News

Sports

Business

Entertainment

GhanaWeb TV

Africa

Opinions

Country

Parents neglect their responsibilities because of Capitation Grant

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 Source: GNA

Sekesua Djamam(E/R), April 30, GNA - Naa J. B. Naeroh, Eastern Regional Manager of Catholic Educational Unit, has observed that with the introduction of the Capitation Grant most parents had neglected their responsibilities towards their children's education. He said it had now become a common feature in many public schools that children attended school without exercise books, pens and pencils because some parents had wrongly assumed that the Grant included provision of educational materials, saying "No matter the explanation given to them they are not willing to change their minds."

Naa Naeroh, therefore, urged parents to maintain their responsibilities to their children's education to ensure the educational system achieved the desired impact on society.

He made the observation when launching this year's Global Action on Education Week Celebration by the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) at Sekesua Djamam in the Manya-Krobo District. The theme for the celebration was "Every Child Needs a Teacher." Naa Naeroh recalled that in the past, teachers accepted postings to rural areas because of the good reception and services there but noted that at present such expectations were not available.

"Rather, at such places, with the slightest misunderstanding, teachers are attacked by parents and assaulted. Such developments has discouraged teachers to accept postings to rural areas," He added. Ms Gifty Apanbil, Eastern Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), expressed concern about educational policies in the country.

She noted that educational policies always had problems because when the policies were being formulated, views and contributions of teachers who would implement them were never considered but were imposed on them to implement.

Ms Apanbil explained that such developments that created problems for education could be avoided when teachers were involved in the formulation of the policies and called on Government to train more teachers and pay them the appropriate salary.

"With better motivation and encouragement, teachers were willing to travel throughout the country especially in the rural and remote areas to mobilize children to attend school," She stressed.

Colonel A. O. Dwamena(rtd), Presiding Member of Kwahu South District Assembly, suggested that a substantial part of the District Assemblies Common Fund should be allocated towards provision of teachers quarters in deprived areas. He was optimistic that when such a policy was adopted, it could be possible to provide accommodation for teachers in rural areas to attract them to accept postings there.

Mr Yaw Barimah, Eastern Regional Minister, in an address read on his behalf called for total commitment of stakeholders to achieve the national policy on education.

Ms Comfort Glantte, a Director at the Eastern Regional Education Directorate, said with the introduction of the grant, enrolment in the region had increased by 16 per cent.

She said at the basic level, there were 155,977 boys and 142,692 girls in school while there were 52,796 boys and 48,787 girls at the Junior Secondary School level.

Ms Glantte said despite the high school enrolment, there were still more work to be done in some districts where many children, were not in school and mentioned Yilo Krobo, Fanteakwa, Birim North and Afram Plains.

Mr A. Ansah, National Co-ordinator of GNECC, said it was established to work towards changing attitudes, practices and influence policies of institutions at all levels to achieve free quality education for Ghanaian children, irrespective of age, income level, gender, physical appearance, geographical location and background.

He called on Government and development partners to commit more resources towards training and retaining professionally trained teachers and provision of teaching and learning materials to avoid sacrificing access to quality education under the Capitation Grant.

Source: GNA