Committee on College of Art presents report to Minister

Kumasi, Oct. 20, GNA - A committee set up by Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, to investigate complaints against the College of Art, a private school in Kumasi, on Tuesday presented its report to the Minister.

The four-member committee comprised Mr Appiah Adabo of the Metropolitan Education Directorate, Mr Agyekum Danquah, Regional Education Office, Nana Owiredu Opoku, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and Mr Charles Oteng, Regional Co-ordinating Council, as secretary.

The Committee was tasked with investigating the registration of the school, accreditation, admission procedures, fees charged, type of certificate the school issues and any other matters.

The Committee recommended that until the College got its own accreditation from the National Accreditation Board, the students should be prepared for recognised external examinations like the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), besides the College's diploma.

It asked the Ashanti Regional Directorate of Education to play its supervisory role to ensure that the College was run more efficiently. To improve upon teaching and learning in the College, the Committee recommended the provision of basic facilities like an art studio, classroom blocks, furniture and other equipment and also recruit permanent staff to teach to ensure good academic performance and instill discipline into the students.

Mr Paul Ansah, Principal of the College, expressed satisfaction with the findings and recommendations of the Committee and expressed the hope that the Regional Directorate of Education would monitor and supervise the College to ensure that the recommendations were workable. He said efforts were being made by the College to affiliate with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

Mr Kwame Sarfo, President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the College, expressed satisfaction with the Committee's findings and recommendations and expressed the hope that the recommendations would be implemented to address the concerns of parents and students.