Utilise human and material resources effectively - Minister

Accra, March 28, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Saturday said the country's aim of delivering quality education could be achieved through optimum utilisation of human and material resources in the sector.

"Increased output on the part of teachers, effective use of instructional time, monitoring and supervising the use of learning materials, as well as maximum support from communities, are essential tools for providing quality education," he reiterated. These were contained in an address read for him at the 62nd Speech and Prize-Giving Day of West Africa Senior High School in Accra. The Day was marked on the theme: "Quality assurance in senior high school education - The role of stakeholders". Mr Tettey-Enyo said a national inspection board would be established to monitor and supervise teacher upgrading and geographical disparities in their allocation. He said government had plans to revamp science centres and train science teachers to man them with adequate budget in order to attract more students to pursue science courses. He said the French syllabus was being restructured to meet international standards and that a curricular review was also underway to improve learning in senior high schools. Mr Tettey-Enyo said the provision of quality education should not be the sole responsibility of government and called for effective participation of communities and other key stakeholders to contribute to the set goals. Mr. Tettey-Enyo advised students to eschew immoral acts such as occultism and abuse of drugs, and rather concentrate on their studies. Sir Fosuaba Banahene, Administrator of Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GETFUND), advised parents to give equal opportunities in educating their male and female children. He said female education was a priority of the GETFUND and that investment income from the fund would be used to provide a home science block for the school.

Lady Queene Asiedu-Akrofi, Headmistress of the school, appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to lift the ban on recruitment of non-teaching staff in the school to enable management hire additional security personnel to combat criminal activities in the school premises. She also appealed to the GES to provide boarding and hostel facilities for the school. Emelia Ntow won the best student award in the Senior High School (SHS) 'One' category, while Daniel Amankwaa was adjudged the best for SHS 'two' category with Jeffery Appau receiving the prize for SHS 'three' category. Daniel Dushie received the overall best student prize including GH¢50 for excelling in the 2008 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.