By:A News Desk Report
Several market women in Accra have commended the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy as a groundbreaking initiative, asserting its pivotal role in leveling the educational playing field within the country.
During a symposium titled ‘The Free SHS Story,’ organized by the Ministry of Education at the UPSA Auditorium, these women took turns to share their experiences and perspectives on the transformative impact of the FSHS policy.
Social change
They recounted the challenges they faced in the past, struggling to pay school fees for their children attending Senior High Schools (SHS) and compelling it to the implementation of the FSHS policy, they expressed relief as both rich and poor students can now attend the same schools without financial hindrances.
A section of market women and Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum
Madam Esinam Akpedo, a fish seller from the Madina market, highlighted how the FSHS policy has empowered her to support three of her children through university education. She emphasized that the elimination of financial constraints has enabled students to focus on their studies without distractions, ultimately opening doors for them to pursue their desired courses at the tertiary level.
Afia Serwaa, known as the Queen of tomato sellers at Agbogbloshie market, shared her struggles as a single mother supporting her daughters through SHS. However, she noted a significant difference with her son, currently in his third year at a SHS in the Eastern region, who now studies without difficulty thanks to the FSHS policy
Economic Transformation
During the symposium, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister, emphasized the pivotal role of the FSHS policy in shaping the nation’s economy by nurturing 21st-century manpower.
He commended the recent academic achievements of the five Northern regions, attributing their success to the FSHS policy’s impact on education quality and access.
Dr. Adutwum showcased various educational developments in the country, expressing optimism that sustained progress would position Ghana as a leader in education within the African continent.
FSHS Policy’s Social Impact
Mr. William Darkwa, the National Coordinator for the FSHS policy, highlighted the positive societal changes catalyzed by the policy.
He emphasized improvements in equity, access, and quality across all SHS/TVET institutions, underscoring the policy’s overarching objectives.
Background: FSHS Policy Driving Educational Advancements
Initiated by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government in 2017, the FSHS policy continues to shape the skills and knowledge of Ghanaians through various innovative initiatives.
These include STEM education, the revitalization of TVET education, and the introduction of Pre-Engineering and robotics programs, among others.
The FSHS Secretariat, in support of the policy, has launched projects such as STEMNNOVATION to nurture students’ diverse talents and abilities, further enhancing the educational landscape of the nation.
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Mrs. Esther Gyasi Sarpong, the Headmistress of Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS, has made a passionate appeal to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South constituency in the Ashanti region,Dr.Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka NAPO,and the Central government to urgently come to the aid of the school to help improve their current infrastructure challenge.
She said “I must confess that we’re much grateful for all that you (Matthew Opoku Prempeh) have been doing for this great school. However, we, like Oliver Twist, still have urgent needs for you and the government to address.
We humbly appeal for a dining hall, additional classroom blocks, an assembly hall, among others, to meet the growing population of students.”
“Notwithstanding our current challenges, our results and everything indicate that we’re not joking at all. We still want your support to make the school one of the greatest institutions in the country in terms of quality education and adequate infrastructural development,” she added.
The Headmistress,made the appealed when Napo donated 100 lab stools,25 lab tables and Two(2) book selves to the school on Friday,19th April,2024.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, who doubles as the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has donated 100 lab stools, 25 lab tables and two book shelves to the Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) in the constituency.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh making presentation to Mrs. Esther Gyasi Sarpong
The lab stools,lab tables and Book shelves
The MP, who is popularly known in the political space as Napo, made the donation on Friday, 19th April 2024, at a short ceremony.
Napo, who was accompanied by the Manhyia South NPP chairman, Richard Ofori Atta aka TomTom and other constituency executives, reiterated his commitment to help Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS to become one of the model schools in the country.
A section of students at the current dinning hall
The MP, who is credited to have supported the school with computers, among other educational materials, gave a firm assurance to support the school in every possible means.
According to him, education is the bedrock of every developed country and society, adding that it was therefore refreshing when the Akufo-Addo administration boldly decided to implement the Free SHS programme to give every child the opportunity to acquire at least a second circle education.
He revealed that before the introduction of Free SHS, Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS had a student population of 800, but the enrolment has increased to over 2000 students.
Aside from that, the Free SHS policy has significantly improved the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) results over the years.
Napo, who was then the Education Minister during the implementation of the Free SHS policy, therefore, cautioned the students and their parents to beware of those who claimed the policy was a bad one.
“NPP government is very committed to the well-being and development of Ghanaians, and we believe that the provision of education, especially to the girl-child, is the best way to accelerate economic development. The NPP government has helped your parents to educate you through Free SHS. All you need to do is to take your studies very seriously if you want to become a better person in future; don’t joke with your studies,” he advised the students.
Napo disclosed that Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS was named after his grandma. “I’ll make Serwaa Nyarko SHS a second better school in the country after my school, Prempeh College. We’ll make Serwaa Nyarko SHS a great school very soon,” he added.
According to him, Free SHS has brought the best results. He stressed the need for parents to continue to invest in education, especially girl-child education, since, according to him, without a girl-child education, Ghana wouldn’t be where it is today.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Esther Gyasi Sarpong, the Headmistress of Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS, said, “I must confess that we’re much grateful for all that you (Matthew Opoku Prempeh) have been doing for this great school. However, we, like Oliver Twist, still have urgent needs for you and the government to address. We humbly appeal for a dining hall, additional classroom blocks, an assembly hall, among others, to meet the growing population of students.”
“Notwithstanding our current challenges, our results and everything indicate that we’re not joking at all. We still want your support to make the school one of the greatest institutions in the country in terms of quality education and adequate infrastructural development,” she added.
On behalf of the school and the headmistress, the main Girls’ Prefect, Stephennie Gyasi Ameyaw, heaped praises on Napo for his continuous support to Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS and education in general in his constituency.
She commended him for seeing to the implementation of the Free SHS policy when he was the Education Minister.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Education Minister, has been lauded by many people as pioneering measures and programmes that are transforming Ghana’s education system.
From STEM/TVET, a programme primarily to develop the vocational and technical skills of students with the aim of building a generation that’s less dependent on government to provide them with job opportunities but rather gain entrepreneurial skills to set up their own businesses, to introducing several educational developmental projects, the Minister has earned an enormous admiration for taking major steps in revamping the education sector.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum
Days ago, astute Journalist, Kwesi Pratt was in awe at the infrastructure projects that have been completed with some ongoing under this sector.
“I am really surprised and amazed about some of the strides which have been made in the educational sector. I’m surprised; I mean when I saw some of the type of Science laboratories they have built and the quality, the numbers and so on, I was genuinely impressed. Genuinely impressed!”, Kwesi Pratt praised the Education Minister and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
In an interview on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show Thursday morning, Dr. Yaw Adutwum disclosed the motivation for his hard work and vision in ensuring quality education for all students.
According to him, he aspires to become the world’s best Education Minister.
“I want to be the best Education Minister in the world and by inference, the best Education Minister Ghana has ever had,” he said while touting his achievements.Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, on Tuesday received a standing ovation at the auditorium of the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Accra.
The standing ovation was bestowed on the Minister after he delivered a one hour, ten minutes lecture with videos, pictures and a solid presentation on the state of education in the country.
Describing the presentation as ‘evidence-based communication’, Dr Adutwum spent time explaining to the audience in the packed auditorium of the university, who sporadically applauded him for the evidence of what the government was doing in the education sector in the country.
He explained that the ‘evidence-based communication’ was aimed at making the entire populace understand and appreciate what the government was doing in the education sector so that they would appreciate what their taxes were being used for.
Address
The Education Minister spent time enumerating the various initiatives that have been introduced into the nation’s education sector with the view to making Ghanaian students match up with the 21st century education standard.
He mentioned the introduction of STEM education, revamping of TVET education, Pre-Engineering courses in some universities, introduction of aviation courses at the SHS, robotics and stocking of science laboratories of Senior High Schools in the country to promote effective teaching and learning.
Dr Adutwum also showed pictures and videos of newly constructed school infrastructure as well as the rehabilitation of old facilities to enhance effective teaching and learning in some schools across the country.
The Education Minister stated that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo government has since 2017 been investing heavily in the education sector with the view to creating an enabling environment to foster quality education at all levels in the country.
Support
The Acting Vice Chancellor of UniMAC, Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, assured the nation of their readiness to continue training the right personnel to support the gross domestic product for the country.
He appealed to the Education Minister to help improve infrastructure development at the UniMAC campus to boost effective teaching and learning.
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has appealed to politicians in the country to do away with what he described as ‘slash and burn politics’ in the country.
He explained that for the country to grow well, there was the need for politicians to desist from peddling falsehoods about their political opponents for political expediency knowing definitely that all that they were saying was not true.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwumin
Speaking at a Public Lecture at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) in Accra on Tuesday, Dr Adutwum reiterated the need for politicians to begin lauding their political opponents when they do something good so that the people would begin to appreciate the role of the politicians in the nation’s development.
The Public Lecture which had the theme “Education for development and social change: opportunities and prospects in TVET and STEM”, was organized by UniMAC and was attended by the academia, politicians, students and other stakeholders in the nation’s education.
He explained for instance that he has on several occasions lauded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for introducing the E-Block concept but complained about its locations which made it very difficult for most of them to be patronized.
The Education Minister stated that out of its conviction, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has completed a certain number of the E-Blocks and also added boarding facilities to some of them to make them much more useable so it could admit students from across the country.
Dr Adutwum mentioned that the current state of education development in the country was on point and stated that it had already started bearing more fruit, citing the outcomes of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for the past five years as evidence to the improvement in the education sector.
He described the TVET and the STEM programmes in the nation’s education as very crucial towards the social transformation of the country and urged all and sundry to accept and support teaching and learning in the country.
Responding to questions after the lecture, the Education Minister called on Ghanaians to retain the NPP government in power so it would continue with the ongoing development initiatives which have been shaping the fortunes of the nation’s economy.
The Council Chairman of UniMAC, Prof. Kwesi Yanka, commended Dr Adutwum for his vision and the effort he was making towards the transformation of the nation’s economy through education.
The Council Chairman who is also a former Minister for Education added his voice to the call for the politicians to put a stop to the ‘slash and burn politics’ in the country since it makes it difficult for the Ghanaians to trust and respect all politicians due to insults each other.
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The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has eulogized master Kofi Kokua Asante Anyimadu, a student of Galaxy International School, for clinching the top spot worldwide for the Cambridge AS Level French Exam in the year 2023.
He was presented with a certificate in his honour for the feat chalked despite stiff competition from other candidates.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwumin a group photograph
The outstanding performance of the young student attested to the quality of education offered to their students at the Galaxy International School.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, at a meeting with the leadership of Galaxy International School, was full of praise to the young Kofi Anyimadu for his hard work leading to the attainment of such a great achievement which had brought honour to the nation.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwumin and Kofi Kokua Asante
The Minister urged students in the country to take a keen interest in their studies irrespective of where they were located in the country.
He assured that the government would continue to create an enabling environment in the country for all businesses and institutions to excel to support the transformation of the country.
Mr Mehmet Akmermer, the Managing Director of Galaxy International School, eulogized Dr Adutwum for his support and effort being made towards the development of education in the country.
He stated that Galaxy International School would continue to work hard towards the development of education in the country.
The Managing Director mentioned that with the state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure available in the school, it would continue to provide quality education for students in the country.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has initiated moves with other stakeholders with the focus of developing a policy framework for distance education (DE) regulation in Ghana.
One such move was a one-day workshop organized by GTEC with all the other stakeholders and was aimed at shaping the future of education in the country through a constructive dialogue that will pave the way for a robust and inclusive policy framework.
Speaking at the workshop in Accra, the Director General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, stated that “Distance education presents a unique opportunity to address the challenges of access and equity in education, particularly in a country as diverse and geographically dispersed as Ghana”.
Creating a balance
“It is equally important to recognize that in providing a robust D E, its quality, integrity, and effectiveness rely on the bedrock of an effective regulator system. As we navigate the complexities of distance education, it becomes increasingly imperative to establish a robust regulatory framework that ensures accountability, safeguards standards, and fosters innovation”. He said.
The workshop with the theme: ‘The development of a policy framework for distance education in Ghana’, among other things was to help shape distance education to perfection.
It brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds such as policymakers, educators and industry experts who were dedicated to crafting regulations that reflect the needs and aspirations of all those impacted by distance education in Ghana.
A team from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) who for the past two and half years under the Partnership Education Blended Learning Project (PEBL) has been supporting GTEC in its activities and also joined online.
The members participated in this important dialogue with their expertise, insights, and commitment which are invaluable towards the development of a policy framework for distance education regulation in Ghana.
Purging of the system
The Director General stressed on the need for stakeholders within the distance educational delivery architecture to purge themselves of the culture of crisscrossing the country on the excuse of providing distance education. This he referred to as distancing education.
The GTEC Director General indicated that the development of a policy framework for distance education regulation necessitates a thorough examination of the opportunities and challenges inherent in this evolving landscape, adding that distance education offers unprecedented flexibility and accessibility and also poses unique risks related to quality assurance, accreditation, and learner support.
“Central to our discussions today should be the principle of balance. We must strike a delicate equilibrium between promoting innovation and safeguarding against potential risks and abuses. Our regulatory framework for DE should foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, while also providing clear guidelines and mechanisms for oversight and accountability”. Prof. Jinapor said.
He explained that by doing so, they could create an environment that encourages the responsible use of technology and pedagogical practices to enhance learning outcomes and expand access to education for all Ghanaians.
Need for uniformity
Mr Dadzie Mensah, a Director at the GTEC said the lack of a policy regulating distance learning has led to several institutions operating distance education with no internal distance learning policies and those with DE policies, the policies are often insufficient or lacking in effectiveness.
He stated that only twelve (12) institutions in the country representing approximately four per cent of institutions in Ghana currently run DE programmes and almost all of them were into technology-mediated learning aspects which present themselves as distance education component of their regular face-to-face delivery of academic instruction
Mr Mensah mentioned that of the few into DE, about 67 per cent of them had DE policies of varying degrees of satisfaction based on the mode of delivery and level of student support required.
The Director said a new policy framework for the country would bring about a uniform regulation to regulate the space in the country properly.
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The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has initiated moves with other stakeholders with the focus of developing a policy framework for distance education (DE) regulation in Ghana.
One such move was a one-day workshop organized by GTEC with all the other stakeholders and was aimed at shaping the future of education in the country through a constructive dialogue that will pave the way for a robust and inclusive policy framework.
Speaking at the workshop in Accra, the Director General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, stated that “Distance education presents a unique opportunity to address the challenges of access and equity in education, particularly in a country as diverse and geographically dispersed as Ghana”.
Creating a balance
“It is equally important to recognize that in providing a robust D E, its quality, integrity, and effectiveness rely on the bedrock of an effective regulator system. As we navigate the complexities of distance education, it becomes increasingly imperative to establish a robust regulatory framework that ensures accountability, safeguards standards, and fosters innovation”. He said.
The workshop with the theme: ‘The development of a policy framework for distance education in Ghana’, among other things was to help shape distance education to perfection.
It brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds such as policymakers, educators and industry experts who were dedicated to crafting regulations that reflect the needs and aspirations of all those impacted by distance education in Ghana.
A team from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) who for the past two and half years under the Partnership Education Blended Learning Project (PEBL) has been supporting GTEC in its activities and also joined online.
The members participated in this important dialogue with their expertise, insights, and commitment which are invaluable towards the development of a policy framework for distance education regulation in Ghana.
Purging of the system.
The Director General stressed on the need for stakeholders within the distance educational delivery architecture to purge themselves of the culture of crisscrossing the country on the excuse of providing distance education. This he referred to as distancing education.
The GTEC Director General indicated that the development of a policy framework for distance education regulation necessitates a thorough examination of the opportunities and challenges inherent in this evolving landscape, adding that distance education offers unprecedented flexibility and accessibility and also poses unique risks related to quality assurance, accreditation, and learner support.
“Central to our discussions today should be the principle of balance.
We must strike a delicate equilibrium between promoting innovation and safeguarding against potential risks and abuses. Our regulatory framework for DE should foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, while also providing clear guidelines and mechanisms for oversight and accountability”. Prof. Jinapor said.
He explained that by doing so, they could create an environment that encourages the responsible use of technology and pedagogical practices to enhance learning outcomes and expand access to education for all Ghanaians.
Need for uniformity.
Mr Dadzie Mensah, a Director at the GTEC said the lack of a policy regulating distance learning has led to several institutions operating distance education with no internal distance learning policies and those with DE policies, the policies are often insufficient or lacking in effectiveness.
He stated that only twelve (12) institutions in the country representing approximately four per cent of institutions in Ghana currently run DE programmes and almost all of them were into technology-mediated learning aspects which present themselves as distance education component of their regular face-to-face delivery of academic instruction.
Mr Mensah mentioned that of the few into DE, about 67 per cent of them had DE policies of varying degrees of satisfaction based on the mode of delivery and level of student support required.
The Director said a new policy framework for the country would bring about a uniform regulation to regulate the space in the country properly.
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The Winners of the 2023 STEMNNOVATION competition organized by the Free Senior High School (SHSs) Secretariat of the Ministry of Education last year on Saturday traveled to Japan.
The five students and an official of the Education Ministry will be out of the country for one-week and whiles in Japan they will participate in an international STEM competition, engage their student counterparts in Japan, and share as well as learn new ideas and skills towards their education.
The students comprised of Malinda Josephine Owusuaa Antiri, Salomey Akpene Atsrim-Ferguson and Benedicta Amoah from the Ahafoman Secondary/Technical School, 1st place winners as well as Agordo-Kafui Caleb and Stephen Mills Kofi Asante Ahenkan also from the Wesley Grammar who were the runners up.
Promise of a trip
During the grand finale of the competition held in Accra, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum pledged that the winners of the competition would be sponsored to travel to Japan as part of its prize.
The trip by the students was in fulfilment of the promise made by Dr Adutwum during the climax of the competition to motivate the students to take keen interest in STEM education as well as the competition.
Farewell message:
Addressing the students before their departure in Accra, a Deputy Director General at the Ghana Education Service, Mr Stephen Owusu, described the feat chalked by the students as very unique.
He explained that the fact that the winners of the competition were from various parts of the country attested to the fact that the nation’s education was on the right trajectory.
The Deputy Director was particularly happy that the winners of the competition were not from the famous schools in the country, adding that with the current state of education in the country education outcomes in all schools did not matter the location of the school.
Mr Owusu lauded Dr Adutwum for the various interventions he has introduced into the nation’s education space with the view of making students study hard for the development of the right manpower for the nation and the rest of the world.
The Director of Innovation at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Mr David Ampofo, pledged to continue supporting the STEMNNOVATION competition to help student unearth their hidden talents and skills towards solving challenges confronting their communities and the nation as a whole.
He also pledged to create an opportunity for the winners to have access to its Innovative Hubs near their schools so they could develop their skills and innovations to enhance their chances of commercializing it for the nation’s benefit.
Background:
Three female contestants who represented the Ahafoman SHTS, a mixed school surprised the whole nation in November last year with an amazing presentation on a project on Flexible Use of Electricity, where they generate electrical power through a locally modified generator and accumulator connected to a solar panel to power a plant-based incubator.
For emerging winners, Ahafoman SHTS took home an amount of Gh50,000 cash from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), a desktop computer donated by Omega Computers, Gh20,000 life insurance cover from Glidco Insurance company, medals STEM textbooks while Wesley Grammar SHS received GHS 30,000 cash prize, a laptop and a printer for being second whereas, third-placed Bosomtwe Girls’ had GHS20,000 cash prize, a laptop and a printer.
Apart from the trip to Japan, the three girls from the Ahafoman were also promised a four-year full scholarship in any Engineering University in Ghana after their secondary education.
The Director of Communications for Bawumia’s Campaign and a Presidential staffer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has strongly criticized former President and flagbearer John Dramani Mahama for his recent remarks in the educational sector.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye outlined the numerous achievements of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) since their assumption in office in 2017, stating that their accomplishments are unparalleled compared to previous administrations, especially the erstwhile Mahama administration.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye
Addressing the press on Tuesday, April 9, Dennis Miracles Aboagye took issues with Mahama’s comments, highlighting the NPP government’s successes, such as the distribution of tablets to Senior High School students.
He opined that while the NDC dismissed the announcement as impossible, the distribution has now begun. Aboagye expressed disappointment in Mahama’s bitterness towards the policy and its beneficiaries.
He said, “the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party announced that we, the New Patriotic Party, were going to distribute tablets to students of Senior High Schools in this country. The NDC in their usual impossibility character and posture came out to radicalise this announcement, hoping it will never come to reality.”
“But on the heels of our hard-working Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the policy was launched, and distribution, as we speak, has started. Isn’t it unfortunate that the former president and the NDC, within the full-blown hypocritical parades, came to display their bitterness towards a policy and especially its beneficiaries who are all Ghanaians of this country?”
“The incompetent former president, after promising to roll out and distribute tablets across this country and failing to implement this promise, comes to question the priority of the government to do the exact thing that he promised some 7 years ago and could not deliver.”
The National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Salam Mustapha, also criticized Mahama’s proposal to separate the Ministry of Youth from Sports.
Salam Mustapha argued that this would not solve the issue of youth unemployment and showed a lack of understanding of the complexities of the problem.
He questioned Mahama’s intentions, given his previous promise to reduce the number of ministries.
“His proposed solution to youth unemployment by decoupling the Ministry of Youth and Sports is not only misguided, but it also highlights his lack of understanding of the complexities of the issue. For the avoidance of doubt, sports is one of the means to develop young people, just like creative art.”
“How then can you take away the very critical vehicle to the Ministry and claim to be solving the problem? Is it the same John Mahama who is promising to reduce the number of ministries now promising to create more?”
