The newly appointed Executive Director for the Complementary Education Agency (CEA), Mrs Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah, has been honoured by the Adansi Traditional Council in the Ashanti region over the weekend.
She was presented with a Kente Cloth and traditional sandals designed with the colours of Adansi Traditional Council as well as a plaque which commended her for her support towards the development of communities in the Adansi area.
The maiden award instituted by the Adansihene and President of the Adansi Traditional Council Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II is aimed at honouring people who have supported the Adansi Traditional Council in diverse ways over the years.
The award ceremony was part of activities marking the first Akwasidae for the chiefs and people of Adansi in the Ashanti region.
Another Businessman operating in the Adansi enclave, Mr Alex Fiifi Hanson was also presented with a similar award.
The Adansihene praised the two award recipient for their support towards the welfare and development of the area.
Again, he indicated that the various support by the two individuals had brought much relief to the people and urged others to emulate their efforts towards the development of the Adansi area.
Mrs Appiah-Pinkrah, who is a native of Adansi, on her part, thanked the chiefs and people for the honour done to her and pledged to work extra hard to get more support from the people.
The Ashanti Regional Organiser for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Francis Adomako, has cautioned the former President,Mr John Dramani Mahama,to desist from lying and insulting Teachers, students and stakeholders in the education Sector.
According to him, because of political power the former President,who doubles as the National Democratic Congress ( NDC) Flagbearer for 2024 general election,was desperately seeking for, he has resorted to all manner of campaign including lying and insulting the hard working and dedicated teachers among others.
Francis Adomako aka Francois
Though,he was not surprised former President John Mahama,was doing that because he is on record to have said that one could lied for for political power.
It would be recalled that former President,John Dramani Mahama, recently challenged the authenticity of the results of candidates who sat for the recent West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr.John Dramani Mahama
The flagbearer of NDC alleged that the recent exercise undertaken by the students was characterised with malpractices and has said the ramifications will dawn on the nation in future.
The 2024 NDC Flagbearer stated this during his visit to the Mfantseman constituency as part of his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ in the Central region.Mr.Mahama,also alleged that some invigilators instead of ensuring candidates did independent work, aided students in answering the questions.
According to John Mahama“In many places, they let the children cheat. You go to places and the teachers are conniving with the students to cheat. The effect will be seen later.You certify these children saying they are of this standard either the BECE or SSCE, and that child will use that certificate, go abroad to a school and they will find out that your qualification is not up to the standard you say it is,” he indicated”,John Mahama lamented.
But speaking to TNTonline,on Wednesday,10th January,2024,the Ashanti regional NPP Organizer,who is affectionately called Francois,has shot down the wild allegation by the former President and dares him to come out with evidence.
Francois maintained that Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum, Minister of Education, and teachers deserve commendation for the unprecedented West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) results for 2023.
He also heaped praises on the students for putting up such a great performance to justify the investment made by government as a result of the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
According to Francis Adomako, the government and the Education Minister deserve commendation for such great results despite the criticisms by the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by John Mahama since the introduction of the Free SHS policy, among other interventions.
The results of candidates who sat for the 2023 Ghana Only Version of WASSCE for school candidates were released by WAEC on Monday,18th December 2023.
Performance Statistics
A total number of 448,674 candidates made up of 212,453 males and 236,221 females from 975 schools took the examinations.
This figure is 5.8% higher than the 2022 entry figure of 422,883. A total number of 3,404 (0.75%) were absent from the examinations.
The Ashanti Regional NPP Organiser said per the statistics provided by WAEC,2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are the Free SHS graduates and the only years in the past 8 years that more than 50% of candidates obtained A1- C6 in all core subjects.
Per the WAEC records, with regard to the 2023 year group, more than 60% of candidates obtained A1- C6 in all core subjects. A1-C6 are grades that are required for a student to qualify for admission to a tertiary institution in Ghana.
Francois, therefore, insisted that the Akufo-Addo administration and the Education Minister deserve praises for the improvement in the WAEC results.
He added that this justifies government’s commitment to the implementation of Free SHS which needs to be supported by all stakeholders for its sustainability
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Vice Chancellors of traditional Universities in Ghana (VCG) have affirmed their readiness to continue deepening the existing relationship with Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) towards education development in the country.
According to them, there was a need for more engagement between the two institutions on their operations to help speed up as well as get the best training and outcomes for the nation.
The President of the Vice-Chancellors Ghana, Prof. Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson, on behalf of the VCs pledged to continue engaging GTEC more on their operations.
She announced this when the new Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellors Ghana (VCG) during their 76th meeting held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday.
The DG’s courtesy call on the VCG which was his maiden encounter with the VCs was to listen to them, dialogue and seek their blessings towards improved operations between them.
Prof Jinapor seated in front with the VCG during the visit
Issues discussed between GTEC and the VCG centred on updates on accreditations, issues of office holdings and satellite campuses of the various universities.
Prof. Mrs Akosua Dickson praised the leadership of GTEC for the innovations introduced to help speed up the accreditation processes at the various universities.
Address
Addressing the VCG, Prof Ahmed Jinapor also eulogized the VCG for the critical roles they play in ensuring development and improvement at the tertiary level of education in the country.
He assured them of GTEC’s preparedness to collaborate with the VCG and all other stakeholders in the nation’s education space to help transform the nation through education.
Prof. Jinapor appealed to the VCG to ensure that they do not use Church premises, Senior High Schools and other such infrastructure in operating their campuses as satellite campuses of their universities.
Accelerated Accreditation Approach
He announced that the GTEC has introduced an innovative digital platform (Accelerated Accreditation Approach) which has speed up the accreditation process and halve the waiting period.
This, according to him has ensured that they cleared any backlog of accreditation issues so that all programmes are in good standing within the shortest possible time.
Prof Jinapor also appealed to the VC to take a personal interest in ensuring that their Quality Assurance staff speed up their processes to avoid delays which lead to a lot of challenges for all stakeholders.
He said the accreditation culture must be tuned to compliance devoid of non-adherence as existed before.
The DG praised the current leadership of VCG for their attitude towards rectifying the problems as inherited and promised to work them in that regard.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appointed Mrs Catherine Agyapomaa Appiah-Pinkrah as the Acting Executive Director of the Complementary Education Agency (CEA)
Her appointment is in Pursuant to Section 11 (1) of the Complementary Education Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1055).
The appointment letter
The appointment letter dated 27th November, 2023 was signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.
Until her appointment, Mrs Appiah-Pinkrah was the Director in charge of General Administration at the Education Ministry, having also headed the Pre-Tertiary Directorate within the same Ministry
Mrs Catherine Agyapomaa Appiah-Pinkrah
She holds an MSc degree in Development Planning and Management and currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration
Mrs Appiah-Pinkrah who has a barrage of experience in public administration after long years of service with various Ministries is going to the CEA at a time when it was going through a great transformation and with her experience, she would be able to impact massively on the operations of the Agency.
She succeeds Mr Francis Asumadu who retired from active service in 2023.
An Honorary Degree of Doctorate in Executive Leadership has been conferred on the Asantefuohemaa of Sweden, Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I, in recognition of her loyalty, remarkable accomplishments, exemplary leadership, love for humanity and outstanding devotion to the society.
On December 23, 2023, the International Kingdom University (Florida U.S.A) administered the conferment.
Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I
The conferment, according to the University, is to recognize and celebrate Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I for her “excellence in leadership over the years, faithfulness, great achievement, and dedication, together with all the honors and responsibilities pertaining thereto”.
Nana Afia Achia Deiwaa I articulated her appreciation to International Kingdom University for the award bestowed upon her during her acceptance speech.
Nana Afia Achiaa Deiwaa I
She went on to say that she hopes others, especially women, will be motivated to aim high by this accolade and her modest contribution to the university.
She continued, saying, “With humility and gratitude, I thank Professor Yvonne B. Bentley, Ph.D: founding mother of IKU and Members of the University Council for the honorary doctorate degree awarded her.
Your appreciation for what I have done is evidence of our common desire to improve the world and urges all to offer assistance wherever possible with no expectations.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University (STU), Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah has reiterated the University’s commitment towards the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country.
In his New Year Message, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that Ghana stands to make tremendous inroads in the area of STEM as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) if much efforts and resources are channeled into these areas.
The Vice-Chancellor announced the commencement of implementation of the proposed 20% discount on school fees for all female students who enrol in any of the engineering programmes of Sunyani Technical University as from January 2024.
Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah
Background
At a Students’ Durbar held in February 2023 at STU’s main Auditorium, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the university would be offering 20% discount on school fees of all female engineering students, beginning from the next academic year.
He explained that the move formed part of an affirmative action adopted by management to encourage more females to pursue various engineering courses.
“As a technical university, STU usually struggles to get females to study engineering programmes and so the university has taken this affirmative action to give special desperation to prospective female engineering students, and it is expect that this will attract more females into the engineering field”, he stated.
Implementation
True to his word, STU has begun implementing this policy with the view of attracting and encouraging more females to study programmes such as Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering, among others.
Ing. Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah emphasised in his New Year Message that STEM education increases innovative thinking, encourages curiosity, inspires creativity and ingenuity, fosters collaboration and communication, builds confidence and teaches acceptance of failure and prepares students for high-demand careers.
He also said in addition to providing individuals with the skills and training they need to succeed in their careers, STEM education and TVET can also play a vital role in supporting economic growth and development, adding that “one way in which TVET supports economic growth is by helping to address skills gaps in the job market.”
Electric vehicles
“STU’s quest to produce electric vehicles by 2030 is still on course. We have already signed MoUs with Solar Taxi Limited, Ghana and EVAFRICA (a joint initiative by Skill Shark edutech, India and Impact Lane consult, Ghana), Fanshawe College of Engineering, Canada as well as SUNY-PI, USA; and we are working around the clock to make this happen.
He said as part of its contributions toward Ghana’s industrialization agenda, STU has strategized to assemble and produce electric vehicles in its medium to long-term plans as students of the University’s Engineering Faculty are being trained on electric vehicles to equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills for the realization of the plan by 2030.
“The plan is to establish a Research and Innovation Centre for E-Vehicle and Industrial Welding Technologies with a well-equipped laboratory, to serve as a center of excellence in the manufacture of Electric Vehicles and their accessories.
The Centre is also expected to train students to acquire the needed skills and knowledge in the field of Electric Vehicle manufacturing and management in Ghana.”
He said climate change and emission concerns had brought the adoption of Electric vehicles to the forefront in recent times, and this has resulted in bold steps taken by governments of the biggest automotive markets in the world to embrace the technology.
“France and the United Kingdom (UK) are looking to ban the sale of gas and diesel-powered vehicles completely by 2040. Norway plans to ban all but electric car sales by 2025. China, the largest auto market in the world has publicly started charting a plan for an all-out ban on vehicles powered by internal combustion engines”, he further said.
Ing. Adinkrah-Appiah noted that it was time for Ghana and Africa as a whole, to follow suit and “make plans towards embracing electric vehicles to harness the enormous solar energy potential to meet our climate emission targets while simultaneously providing clean and affordable means of transport.”
He said this explains why the Sunyani Technical University “wants to take the lead role in the realization of this dream. Besides, the use of electric vehicles, it will boost electricity sales and drive demand high enough to meet or exceed the current supply, paving the way for a sustainable energy sector.
It will also create an environment of low cost of powering our automobile industry to generate value for money for all.” END.
( From the PR Office )
The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has refuted former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent allegations of widespread cheating among the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) graduates.
In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Friday, Mr. Carbonu stressed the uniqueness of each examination stressing that, ‘no two examinations can be the same.’
Angel Carbonu
Former President John Dramani Mahama
Former President Mahama, expressed concerns about the authenticity of the recent WASSCE results, citing the high pass rates.
Mr. Mahama alleged instances of invigilation and teacher involvement in student cheating, cautioning about potential consequences for the country’s educational system.
But, Mr. Carbonu challenged Mr. Mahama to provide statistical evidence to support his claims, suggesting that there might be information not known to the public.
“The information the former President has will help all of us to resolve the matter” he added.
Mr. Carbonu clarified that, not every teacher engages in cheating, and it is incorrect to make sweeping statements about their performance.
While acknowledging that few teachers have been implicated in cheating, he stressed that, it does not reflect the broader teaching community.
Going forward, the NAGRAT President, urged politicians to refrain from meddling in the country’s education system and instead focus on addressing the challenges confronting teachers.
“We beg you politicians, stop playing political football with our exams. Let us maintain our standards. Every examination is different every year” he stated.
Koku Anyidoho attacks Mahama for accusing WASSCE students of cheating
Don’t let anyone denigrate your achievements – Dr. Bawumia to 2023 WASSCE students
WASSCE: A teacher who helped students to cheat is now an assistant headmaster –
Mahama challenges recent WASSCE results.
The Ministry of Education has called out the former President, John Dramani Mahama for his recent comments regarding the 2023 WASSCE results.
The NDC Presidential candidate had challenged the authenticity of the recent results; alleging that some invigilators relax on the job so teachers can aid students in answering questions.
Reacting to the allegation, the Ministry of Education stated that the disparaging comments are a calculated attempt to downplay the great strides made by the ministry in improving learning outcomes in the country.
In a press statement sighted by JoyNews, the MoE stated that “we have made monumental progress in core subjects from an average 40.93 percent score (A1 –C6) in 2015 to a highly improved average of 69.73 percent score (A1 – C6) in 2023.”
Again, the MoE noted that the country had recorded the highest ever 8A1s in 2020 and in 2023 with Ghana boasting of 411 out of the 465 8A1s recorded across West Africa.
The ministry described the former President’s assertion as a false misrepresentation of the facts which only seeks to malign “the integrity of the vast majority of our hard-working teachers and students.”
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum,Education Minister
It called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn the former President’s statement while pledging its commitment to upholding the highest quality of education in the country.
“The Ministry reiterates our commitment that the quality of education and examinations at all levels, including the WASSCE will not be compromised,” the statement added.Source: Cornerlis Kweku Affre
The Vice President and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged 2023 WASSCE graduates not to be discouraged by those trying to downplay and denigrate their success in the exams.
The cumulative record of the 2023 WASSCE group, who are the 4th batch of graduates of the Free SHS policy, has been described as the best in recent times, with the majority of the students who participated in the exams passing so well.
While the success of the students is being hailed by many, former President John Mahama, has played down the success, claiming that students connived with teachers to cheat in the exams hence the good results.
Alhaji Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia
In an apparent reference to former President Mahama’s comment, Dr. Bawumia,while congratulating the students, urged them not to be discouraged by such comments.
The Vice President also congratulated parents and teachers for their roles in the excellent performances of their wards in the 2023 WASSCE.
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has reaffirmed his commitment to review the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy within the first 100 days if he emerges victorious in the 2024 presidential election.
During his visit to Agona Asafo in the Central Region as part of his Building Ghana Tour, the former President acknowledged the positive aspects of the Free SHS policy but emphasized the need for a thorough review to enhance its benefits for both students and parents.
H.E.John Dramani Mahama
“When you implement a policy, you must take stock after a while to see whether you are achieving your target, When we win power in 2024, we will have a forum to review the education sector, and we will invite teachers, parents, educationists and students and then we will review the free SHS policy.
“We will address issues that are not going well, like the feeding of students. The free SHS is a good policy but the government must put in place measures that will ensure that things are less expensive.
“My nephew has been placed under free SHS but we are spending a lot of money to buy things on his prospectus because the government has mismanaged the economy so everything has gone up.”
Mahama affirmed that, within the initial 100 days of assuming office, his administration would undertake a comprehensive review of the Free SHS policy.
According to him, the objective is to optimize its implementation, ensuring that teachers, parents, and students can fully enjoy the intended benefits of the policy.
“When we come, within 100 days, we will review the Free SHS, so that teachers, parents, and students will enjoy the benefits of the free SHS policy.”
