Engineer calls for direction in Ghana's education

Tema, July 30, GNA -- An Engineer, Mr. Isaac Ekow De-Graft Johnson has called for a proper direction for Ghana's education that would enable the youth harness their resources for their benefit and the nation as a whole.

Mr. De-Graft Johnson, who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Saflex Engineering Company in Tema said though there is nothing wrong with our education in terms of its quantitative quality, "what is lacking is the direction, and the purpose of which we are educating and training the youth to harness our resources for the benefit of our nation." He said the worth of a nation is basically the provision of food, clothing and shelter but wondered whether our current education and training structures could provide these basic needs. He was the guest speaker at the first speech and prize giving day of Dorsons Complex School at Tema during which the first batch of 17 Junior Secondary School students graduated.

Our current education and training structure provide the need of services, but even that we are found wanting because in most cases they are confined to occupation in offices instead of being in the field to work with our hands. The Engineer said quality of education as a key to transformation of a child needs to have direction and this calls for diversification of human resources to cater for every need.

"Many of our men and women have attained good educational heights, yet the country has not moved in times in terms of social and industrial development as it should be." "What then is the quality; the direction and the purpose of education that we are giving to our children today to enable them to provide the needs of society for tomorrow. "While calling on parents to invest in their children's education there is the need also to provide a congenial atmosphere for learning and children must create the worth by being serious with their books to get the best out of them, he said.

In a speech read on her behalf, Mrs Lucy Kwapong, Tema Municipal Director of Education commended private schools for contributing immensely towards quality education, especially in areas where public schools to not exist. She however, appealed to the private schools to, not only abide by the rules and regulations of the Ghana Education Service, but charge affordable fees that would meet the pocket of parents. They must also liaise with personnel of the GES in order to enjoy the services of the Supervisory Unit. In a welcoming address, the proprietress, Mrs Dora Kavanagh, said the school, established in 1994 has grown from a creche with an enrolment of nine wards to 400 pupils at the JSS level, with two head teachers, 20 teachers and other supporting staff. Mrs Eva Amoah said the school presented its pioneer JSS students of 17 for the Basic Education Certificate Examination Certificate in April.