PTA/SMC Coalition to be launched in Wa

WA, Oct. 21, GNA - Voluntary Service Overseas- Ghana (VSO) in partnership with the Wa Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service is initiating programmes to address challenges confronting quality education in the Municipality.

As a first step, a coalition of Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) and School Management Committees (SMCs) have been set up by the two bodies to take up the challenge and ensure that such challenges are identified and channelled to the appropriate quarters. Madam Rubelyn B. Yap, VSO Community Advocacy Support Officer, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the fifty-eight membership coalition would be launched on October 31.

The coalition will be a powerful voice in championing the importance of quality basic education in the Municipality and the region as a whole. She said VSO and the Education Directorate had realized that PTA/SMCs in the Municipality were very dormant in performing their duties due to ignorance, illiteracy and lack of empowerment.

There was therefore the need to bring them together to empower them to work towards improving quality basic education in their communities. The Community Advocate Officer, said quality basic education could not be achieved when the Municipality was faced with several challenges such as lack of portable drinking water, inadequate trained teachers, accommodation, dilapidated buildings, as well as inadequate infrastructure. She noted that the coalition, after the launching would operate in six circuits including Kperisi, Busa, Wa Central, North, South and West on pilot bases. On capacity building, Madam Yap, said VSO had already completed a five month training schedule for all the members. She noted that the programme was the first of its kind in the region and commended the Municipal Directorate of Education as well as the community members for their support and cooperation, saying with the success of the pilot programme, it would be extended to the other districts. 22 Oct. 09