Government commended for initiating education reforms

Obuasi, May 4, GNA- Right Reverend Benjamin K. Asare, Methodist Bishop of Obuasi, has commended the government for the bold step it had taken towards the reformation of the present educational system. He, however, said that pledges to create better conditions of service for teachers must be made a reality before the implementation of the reforms commences in September this year.

Bishop Asare was speaking at the 10th Annual Diocesan Synod of the Methodist Church under the "Serving the Present Age in the Power of the Holy Spirit", at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

He said the idea to establish a national council to regulate the teaching profession and improve teachers' conditions through the provision of incentives especially in the rural areas was laudable. Bishop Asare said "The Paradise of teachers must be realized first on earth. We must emphasize that teachers had cried for far too long. Yes, their reward is in heaven but theologically heaven begins from here and it is consummated in the second coming of Christ." He noted that when conditions of service was improved for teachers it inspire them to work harder towards the successful implementation of the reforms.

Bishop Asare appealed to the Government to continue to provide adequate resources to improve the infrastructure base of all schools especially those in rural communities.

He said "The partnership between the Church and the State toward the development of education must be strengthened because education reforms without religion, moral training and discipline will end in chaos".

Bishop Asare said if African leaders including chiefs, parliamentarians, departmental heads and the Clergy "had to serve the down trodden as Jesus Christ did, more than half of the pain and trauma people on the continent experienced would not have occurred."