Akufo-Addo has educational development of every Ghanaian child at heart - GNACOPS

The leadership of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has revealed that President Akufo-Addo has the development of education of every Ghanaian child at heart.

This was made known by the leadership during a round-table discussion with the President and his team at the presidency on Thursday, November 29, 2018 to discuss some challenges facing the private schools in Ghana.

Speaking to GhanaWeb after the meeting, the National Executive Director of GNACOPS, Enoch Kwasi Gyatuah revealed that this is the first time a sitting government has engaged private school leadership in a factual and fruitful deliberation adding that this shows that the President has education of every Ghanaian child at heart.

"I must say that by our visit and its associated discussions, an unprecedented history needed to be celebrated was made because over the years this is the first time that a sitting government has engaged private schools body in a factual and fruitful discussion. This truly shows that our president is a man of his words and that the educational development of every Ghanaian child at heart", he revealed.

According to him, the purpose of the meeting was to congratulate him for his success of education policy and governance, to register our challenges facing private schools such as Free SHS sidelined, BECE registration that the private schools pay, private schools certification approval fees, untrained teachers of private schools to volunteers for four years so that they can be trained.

He added that the President gave an assurance of working with the private schools in the country in achieving their ultimate goal of giving Ghanaian child a quality life-skill based education.

He opined "On behalf of the entire fraternity of private schools in Ghana, as well as the Executive Council of the Ghana National Council of Private schools, particularly the 6-member team that paid a courtesy call on the president, I will like to show our unalloyed appreciation about the warm reception we were accorded by the president and his team".

He added "The demeanor of the president and his team also gives a strong proof that the government recognizes the role played by the private schools in educating a very good percentage of the Ghanaian children. Also the government identifies the private schools as a major stakeholder in the achievements of the educational goals of Ghana".

He excited "We are very much enthused that the President sees the way forward and likewise, GNACOPS sees a fertile grounds for collaborative by both the government and the private schools".

He emphasized "We believe this will further push the idea of the private-public partnership forward in the areas of quality education delivery. In furtherance to the meeting with the president, we will be very pleased to further engage in dialogues with the appropriate agencies on the collaborative way in which our association was engaged".

Mr. Gyatuah said "GNACOPS will within the very few days present a proposal to the president on how when given some stay of influence, back by law, could be an internal regulating body for private schools in Ghana to ensure that quality is not compromised in terms of education delivery in Ghana".

He added "Finally I must say that yesterday’s meeting actually buried deep the misconceptions by a section of the populace that the government is insensitive to the plight of the private school and that it has over the times sidelined them when major decisions concerning educational delivery is been taken and implemented".

He applauded "Honestly, I must say the Presidents quick reactions to some of the issues raised and the instant tasks given to the Deputy Minister to ensure that certain perceived anomalies were immediately corrected, is a clear indication that the government is truly concerned about the education of every Ghanaian child".

He stressed "I must once again on behalf of the Council, thank the government, particularly the president for the warm reception, recognition and assurance to work with us as a major partner in achieving our ultimate goal of giving every Ghanaian child a quality life-skill based education".