Presbyterian Church sees a weakening educational sector

Akropong, Akuapem, Oct. 21 GNA-Reverend Dr Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, the Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has expressed concern about the numerous problems confronting the educational sector in the country.

He said the number of accommodation problems facing almost all the second cycle institutions in the country, was a clear manifestation that all was not well in the educational sector. Rev Dr Mante said the problems had come about due to lack of clear cut educational policy of the country, especially at the second cycle level.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) at Akropong, on Thursday, the Presbytery Chairperson said the time had come for the state to come out with a clear cut policy to guide the educational sector. He appealed to politicians to stop "playing politics" with education since it could spell disaster for the country. Rev Dr Mante said since 1988, the educational sector had gone through a lot of changes, "from one government to another" which had not benefited the state in any way.

He said his recent visit to some Senior High Schools (SHS), in the presbytery revealed that lack of infrastructure was a major problem. Rev Dr Mante appealed to the government to allow private sector involvement in the running of the government SHS through provision of hostels for the students at an affordable rents.

He said due to accommodation problems facing the schools, some parents had been compelled to rent private rooms in town for their wards. Rev Dr Mante said considering the age of the students and circumstances they find themselves in, it would be appropriate if private individuals and organizations were allowed to build hostels for them at the premises of the schools where they would live under the supervision of the school authorities. He said the situation would be better than renting of rooms for the students in town without any supervision. 21 Oct. 10