147 schools benefit from 'Project Citizen'

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Monday said about 147 schools throughout the country, have been equipped with knowledge and skills required for effective participation in the Ghana's democratic process, through Project Citizen Ghana. Project Citizen Ghana was developed by the United States Centre for Civic Education, as an educational tool to assist the NCCE, to educate students in the methods and procedures used in the country's political process.

Mrs Frances Funny-Kumah NCCE Director told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra that a number of teachers and students had benefited from the practical experience which fostered a sense of competence and efficiency in national development.

She said NCCE in collaboration with the US Centre had initiated refresher workshops in Greater Accra, Volta Eastern and Ashanti regions to evaluate and expand the project.

Mrs Funny-Kumah said the validation workshop was meant to increase the knowledge based of teachers to help students and the youth to develop a rich and varied understanding of government, public policy and citizenship in the country.

The NCCE Director said students who go through lessons in Project Citizen would learn how to develop a public policy to solve a community problem; learn how citizens can have power to monitor and influence public policy-making in the community and develop intellectual and participatory skills that promote reasoned investigation, critical thinking, effective communication and reflective thinking.

They will also develop democratic dispositions that encourage the exercise of fundamental rights and responsibilities with commitment and confidence.

She said the Project Citizen curriculum involved an entire class of Junior or Senior Secondary Schools in a series of structured and co-operative learning activities.

She lauded the efforts of students of Christ the King International School, who through the project were able to secure a bus from Government in 2006.

In an interview Mrs Veronica Kudowor, Christ the King, Project Citizen Co-ordinator said the 53 year- old Catholic School had been without a School bus, which hindered student's participation in extra curriculum activities. "Through the project, the students were able to identify the need. which convinced the Parent- Teacher Association of the need for a bus, before the former government intervene. "Even when the government delayed in fulfilling its promise of donating the bus, the students quickly organised and wrote a petition reminding government to redeem its promise," she said. Mrs Kudowor, said the students had also initiated the project to ensure that parents use Identification Card to pick their children from the school. 23 Nov. 09