Intellectuals in Agona District forms think-tank to promote education

Lower Bobikuma, C/R, Jan 7, GNA- Intellectuals from the Agona District in the Central Region, have formed a think-tank group to formulate ideas on how to boost the quality of education in the District.

The group that comprised lecturers in the country's public universities, would explore the ways of providing teaching and learning materials for the schools and enhance school enrolment.

Dr Charles Adobaw Kumasah, Senior Lecturer at the University of Education Winneba, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency, at Lower Bobikuma on Thursday, said the standards of education was declining in the area, hence the need for urgent efforts to arrest the situation.

He said the capital investments of government in the provision of educational infrastructure and the posting of qualified teachers to the District had not reversed the negative trend.

Dr Kumsah noted that in 2003, the District placed 77 out of the 110 basic schools standard rating, published by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

He said in 2004 the District moved further down to the 88th position, while six basic schools scored zero per cent in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

Dr Kumsah called for pragmatic policies and programmes to curb the situation such as the provision of incentive packages to teachers and other staff of the Ghana Education Service to give of their best. He called on parents and guardians to invest in the education of their children.

Dr Kumsah also urged chiefs, members of the unit committees and opinion leaders to implement the bye-laws of the District Assembly that facilitates educational pursuit in their localities.