The NPP’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency, Mr. George Akom has donated Solar Lights to Junior High Schools without electricity in Sekyere to aid in their preparation towards their Basic School Certificate Examinations ( BECE).
Sekyere Afram Plains District, which is one of the under privileged districts in the Ashanti region lacks a lot of social amenities and developmental infrastructures. Electricity penetration is very low which after a lot of social – economic activities in the district.
As part of efforts to support education in the district, the Parliamentary Candidate has embarked on several educational interventions to improve teaching and learning in the district. Several trainings have been organized by him for pupils in the district to provide the best opportunities for them in the future. He has organized mocks, donated mathematical sets and organized inter – schools football games in the past for the schools in the district as his contribution to education.
As many of the JHS schools do not have electricity which affects night studies, Mr. George Akom went into the aid of the schools and donated Solar Lights which are supposed to help the BECE Candidates study in the night and revise their lessons. He also donated mathematical sets to the candidates to be used for their BECE Exams.
The communities that benefitted from such an innovation intervention could not hide their joy as they cheered the Parliamentary Candidate up for his benevolence.
They encouraged him to continue such projects which could lay solid foundation for the future of the district
In related development, Mr. George Akom also organized Career Guidance and Programme Selection session for all the BECE Candidates as a means to prepare them for their future career path
The program which saw presentations from career experts, guidance and counseling experts and high profile educationists put together parents and stakeholders to discuss academic and professional development of their children.
The Parliamentary Candidate also provided means of transportation to all schools what were to travel from their respective communities to the examination centre, Drobonso the district capital
Many have described Mr. George Akom as a leader whose vision transcends across all facets of human development and empowerment.
Mr. George Akom, who is a renowned educationist and information systems expert had contributed in diverse ways in the field of education and information technology.
He has been tipped to win the seat for NPP in the Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency come December 7, 2024.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has voiced his support for the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) bill aimed at codifying the Free SHS policy into law.
Speaking at a press engagement on Sunday the former President emphasized his commitment to improving education in Ghana and expressed openness to any legislative measure that enhances the sustainability and quality of education for Ghanaian children.
“I support any bill that will improve our education—to make it sustainable, to afford quality education for our children. So yes, any bill that would achieve this is something that I will support,” Mahama stated.
His endorsement comes amidst accusations from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who criticized the Minority’s stance on the bill, alleging lack of commitment.
Mahama highlighted the constitutional provisions for Free SHS as aspirational and emphasized the necessity of enacting a law to effectively regulate the policy.
While Mahama indicated he had not yet reviewed the specific details of the bill, he stressed the importance of stakeholder consultations in shaping education policies.
He expressed confidence that once approved by Cabinet, the bill would undergo thorough parliamentary scrutiny and stakeholder engagement.
Additionally, Mahama commended the integration of junior high school (JHS) and senior high school (SHS) as a fundamental advancement in Ghana’s education system.
In a heartwarming gesture, the Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund has donated math sets and pens to BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination) candidates in the Abenase and Gyewani communities. This thoughtful initiative aims to promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and support the educational journey of young girls in the region.
As the BECE candidates prepare for their exams, the fund’s donation has brought a sense of excitement and relief to the students and their families. The math sets and pens will serve as essential tools for the students to excel in their studies, fostering a strong foundation in mathematics and problem-solving skills.
The Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund’s commitment to promoting STEM education and empowering young girls is a testament to the organization’s dedication to shaping the future of the next generation. By investing in education, the fund is helping to build a brighter tomorrow for the communities of Abenase and Gyewani.
This generous act has ignited hope and inspiration among the students, encouraging them to strive for academic excellence and pursue their dreams with confidence. As the students embark on their educational journey, the Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund’s support will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their lives and the community at large.
As the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commences from Monday 8th to 12th July 2024, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah, Deputy Coordinator of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, has offered inspiring words to candidates across the country.
In a heartfelt message, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah urged the students to remain focused, calm, and dedicated, assuring them that their hard work will ultimately lead to success. “Your hard work and dedication will surely pay off,” she emphasized.
With the Free SHS programme aimed at ensuring accessible and quality education for all, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah’s encouragement serves as a timely reminder of the importance of perseverance and determination. As the students prepare to take this crucial examination, her words of wisdom will undoubtedly inspire confidence and motivation.
The Deputy Coordinator’s message extends beyond the exam, instilling a growth mindset and a sense of purpose in the young candidates. As they strive for academic excellence, her best wishes will resonate with them every step of the way.
To all BECE candidates, stay focused, stay calm, and do your best. Your future is bright!
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Abdulai, Jinapor, has described teachers as the lifeline of every nation and should not be underestimated
He explained that “Teachers make nations, we must never look down upon ourselves, and neither should we be attracted to this profession because it is the last resort with nowhere else to go”.
Speaking at the 16th congregation of the Offinso College of Education over the weekend, Prof. Jinapor described teachers as the oxygen and breath of every country, saying that, lecturers, scientists, engineers, clergy, and even politicians were products of teachers.
The event saw 458 students of the 2022/2023 batch who are the second batch of the B. Ed. Programme graduating of which 49 of them had First Class (15 being females), 291 had Second Class Upper Division, 110 Second Class Lower Division and eight candidates managing a Third Class score with no Pass class
The congregation which attracted people from all walks of life had a theme: “Equipping the Young Teacher for the 21st Century Classroom”.
Commendation
Prof. Jinapor used the occasion to praise the leadership of the college for accomplishing another impressive student’s performance and pledged GTEC’s commitment towards supporting teacher educational delivery in the country as well as other initiatives that promote educational leadership development in the country.
Prof Jinapor (left) presenting an award to GRACE FOSUAAH, Best -performed female graduating student with CGPA of 3.8 during the ceremony
He stated that “for us at GTEC, we will continue to work towards the attainment of our vision of ensuring equitable access to relevant world-class tertiary education”.
Great strides
“Again, the introduction of the Special Accreditation Committee to augment the Traditional Accreditation setup has led to the accreditation of 982 programs for just this year, in addition to about 1200 programs for the last part of last year”. Prof. Jinapor said.
The DG was upbeat that the nation stood a better chance of equipping young teachers with the skills of the 21st-century classroom if only they were dedicated and committed to the teaching profession.
The Principal of Offinso College of Education (OCoE), Very Rev. Dr Joseph Nkyi Asamoah, announce that they have adequately equipped their 2nd batch of the 4-year B. Ed. graduating students with the necessary techniques and skills to empower them to go out there to improve learning outcomes and ensure that children are motivated to be life-long learners beyond their time in school.
He was full of praise to the Director General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, for his kind consideration to the college for migration of some critical staff to augment the existing staff strength and also commending the Government for the provision of Staff Development Fund to support staff upgrading.
End strike action
The Very Rev. Dr Asamoah appealed to all stakeholders, particularly the Government, to do everything possible to ensure that the grievances of College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) members were quickly resolved in order not to unduly distort the academic calendar they were trying to restore.
He also pleaded with the leadership of CETAG to take the necessary steps to suspend their impending strike so that the parties could go back to the negotiation table for an amicable solution.
The Principal of the College mentioned inadequate accommodation for both staff and students and, the delay in GETFund releasing funds towards the construction of a modern lecture hall and ICT complex which began in 2015 as some of the challenges confronting the college.
Again he appealed to the government through the Education Ministry to help them get a means of transportation (a Bus) for students, especially, during their Supported Teaching in Schools (STS) activities.
Background
The Offinso College of Education which was established in 1955 will mark its 70th anniversary in 2025.
END
The 2022 National Best Farmer, Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe who is the CEO of Siriboe Farms in the Ashanti Region has urged the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) members to embrace agrobusiness as a viable alternative to youth unemployment confronting Ghana. He
made this assertion when he addressed a youth development seminar organized by the Christian Service University in partnership with National Service Scheme (NSS) and NASPA as part of the ongoing CSU @ 50 Anniversary Celebrations.
The theme for the seminar was: Life after National Service: What Possibilities? and was meant to offer practical solutions to the problem of unemployment beyond mandatory national service.
The seminar was addressed by two prominent speakers namely; Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo Kantanka, a retired Methodist Bishop and a former Council Chairman of CSU and Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, CEO of Siriboe Farms and 2022 National Best Farmer.
Agrobusiness as Viable Option to Youth Unemployment
In his presentation, Oheneba Yaw Siriboe argued that the problem of youth unemployment is real and pervasive in the Ghanaian society.
Citing statistics from credible government and international sources, he observed that the challenge of unemployment among the youth required urgent attention not only from the government but industry and academia as well.
He therefore commended the University for putting together such a programme to shape the perspectives of the NASPA members particularly as they prepare to exit the mandatory one-year national service.
Based on his success story in the agrobusiness, he urged the youth to embrace sustainable agrobusiness to transform their economic circumstances. He reechoed the popular view that University education only provides the platform for individual to“fit” into the world.
Therefore, one should not be bound by the boundaries of the programme he/she read and see life from that narrow perspective.
On the contrary, he argued that irrespective of the programme one offered at the University, it could serve as a springboard to contextualize the principles to generate wealth through
agribusiness.
In short, any graduate can venture into agrobusiness and succeed!
In line with this thought and based on his definition of employment as “any job sustainable and satisfying”, he offered practical solutions to fresh graduates who may want to enter into
agrobusiness.
The advice covered how to build partnerships for start-ups, developing marketing strategies, and leveraging on theoretical knowledge for efficient management, access to grants, and government interventions such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), among others.
He explained that his background as a mechanical engineer has greatly impacted his agrobusiness and espoused that irrespective of one’s first-degree specialization, venturing into agrobusiness will not be a problem.
Deal with your Mindset to succeed
Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo-Kantanka on his
part, alluded to his academic
background as an agronomist from first
degree to professorial level to support
the claims made by Oheneba Yaw
Siriboe. He particularly supported the
call to embrace agrobusiness as the
benefits were enormous and
sustainable. He however, challenged
the youth to consciously deal with
what he described as “entitlement
mentality and dependency syndrome” that has work against the economic
emancipation of Ghanaian youth. According to him, the sad and debilitating story has been that most youth of productive and creative age only see life through the lenses of “white collar jobs” and in the absence of it, waste away precious opportunity.Even though he admitted that elected governments must create employment opportunities for the youth, he equally opined that the youth must create their own destinies without over relying on stop gap interventions that have been witnessed under succeeding governments in this 4th Republic. He noted, “There has been attempts by all governments to create jobs but they have
not been sustainable. It is critical that you have a vision for your life and work towards it even
before you leave the university”.
Based on this conviction, he offered a three-prong biblically
based success formular (founded on a character study of Jacob) i.e. Strong Achievement Drive + Diligence + The Favour of God. He urged the youth to embrace and actualize this change their economic circumstances.
On his part,the Ashanti Regional Boss of the NSS, Mr. Prince Kankam Boadu expressed appreciation to the Christian Service
University for such a timely initiative as they reflect NSS’s commitment of preparing the youth for successful transition from national service to the broader world. He commended the guest speakers for providing practical solutions to navigate the job market and explore entrepreneurial ventures. He ended by urging the participants to reflect on the values and the skills they
have acquired to impact their personal and professional lives.
Rationale for the Youth Development Seminars
The Youth Development Seminar (YDS) is one of the initiatives of the current Vice Chancellor of the Christian Service University, Professor Samuel Kofi Afrane to address the problem of youth unemployment in Ghana. The YDS aims to
engage continuing students (CSs), final year
students (FYSs) and national service
personnels (NSPs) to explore sustainable ways
of addressing the challenge of
unemployment.
To achieve this goal, Achievers’ Summit is
organized once every year in partnership with
the SRC to engage continuing students on
exploring the opportunities that exist in the
job market. Then again, Exit Clinic is
organized for final year students to deliberate
on firming up their plans as they exit the university into the world of work.
The third initiative is the NASPA OUTREACH which is organized in partnership with NSS Ashanti Region to create avenue for national personnel to link the theory from the university and lessons from the field to chart to create sustainable jobs as entrepreneurs. To achieve the objectives of the YDS, experienced
entrepreneurs and industry players are invited to address the participants.
Appreciation by NASPA President.
The first female President of NASPA (Ashanti Region), Ms. Yaa Tweneboah Opoku Bandoh, expressed appreciation to the Christian Service University for such an initiative and hoped that
the lessons learnt will be implemented beyond the forum.
She urged her colleagues to develop positive attitudes towards such programmes so that they can equip themselves for life beyond
national service. She further expressed that the world was fast changing affecting employment opportunities. As a result, she encouraged her colleagues to remain responsive to the changing
dynamics and embrace opportunities that will earn them a living.
The Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate Francis Owusu-Akyaw for his commitment to improving the quality of education of communities in the catchment area.
Hon. Omane Aboagye, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) said Mr Owusu-Akyaw has positioned himself as a major stakeholder in educational development in the area even before he was elected to represent the governing party in the constituency.
He was speaking after Mr Owusu-Akyaw donated mathematical sets to all 1,355 candidates sitting the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE in the Municipality.
Presenting the items, Mr Owusu-Akyaw reiterated his commitment to prioritising investment in education and firmly believes one of the tools to enhance the socio-economic well-being of residents in the catchment area, is the provision of quality education.
He is hopeful that the provision the mathematical sets and other support provided to the candidates will inspire and motivate them to be successful in the BECE. He also cautioned the students to abide by the rules and regulations and shun all forms of examination malpractices.
A teacher in one of the beneficiary schools told Asaase News that the provision of the mathematical sets has lifted a burden off many parents who are unable to afford stationery for their wards.
He noted some parents struggled to provide even pens for their wards.
“It is not that I want to disgrace anyone, but some of these students come from very poor homes, there are many instances where we the teacher have had to by mathematical sets for the students without own money before they are able to write the BECE”, he said.
The 2024 BECE will begin on Monday, 8th July 2024 and end on Friday, 12 July 2024. This external exam is supervised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
The Board and Management of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) are informing all Ghanaians of the commencement of this year’s May/June Certificate II exams for TVET students nationwide.
A total of 52,133 candidates are writing the examinations which started on 1st July and will end on 2nd August 2024.
Out of the number, 37,558 are male, whilst 14,575 are female who are writing the exams which is repeating the serialization of questions introduced last year to prevent cheating during the exams
This was carried out in a press release dated 28th June and signed by Albert Opare, Head of Cooperate Affairs, CTVET.
Some of the areas being examined are Certificate II, Erstwhile NVTI Certificate II, and other Technical Examinations such as Technician Part I, Technician Part II and Technician Part 3, Diploma, Diploma in Business Studies (DBS) and Advanced level examinations.
The release indicated that CTVET has been working towards improving TVET assessment through a national quality assurance system which accredits training providers, facilitators, assessors, and internal verifiers to deliver and assess competency-based training programmes.
Again, the release was hopeful that the students would achieve success to progress on the academic ladder or enter the world of work.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has incurred the wrath of Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin and some NPP members in the Ashanti Region for rubbishing the reported choice of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as running mate of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the December 7 elections.
On Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Mr Appiah-Kubi launched into a furious tirade against Dr Opoku Prempeh a.k.a. Napo, and also virtually criticized Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for selecting the Manhyia South MP as his running mate. “I wouldn’t speak to a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t choose him ( Napo). He is not my preference,” the Asante Akim North MP said angrily.
Andy Appiah-Kubi
Majority Leader disappointed in Appiah-Kubi
Expressing his disappointment with the outburst of the Asante Akim North MP, Mr Afenyo-Markin told reporters in Parliament House on Thursday June 27 that, as Majority MPs, they all know how running mates are chosen in the party. “We should all respect party rules.You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague unacceptably,” he charged.
He, therefore urged his colleague Asante Akim North MP to be measured in his language especially, in public.
“We are in this together. There is no perfect person in this world. Let us be measured in the language we use. The flagbearer has the confidence of the party and I believe he will use the structures of the party in making his decisions,” he stated.
Call Appiah-Kubi to order
The MP’s vituperative comments had also irked a group calling itself Concerned NPP Members in the Ashanti Region, who have called for immediate action against him.
The group called on the leadership of the NPP parliamentary Majority and the national leadership of the party to call him to order. They said typical of the Asante Akim North MP, he showed gross disrespect not only to Napo, but worst of all, to the President, the Vice President, and the party at large.
They accused Mr Appiah-Kubi of allegedly working for Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who obviously is not happy about Napo’s selection and has allegedly set out a plot to discredit the Energy Minister after it emerged that Dr Bawumia has presented his (Napo’s) name to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as his choice of running mate.
Excellent choice
The Concerned Ashanti NPP members described Napo as an excellent choice who has the capability not only to support the flagbearer and the party to win resounding victories in the presidential and parliamentary elections but also become an excellent Vice President.
Taking a look into history, the Concerned NPP members said when then candidate Akufo-Addo chose Dr Bawumia as his running mate, some party people rose against it but at the end of the day, he proved the critics wrong by being a major architect in the victories of 2016 and 2020, and also becoming an exceptionally excellent Vice President.
The group therefore, urged the party to take a serious view on the Asante Akim North MP’s outburst to stop him from derailing the agenda to break the 8.
Huawei Ghana Ltd and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Ghana have presented assorted IT equipment to the Education Ministry towards the Technology Enabled School System for all TeOSS) in Ghana at a special ceremony in Accra.
The donated items are for equipping 10 public Basic Schools with the relevant ICT equipment to enhance the capacity of teachers and learners in digital skills and ultimately improve the learning outcomes
The items include a multimedia interactive smart board, 28 tablets, 28 tablet screens protectors/covers, a charging trolley, a smart UPS, data for six (6) months a router, a Wi-fi repeater, an iBox, 2 extension cables per school whereas the Akropong School for the blind will receive 40 headphones sets and JAWS software.
Appreciation to donors
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Accra, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, was full of praise to Huawei Ghana and UNESCO for the support which would go a long way to enhance effective teaching and learning in the selected schools.
He was particularly happy that e-learning was being extended to some Public Basic schools in the remote part of the country.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum receiving the items
Dr Adutwum said, “We are gradually making our high schools IT learning hub, which is already digitalized and extending this to the JHS”.
“Everything is being digitalized in Ghana and I thank President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the digitalisation agenda that has reached our education institutions”. He added.
The Education Minister was also happy with the selection of the schools as it was helping in bridging the digital divide, as some of the chosen communities did not initially have access to the internet but would be assisted through this project to get it.
Deepen Collaboration
Dr Adutwum stated, “We are grateful for the improvement you are bringing into the Ghanaian technological space and now to our education space. I pledge to work with you and UNSECO for your regular support to the Ministry.
“We are transforming the nation’s education space and I am appealing to Huawei to help build the first Virtual High School in Ghana”. He said.
The Education Minister indicated that the equipment will help students, especially from remote communities to learn or study online instead of going into the brick-and-mortar high schools so they could also get high-quality education irrespective of their location.
The UNESCO Country Director, Mr Edward Moukala N’Gouemo, was happy with the state of education development in the country and pledged to do more towards enhancing education development in the country.
He explained that the donation which was gift from Huawei was to complement the government’s effort to provide the right resources towards effective teaching and learning in schools.
The Country Director mentioned that after successful piloting in the selected 10 regions, the project would be scaled up to other regions in the country
The beneficiary are the Eastern, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Upper East and Upper West, Savanna, Volta, Central and Western regions.
Background
The TeOSS is to create a resilient and inclusive education system using technology. The overall goal of the project is to enhance learning outcomes and promote the acquisition of 21st-century skills in basic schools through the use of ICT by educators and students
Each pilot school will be provided with the necessary ICT equipment as a step towards empowering educators and learners to thrive in a digital world.
He therefore commended the University for putting together such a programme to shape the perspectives of the NASPA members particularly as they prepare to exit the mandatory one-year national service.
