Lee Ocran calls for strict supervision of teachers for efficiency

The Minister of Education, Mr. Lee Ocran, on Monday called for strict supervision of teachers to ensure efficient teaching and learning for quality education.

He warned that, teachers who deliberately absent themselves from the classroom would be sanctioned as the practice leads to poor standard of education.

The Minister noted that the nation’s desire to maintain a middle income status can be achieved through the availability of requisite qualitative human resource and the delivery of relevant education.

He made the call at a sod- cutting ceremony for the construction of a GH¢570.00 Education Office Complex for the Shama District, in the Western Region.

The amount forms part of a total of GH¢19.67 million provided by the United States (US) government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to build 15 education offices, 49 JHS blocks, 50 kindergarten blocks and 45 sanitary facilities in all the ten regions.

Relevant education, the Minister noted, must be supported by proper infrastructure, which is being tackled vigorously by the government, while teachers must also put in their best through efficient teaching.

Mr. Ocran welcomed US intervention in the Educational sector to enhance quality education as more classrooms are needed to alleviate the problem of walking long distances to school by the pupils in the deprived areas as well as those learning under trees.

“Access to schools has been a challenge for respective governments, particularly in the deprived districts, where children have to walk for miles to attend school”.

Madam Emelia Arthur, Deputy Western Regional Minister, commended the US government for the assistance it had given towards the economic improvement of the country.

She called for teacher motivation to enable them give off their best to enhance quality education in the country.

Mr. Emmanuel Ackerman-Mensah, Education Specialist of the USAID said both the US and Ghana governments value the access of quality basic education, and that, the US government had over the years partnered and committed funds to improve education management, supervision and governance, especially at the district and community levels.

In a welcome address, Mr Enoch Kojo Appiah, Shama District Chief Executive, said the district Assembly has put in measures to arrest the falling standards of education among the youth.

Among the measures are the holding of education forums in the communities, mock examinations, provision of scholarship schemes and the renovation of classrooms.**