates unable to gain admission to higher institutions of learning.

Bennett Mahama further called on government to increase budgetary allocation for education in the three regions, to promote effective teaching and learning.

Imbalance in infrastructure eroding quality education

The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), recently cited inadequate funding as one of the main reasons for the erosion of quality education at all levels in Ghana.

Presenting findings on ISSER’s latest report on the education sector at the University of Ghana today [Tuesday], a researcher at ISSER, Professor Jonathan Fletcher, indicated that governments have not been able to balance improved access with funding.

‘Improving education is responsibility of all’

Meanwhile, President John Mahama has appealed to all stakeholders in the education sector to help improve the standard of education in the country.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Poor funding blamed for poor educational performance in the north appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.