Business Teachers attend conference

Koforidua, Sept. 06, GNA - Mr Yaw Barimah, Eastern Regional Minister on Tuesday stressed the need to introduce students in second-cycle and tertiary institutions to business studies to prepare them for self-employment.

He noted that most private businesses were collapsing due to the inability of entrepreneurs to adopt right business practices including Information Communication Technology (ICT). Mr Barimah made the call when addressing the opening session of the 14th National Conference of Ghana Association of Business Teachers (GABET) at Koforidua.

The four-day conference is under the theme: "Information Communication Technology - Role of the Business Teacher".

The Eastern Regional Minister said the labour market globally had become ICT-based which required the youth and the working class to be computer literate to enable them compete effectively with their counterparts for successful entrepreneurship in the global economy.

Mr Gilbert Osei Gyedu, Lecturer at the Department of Information Technology Education of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) Kumasi Campus, who spoke on "The role of the Business Teacher in Information Communication Technology Education", said students who had access to the internet could communicate effectively and become more independent and creative.

Ms Gifty Apanbil, Eastern Regional Secretary of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), commended Government for the White Paper on the Presidential Commission on Pensions Report, and called for the implementation of the new Ghana Education Service (GES) Scheme. She explained that implementation of the scheme, which was approved in the 2006 National Budget, would correct salary distortions that had been created in the GES and give hope to those to be retired.

Ms Apanbil said the Capitation Grant had led to increase in enrolment in schools and appealed to the Government to recruit more teachers and come out with new package to motivate teachers. Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, called on members of GABET to intensify the teaching of business studies to enable their graduates fit into the global economy.