Gov't to assist 9,000 failed students in core subject(s)

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Government on Tuesday said it was looking at ways to assist over 9,000 students who could not further their education because they failed in subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science.

Dr Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, Deputy Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, who announced this said the figure constituted part of the one million people registered under the unemployment census programme undertaken two years ago.

She said apart from government's efforts to provide the people with skills there was the need to also find ways to assist those who would like to continue their education but were unable to do so because they failed in the core subjects.

Dr Mrs Ofori-Atta said this when she launched a new non-governmental organisation (NGO) called "Mathematics for National Education and Development (MathNED) that seeks to promote a conceptual understanding of mathematics and its practical application in real life.

The setting up of centres to be known as Meagasa Education Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Education (MECEME), where teachers and students would be trained to appreciate and understand the conceptual methods and principles of the subject were also launched.

The Deputy Minister asked the Centre to consider ways of integrating those, who would be willing to further their education into their programme and also called on other groups and organizations to assist.

On Mathematics, she said it was an important subject, which required that teachers teach according to its concepts, rather than rely on formulae for students to understand.

Dr Mrs Ofori-Atta said Mathematics was needed in all aspects of life adding, "we need it even in the nation's planning processes especially in drawing up the budget and, therefore, study of Mathematics should not be halted in our career lives". 12 Aug. 03