GES to recruit pupil teachers to teach in Afram Plains

Koforidua, May 17, GNA - The Ghana Education Service (GES) in prompt response to the plight of children in Afram Plains, have decided to recruit Senior High School graduates and graduates from other tertiary institutions to teach in schools without teachers. This has become necessary because of the plight of schools in Afram Plains where only three teachers manned class one to Junior High School. Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister gave the hint after a meeting with the Eastern Regional Directorate of Education and other stakeholders in education to ensure children in Afram Plains received quality education.

He explained that the recruitment exercise was a quick and short term intervention but measure were being instituted to rectify the refusal of teachers accepting postings to the area. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, after a recent visit to the Afram Plains and witnessed the plight of the people pointed out that it was difficult for teachers who had lived all their lives elsewhere to cope with the life of daily crossing of river to work hence the problem. He said the best way to solve the problem was sponsorship by Kwahu North District Assembly of people who lived in those localities to training colleges to render their services to the community after completion.

Mrs Renee Boakye-Boaten, Eastern Regional Director of Education said there were many pupil teachers who were not engaged but GES could not recruit them for the empty classrooms due to the staff numbering process.

She said to revive reading habits in children, reading clinics had been piloted in some rural areas and would be replicated soon throughout the Region to address the falling standards in English Language.