New Year School recommends improvement in educational system

Accra, Jan. 09, GNA - Improvement with adequate funding and logistics to enhance education on all aspects of national life formed a major part of the recommendations of the 58th Annual New Year School, which ended at the University of Ghana Legon on Monday.

The School which examined the political, social and economic performance of Ghana towards the celebration of 50 years of independence, called on stakeholders in education to provide adequate facilities especially in science and technology to increase access and participation at all levels of education.

The recommendations, read by Dr Theophilus Tefe, Rapporteur-General of the School, said there was the need to adopt measures to mobilize more funding for the education sector, which should be released on time at all levels in line with priorities.

"It is expected that the priorities would be determined in consultation with the appropriate stakeholders," it added. Among the topics discussed by the over 500 participants were "Education in the Past 50 Years", "Our Values in the Half Past Century", "Planning Implementing Community Projects", "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution" and" Our Environment and Our Health."

Some of the topics, lectures and symposia were "State of the National Economy 50 Years After Independence", "Industrial Relations in Ghana since 1957: Emerging Issues", "Education in the Past 50 Years: Matters of Concern" and Adult Education and National Development."

The participants called for a national schools curriculum, to serve as an instrument to make children and the youth appreciate the need to imbibe Ghanaian values.

They suggested that the National Commission on Culture should be mandated and resourced to champion the promotion of national culture through dress codes, street naming, business naming and other products that would enhance national identity.

The participants called for national recognition, re-evaluation and strengthening of women's customary interests, adding 93Queenmothers should be encouraged to participate in the distribution and sale of stool lands."

"Government should commit adequate resources and strengthen its capacity in the health sector to ensure comprehensive implementation of existing programmes to reduce maternal and infant mortality through a comprehensive health education, counselling and family planning service programme from the basic to the tertiary level," the participants suggested.

On the implementation of Government's poverty reduction blueprint, the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRSII), the participants said the private sector should undertake the purchasing, storage and marketing of food crops to ensure food supply, security, sustained food production and employment.

They called for the supply of value books at all Regional Co-ordinating Councils to enhance revenue mobilization and education on revenue mobilization through the mass media.

The participants called for Information Communication Technology (ICT) services, equipment and accessories to be made affordable through public private sector partnership.

"Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies can negotiate tax concessions for operators for their services to spread to all corners of the country," they contended.

Mr Reuben Aggor, Acting Director of Institute of Adult Education (IAE), which organized the School, addressing the closing session, said the participants and the public were at liberty to visit centres of the Institute in the regions to discuss educational needs with the officials.

He appealed to assemblies in the three Northern Regions to sponsor participants in the Northern Easter School.

"All of us can contribute to educate ourselves in every aspect of our lives, teachers with their colleagues and students, chiefs, their elders and the people, directors and administrators with their staff, assemblymen and women with people in their communities."

"Let your light shine in society and be determined to impart the new knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired from the 58th Annual New Year School to others," Mr Aggor added.