38 vehicles for Training Colleges

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday handed over 38 cross-country vehicles to Principals of the 38 Teacher Training Colleges in the country in fulfilment of a pledge he made two years back to equip them to perform their supervisory duties more efficiently.

He said the presentation was a demonstration of the Government's commitment to the education reforms, which took off on Tuesday with the commencement of the 2007/08 academic year.

President Kufuor said teachers were critical to the realisation of the nation's policy of human resource development and urged the Principals to appreciate and respond positively to the enormous responsibility the nation had placed on them. They should manage and lead by high level of personal discipline and work with zeal and commitment.

President Kufuor recalled his interaction with pupils at Savelugu on their "First Day at School" and said as he interacted with the children, who were pioneering the reform programme, and noting their happiness and innocence, "I prayed silently that the trusting confidence with which they were starting school will not be undermined at any stage of their academic life, by the activities of adults in their lives - that is - their teachers, parents and guardians, as well as the larger community".

He advised them to take good care of the vehicles by carrying out their regular maintenance.

Professor Dominic Fobi, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, said the Government was determined to resource the Teacher Training Colleges to accomplish their mandate.

Already they have been provided with high occupancy buses and computers to enhance ICT training. New structures have been built for them and old ones renovated.

He said he was hopeful that they would not be found wanting in producing the right calibre of teachers. Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said it was a dream come true and praised the Government for keeping its promise.

The President of the Conference of Principals of Training Colleges, Mr E.K. Osei gave the assurance that the vehicles would not be misused. President Kufuor later granted audience to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Director of the One Laptop per Child Project, Mr Matt Keller at the Castle Osu.

He called on the President to discuss the project, which, aimed at bridging the digital divide through specially designed computers for school children.

Ghana has signed the initiative, which has already been launched in some African countries, including Nigeria and Libya. The computers would cost between 170 and 100 dollars each and about 100,000 pupils would be covered under the pilot phase to be rolled out next year.

President Kufuor, who welcomed the Project, spoke of the need to also design special training programmes for teachers to enable it to succeed.

Also at the Castle was the in-coming Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Ishac Diwan.

On hand to introduce him was Mr Mats Karlsson, the out-going Director, who described the country's economic performance over the last five years as fantastic. President Kufuor said Ghana was now on the way up and the country would continue dialoguing with the Bank to sustain the progress.