Kufuor Hints At Educational Reforms

PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor has given hints of a possible overhaul of the education system to meet the developmental needs of the country.

He has announced his government's determination to bridge the huge gap between well-endowed schools and the less-endowed ones by the end of his term of office as part of measures to correct the existing defects.

"At least one senior secondary school is to be well-equipped in each of the 110 districts," he disclosed at the 52nd Speech and Prize-giving Day of Prempah College, his alma mater.

He said pre-schools will be brought into the armpit of basic schools and that nursery schools would be seen as integral part of primary schools.

According to Prez Kufuor, his government was critically looking at the JSS/SSS system and added that if (government) was considering the number of years to be spent in the SSS.

This, he said, was to ensure that the youth do not leave school prematurely.

The proposed reform, Prez Kufuor said, would also ensure that those who pursue tertiary education will be adequately qualified while those who are unable to enter the tertiary level are gainfully employed.

The President who donated ?30 million to Prempeh College as his personal contribution towards the infrastructural development of the school, was given a citation for the honour done his alma mater by assuming the highest office of the land. in a related issue, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) last Saturday conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Literature (DLit) on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at a special congregation.

The occasion marked the commencement of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of KNUST.

The Asantehene is the fifth person to be honoured with an honorary degree by KNUST.

He comes close at the heels of Mr. Kofi Annan, the world's number one civil servant.

The conferment was for the Asantehene's exceptional leadership for the general development of Ashanti and Ghana through the Otumfuo Education Fund.

In a citation read by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J. S. K. Ayim, the Asantehene was described as a worthy leader and a man of honour who had by commendable zeal and determination and rare initiative and deeds of honour revitalised the entire nation to harness its resources to facilitate the promotion of education, health and industry.

The Asantehene's contribution to education following his keen interest and recognition of it as a necessary tool for national growth and development was also seen as exemplary.

President J. A. Kufuor who witnessed this important event described the Ashanti King as "a great man" whose achievement in the two years of his enstoolment are a huge benchmark in development.

He observed that the Asantehene's efforts at settling disputes was legendary and that the accolade of King Solomon could only rival the original and biblical Solomon.

In a well-researched response which provoked a spontaneous standing ovation, the Asantehene said true education should be an agent of mobility and pointed out that unless education was given a new meaning "we would be racing towards catastrophe."

"We ought to double our efforts if we have to avoid the pitfall ahead of us," he cautioned.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu recommended distance education and open university system in Ghana as a way out.