Education reform is not cosmetic surgery

Saltpond (C/R), March 3, GNA - Ghanaians have been urged not to perceive the new education reform as cosmetic surgery or a window-dressing activity but as a measure to transform teaching and management of the system.

Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor of University of Education, Winneba, said this at the 45th Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Mfantseman Girls Senior High School at Saltpond on Saturday. The theme for the event was: "Successful Implementation of the New Educational Reform: The Role of Stakeholders".

Prof Asabere-Ameyaw called for total commitment from all stakeholders to make the reform a success.

He suggested that the practical aspect of teaching be given more attention than the theory in teacher training institutions. Prof Asabere-Ameyaw urged the government to ensure that schools had what it took to provide quality teaching and learning. He urged the district directorate of education to give adequate supervision and monitoring of the implementation of the reform. He also called on the Parent-Teacher Association to ensure good collaborative relationship between the school and the community. He urged the teachers to read wide and do more research in order to effectively impart knowledge to their students. Prof Asabere-Ameyaw advised parents to show interest in their children's learning by monitoring their academic progress and must provide them with their needs.

Mr. Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, assured the school that perennial water problem facing it would end when Baifikrom Water rehabilitation project is completed by September this year.

He said a two-storey block of 12 classrooms had been approved for the school and that work was expected to begin soon. Most Reverend Jeremiah Morrison, Acting Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school, expressed disappointment about the inability of the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete a rehabilitation work on the Headmistress' bungalow, which started four years ago. He said the delay had compelled the Headmistress to be commuting from Cape Coast to school everyday.

Miss Hellen Makafui Pomenya, the School Prefect, appealed to the government to expand the school's dining hall to arrest the current situation where students had their meals in shifts. Mrs. Sarah Wilson, Headmistress, enumerated challenges facing the school, which included lack of a library, staff accommodation and boreholes.