The Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted four headteachers over allegations of selling unauthorized items to Form One students.
Mr. Afi Yaw Stephen, Headmaster of Berekum Senior High School, and Mr. Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu, Headmaster of Odomaseman Senior High School, were both directed to step aside in separate letters by the GES for selling items not approved by the education authorities.
Mr. Afi Yaw Stephen was accused of charging unauthorized fees, including “Borla fees,” “motivation fees,” and “lunch bag” charges.
On the other hand, Mr. Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu has been accused of charging students GHC45 for hymn books, SRC fees, brown khaki, and other unapproved items.
The headteachers of O’Reilly Senior High School and Ghana Senior High School were interdicted for alleged unauthorized activities.
Nadia Lartechoe Annan of O’Reilly SHS and Patience Naki Mensah of Ghana Senior High School were suspended for unauthorized activities, including the collection of admission fees and the sale of ceremonial cloth, tracksuits, and other items to incoming Form One students.
Meanwhile, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has issued a stern warning to headteachers nationwide, urging them to adhere to the government’s policy prohibiting the sale of items to students within school premises.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken action by interdicting two additional headteachers over allegations of selling unauthorized items to Form One students.
Mr. Afi Yaw Stephen, Headmaster of Berekum Senior High School, and Mr. Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu, Headmaster of Odomaseman Senior High School, were both directed to step aside in separate letters by the GES for selling items not approved by the education authorities.
Mr. Afi Yaw Stephen was accused of charging unauthorized fees, including “Borla fees,” “motivation fees,” and “lunch bag” charges.
On the other hand, Mr. Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu has been accused of charging students GHC45 for hymn books, SRC fees, brown khaki, and other unapproved items.
This brings the total number of headteachers interdicted by the GES for charging unapproved fees to four.
The headteachers of O’Reilly Senior High School and Ghana Senior High School were interdicted for alleged unauthorized activities.
Nadia Lartechoe Annan of O’Reilly SHS and Patience Naki Mensah of Ghana Senior High School were suspended for unauthorized activities, including the collection of admission fees and the sale of ceremonial cloth, tracksuits, and other items to incoming Form One students.
Meanwhile, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has issued a stern warning to headteachers nationwide, urging them to adhere to the government’s policy prohibiting the sale of items to students within school premises.
President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has issued a stern warning to headteachers nationwide, urging them to adhere to the government’s policy prohibiting the sale of items to students within school premises.
This caution follows recent actions taken by the Ghana Education Service (GES), where the headteachers of O’Reilly Senior High School and Ghana Senior High School were interdicted for alleged unauthorized activities.
The interdiction letters, dated December 6th and 7th, 2023, respectively, were issued by the Regional Education Offices of Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
Nadia Lartechoe Annan of O’Reilly SHS and Patience Naki Mensah of Ghana Senior High School were suspended for unauthorized activities, including the collection of admission fees and the sale of ceremonial cloth, tracksuits, and other items to incoming Form One students.
Subsequently, on December 8, the GES interdicted two more headteachers, Mr. Afi Yaw Stephen of Berekum Senior High School and Mr. Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu of Odomaseman Senior High School, both for selling unauthorized items to new students.
In reaction to this, Mr Carbonu said, “Let me caution my colleagues and my senior colleagues if GES under the control of the Ministry of Education is giving out a policy indicating that no school should sell any item to students either within the school premises or outside the school premises, no officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES) should make him or herself a salesman or a saleswoman to sell any item to parents or students.”
Angel Carbonu further emphasized that, although there might be valid reasons behind selling items, disregarding directives from the Ghana Education Service (GES) poses significant risks.
“Sometimes the reason these items are supposed to be sold is for very good reasons, mostly in the interest of the students themselves, but if the owner of the job, your employer has directed you not to sell why do you put yourself in harm’s way?
“You will just have to abide by that rule so that the consequences of that rule will be evident to the employer for the employer to rather amend its policy or maintain the policy.”
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken disciplinary action by interdicting the headteacher of O’Reilly Senior High School.
The interdiction is in response to the headteacher’s unauthorized collection of money as part of the admission process.
A letter from the GES, dated December 6th, 2023, points to this action as a violation of the school’s code of conduct.
The letter states, “It has come to the notice of Management, the collection of unauthorized monies at O’Reilly Senior High School as part of the admission process. Based on the above and as the code of conduct stipulates, you are to step aside for an investigation to be conducted.”
In addition to the interdiction, the letter from the Ghana Education Service (GES) instructed the headteacher of O’Reilly Senior High School to hand over all school property to the Municipal Director of Education, Ledzokuku.
The Municipal Director will assume oversight responsibility during her absence.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken action against Patience Naki Mensah, the headmistress of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, by placing her under interdiction.
The decision comes in response to allegations that she sold unauthorized items to Form One students reporting to the school.
This information was conveyed through a press release signed and issued by the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Ivy Asantewaa Owusu, on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
The interdiction is intended to allow for a thorough investigation into the allegations against Madam Mensah.
Notably, this case adds to the growing number of headteachers who have faced disciplinary actions for allegedly charging unapproved fees since the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Despite widespread calls for a reevaluation of the reopening date, first-year Senior High School (SHS) students across the country are set to begin reporting to their respective schools today.
Despite pleas from parents and other stakeholders to postpone the reporting date for various reasons, the Ghana Education Service (GES) is steadfast in maintaining the December 4 date.
In response to these concerns, Parliament has urged the Minister of Education to consider rescheduling the reopening date to the first week of January instead of Monday, December 4.
However, despite Parliament’s appeal, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has rejected the request.
In a statement, the GES emphasised that “It is the expectation of management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from the 4th of December 2023.”
The timetable impacts students on both single and double-track systems, as outlined in the 2023/2024 academic calendar released by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
A grand total of 598,839 candidates participated in the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), leading to the placement of 585,797 individuals in various Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVET) across the nation.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revealed that management will consider revising the reopening date for first-year students in the Senior High Schools (SHS).
According to the Public Relations Officer of the GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, her outfit had taken note of the concerns of Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions regarding the limited time parents had for preparations.
The concerns follow the release of the Computerized Schools Selection Process on November 28, with SHS students expected to start classes on December 4.
Reacting to the concern in an interview with the media, Cassandra Twum Ampofo explained that her outfit had long published the academic calendar for second-cycle institutions. Hence, they assumed parents were prepared. Nevertheless, they would take a second look at what can be done to address the situation.
“Before the release of placement, we had already published the academic calendar so the first December for first years was already cast and so as a parent, if you knew that your child would be going to the boarding house at least you are working within that time frame. We were only waiting for the school placement to be out but in terms of preparation, we knew that they had started.
“But again once they have given us this feedback, management will look at it and whatever comes out of it will be communicated to the public,” she said.
Additionally, the Executive Director at the Institute of Education Studies, Dr. Peter Anti-Partey, urges the GES to postpone the reopening to early next year for parents to adequately prepare.
“Adjust it in such a way that everybody will be a little bit okay. I don’t know how they are going to do this because you cannot move it to the following week. If you move it to the following week, it means the students are about to spend about one week on campus. It does not help because some of them will be traveling so you go to school for one week and you come back home for Christmas. It does not help.
“So, I think that maybe the best option will be either to maintain this or move the reopening of the first years to early next year so that everybody would be prepared for that,” he said.
The Municipal Director of Education for Nkwanta South, Jonathan Korsinah, says parents in Nkwanta are preventing their wards from attending classes due to the recent tribal conflict happening in the area.
“Schools in town were not officially closed, but for the safety of teachers and children, parents refused to allow their children to come to school,” he said to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview.
According to him, they are currently awaiting official correspondence from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Head Office, which will be transmitted through the Regional Office to officially declare the school closures.
He noted that when parents are reluctant to send their children to school, it implies a certain level of parental awareness, causing fear and anxiety that ultimately leads to school closures.
In particular, communities like Gekron, Shaire, and other strong Akyode communities have witnessed students and teachers unable to attend school due to fears of potential attacks.
As of Friday, October 27, parents continued to relocate from Nkwanta with their children. Jonathan Korsinah added that he was working in coordination with the security agencies to determine the next steps.
It’s important to note that schools in the Ntrubo areas of the Municipality remained unaffected.
The region recently experienced renewed conflict between the Adele, Challa, and Akyode tribes, resulting in thousands of residents fleeing their homes to neighboring districts and municipalities in the Oti Region.
The clashes originated from differences related to the performance of ritual rites for the 2023 annual Yam Festival of the Akyode group, leading to the destruction of numerous homes and shops, and causing Nkwanta to become a deserted town.
The Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has provided assurance that schools will remain open on Thursday and Friday in the region.
This decision comes in light of the updated directive regarding the closure of shops, offices, and schools during the funeral ceremonies for the late Ga Manye Naa Dede Omardru III.
Originally, it was planned to have a closure from Thursday to Saturday, but the recent modification limits the closure to only Saturday.
The GES has entreated Head teachers and teachers in the Metro/Municipal/District Education Directorate to take note of the changes.
In December 2022, Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omaedru III, passed away. On June 19, 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated a book of condolences in her honor.
The final funeral rites for the late Ga Manye were originally scheduled to occur between October 15 and October 31, 2023.
Recently, the Ga Traditional Council made adjustments to its guidelines concerning the closure of businesses in preparation for the late queen, Naa Dedei Omaedru III’s final funeral rites. Initially, the Council had decreed a three-day shutdown of all offices and shops in the Central Business District of the Greater Accra Region, spanning from October 26 to October 29.
However, in a recent statement, the Council revised its instructions, specifying that offices and businesses should only close on Saturday, October 28, as opposed to the previously announced three-day closure.
Meanwhile, the family of Ga Manye has obtained an interim injunction that suspends the funeral originally planned for Saturday, October 28.
The Wenchi Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Bono Region has launched an inquiry into a concerning incident involving a teacher at St. Paul’s Anglican Basic School.
The teacher is alleged to have compelled some students to take an oath in the name of a deity to demonstrate their innocence regarding his missing phone.
The GES has emphasized that if the teacher is found culpable for these actions, he will face appropriate consequences as outlined in the established code of conduct.
David Baffoe, the Public Relations Officer at the Wenchi Municipal Education Directorate, stated that the directorate is committed to uncovering all the facts surrounding the incident.
He stated, “We started the investigations…and we will continue today so that we can establish the facts on the whole matter so that we can communicate appropriately to the public. We are there to make sure that we get the truth from the matter, and if the teacher is found culpable, we will use the established code of conduct against him.”
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has changed the reopening date for Senior High School (SHS) Form One students to September 25, 2023.
A letter signed by Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, Acting Director of the Schools and Instructions Division of the GES, has informed all regional directors and school heads of this adjustment. Previously, the students were expected to resume on September 18, 2023.
“By this letter, regional directors of education are requested to communicate this information to all heads of senior high and senior high technical schools to inform parents/guardians and students to take note of the new date and prepare accordingly,” it said.
Mr. Agyemang-Duah clarified the reason behind the date change, citing concerns related to the double track system. He noted that maintaining the original date could overwhelm schools due to the large number of students.
Moreover, he highlighted that as the final paper of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is slated for completion on September 26, the majority of the senior students would have already concluded their exams and departed from the school premises.
As a result, the number of final year students present on September 25 would be reduced, effectively resolving any accommodation concerns.
“So, after consultation with the Director-General of the GES, we agreed to shift the reopening date to September 25 to make room for the final year students to complete their examination,” he explained.
In January of this year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) unveiled the 2023 academic calendar for pre-tertiary institutions, encompassing kindergarten, primary, junior high, and senior high schools.
The Transitional Academic Calendar for Double Track Senior High Schools (SHSs) outlined that Form Three students were to complete 1,360 contact hours, while Form Two students were to engage in 1,200 hours, and Form One students were to have 1,080 hours.
According to this calendar, Form Three students were scheduled to return to school from January 10, 2023, until April 5, 2023, for the first term. Following this, they would enjoy a break from April 6, 2023, to April 16, 2023, with the second term commencing on April 17, 2023, and concluding on June 1, 2023.
The final year students were then expected to vacate from June 2, 2023, to June 8, 2023, while the third term was set to run from June 9, 2023, to September 15, 2023, marking the culmination of the academic year.
For Form Two students, their academic year commenced on January 10, 2023, and ran until February 17, 2023. Subsequently, they had a break from February 18, 2023, to April 10, 2023. The second term was scheduled from April 11, 2023, to June 1, 2023, followed by a vacation from June 2, 2023, to August 11, 2023. The third term was set to start from August 14, 2023, and conclude on November 30, 2023, marking the end of the academic year.
As for all Form One students, their academic calendar initially spanned from February 20, 2023, to April 13, 2023, with a break from April 14, 2023, to June 8, 2023. The second term was slated to begin on June 9, 2023, and last until August 10, 2023, with a break from August 11, 2023, to September 17, 2023. The third term was originally planned for September 18, 2023, to November 30, 2023, concluding the academic year.
In the case of single-track schools, Form Three students were expected to complete 1,360 contact hours, Form Two students 1,280 contact hours, and Form One students 1,120 contact hours. Form Three students’ first term started on January 10, 2023, and ended on April 5, 2023, with a break from April 6, 2023, to April 16, 2023. The second term was scheduled from April 17, 2023, to June 1, 2023. Following this, they had another break from June 2, 2023, to June 8, 2023, before commencing the third term from June 9, 2023, to September 15, 2023, marking the academic year’s conclusion.
On the other hand, Form Two students’ first term began on January 10, 2023, and ran until April 5, 2023, followed by a break from April 6, 2023, to April 16, 2023. Their second term was set to start from August 17, 2023, and end on August 25, 2023.
For Form One students in single-track schools, their first term was planned from February 20, 2023, to April 5, 2023, with a break from April 6, 2023, to April 16, 2023. The second term was scheduled from April 17, 2023, to September 15, 2023.
The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has reported that a total of 108 pregnant girls and 104 nursing mothers participated in the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the region.
Alongside these candidates, a total of 117,084 students took part in the examination.
According to the Public Relations Officer for the regional directorate, in an interview with the media on August 15, 2023, the overall candidate count included 57,973 males and 59,111 females.
The examination also saw 314 candidates marked as absent due to various reasons, including dropouts, illness, and travel.
Additionally, it was revealed that the Kumasi Metropolis had the highest number of examination centers with 36, accommodating a total of 9,878 candidates.
In contrast, the Sekyere Afram Plains District recorded the lowest number of candidates, with a total of 367 students participating.
Results of the recent teachers’ promotional examination, administered by the Ghana Education Service (GES), have unveiled a 69% achievement rate for candidates who participated in the February test.
This implies that 31% of examinees fell short of meeting the necessary criteria for advancement.
From a total of 80,810 participants, 55,917 individuals have triumphed, securing their progression into higher educational leadership positions.
The examination acted as a gateway for those aspiring to roles such as Deputy Director, Assistant Director I, Assistant Director II, and Principal Superintendent within the Deputy Director grade.
GES conveyed that candidates will receive notification of their success or lack thereof via text message.
“A message will be sent to all candidates who sat for the exams to indicate whether successful or not. (Please note that, the promotion site will NOT be accessible this year) Formal promotion letters will be released in due course,” GES stated in a release.
“A message will be sent to all candidates who sat for the exams to indicate whether successful or not. (Please note that, the promotion site will NOT be accessible this year) Formal promotion letters will be released in due course.”
Between August 23 and September 4, 2023, the process of school selection will take place across regional, district education directorates, and schools.
The GES in a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, said, “Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to inform the general public, particularly Parents, Candidates and Teachers that the sensitization and education on this year’s guidelines for school selection into Senior High Schools will commence Friday 18th August 2023.”
“This exercise will take place in all the respective Regional, District Education Directorates and schools. Management further informs stakeholders that the selection of schools is scheduled from 23rd August to 4 September 2023”.
The Head of the Public Relations Unit said candidates will be offered the opportunity to text a short code to confirm their school choices before actual placement.
“There would be an opportunity for candidates to text to a short code and confirm their school choices before actual Placement will be done. Details of the shortcode will be made available in due course”.
The BECE which started Monday, August 7, ended Friday, August 11.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced plans to sensitize candidates who recently took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) on the procedures for selecting Senior High Schools. This informative session is scheduled for August 18, 2023.
The school selection process itself will occur from August 23 to September 4, 2023, across various regional, district education directorates, and schools.
In a statement signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Head of Public Relations Unit at GES, said “the management of Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to inform the general public, particularly parents, candidates, and teachers, that the sensitization and education on this year’s guidelines for school selection into Senior High Schools will commence on Friday, August 18, 2023.”
She further emphasized, “This exercise will take place in all the respective Regional, District Education Directorates, and schools. Management further informs stakeholders that the selection of schools is scheduled from August 23 to September 4, 2023.”
As part of the process, candidates will have the opportunity to confirm their school preferences by texting a designated short code before the actual placement is finalized. The specific details of the shortcode will be communicated in due time.
The BECE, which began on Monday, August 7, concluded on Friday, August 11.
Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has dismissed assertions that the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be eliminated after 2023.
As per his statements, the Ghana Education System (GES) does not intend to eliminate the BECE; however, there will be a modified structure with equivalent examination standards established by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Rev. Ntim Fordjour explained that the new format will be reflective of the curriculum that is being used in the various basic schools in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, August 8, 20023, Rev John Ntim Fordjour entreated the general public to disregard claims of the abolition of BECE after the 2023 edition.
“There’s no decision whatsoever to write off or jettison BECE, so that notion or perception should be disregarded.
“Well, we are going to have the same form as we’ve been doing. Of course, the test items each year will have it in a different format, as WAEC determines, but the standard is going to be the same, and it’s going to be reflective of the curriculum that we have put in place. What they have been taught is exactly what is going to come up,” he told TV3.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour’s comment comes in response to claims of a possible cancellation of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after the 2023 edition over the introduction of a new examination for Basic schools in Ghana.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released a set of guidelines and directives for candidates participating in the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
These measures are put in place to maintain proper conduct during the examination and to address the issue of examination malpractice, which has become a national concern.
Among the directives issued, candidates are prohibited from wearing socks during the exam. Instead, they are required to wear only flat open sandals without socks.
Additionally, candidates are not allowed to wear wristwatches or carry any electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, into the exam hall.
The 2023 BECE is scheduled to take place from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11.
These guidelines are to be adhered to by all public and private schools within the municipality.
By implementing these measures, the education office aims to ensure a fair and secure examination environment, fostering a level playing field for all candidates and upholding the integrity of the BECE.
The Ministry of Education has issued a caution to teachers who pay unapproved fees to directors of education and supervisors to facilitate their promotions.
Speaking to the media, the ministry’s PRO, Kwesi Kwarteng, stated that an investigation will be launched to examine the conduct of education officers who have been demanding fees from teachers to facilitate their promotions.
Reports have emerged that some teachers have been asked to pay GH¢200 ahead of the upcoming teacher promotion exercise.
According to reports, teachers are expected to hand over the money in a white envelope to their respective head teachers, who will then pass it on to the GES promotion supervisors.
The promotion supervision is set to commence next week, and it is anticipated that over a hundred teachers will be required to make the payment to be eligible for promotion.
Mr. Kwarteng emphasized that no teacher should be subjected to paying such unauthorized fees.
The Ghana Education Service (GES), has condemned a viral video where a student of Adisadel College is seen assaulting another, causing bleeding below the victim’s right eye after hitting his face against a metal bed.
Through its PR head, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the GES has labeled the incident a “barbaric act of violence” and emphasized its commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment for all students in Ghana.
PRESS RELEASE
VIRAL VIDEO OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING STUDENTS OF ADISADEL COLLEGE
The attention of the Management of Ghana Education Service has been drawn to a disturbing video of assault involving two students of Adisadel College being circulated on social media.
Management is deeply concerned and condemns this barbaric act of violence in our schools. We applaud the school authorities for taking swift action to suspend the culprit pending further investigation.
Management has directed the Regional Director of Education to liaise with the school authorities and the relevant law enforcement agency to investigate for appropriate action.
Ghana Education Service assures the general public that we are taking this matter very seriously and are committed to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for all students across the country.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken action against Dr. Mrs. Shine Agatha Ofori, the headmistress of West Africa Senior High School (WASS), for unauthorized collection of money from students.
In an official press release signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Head of the Public Relations Unit, the GES announced that Dr. Mrs. Shine Agatha Ofori has been interdicted from her position.
As per the interdiction, Dr. Mrs. Shine Agatha Ofori is required to hand over the administration of the school to the Regional Director of Education. The case will be subject to further investigation by the Regional Disciplinary Committee until a final determination is reached.
“Management of GES has interdicted Dr. Mrs. Shine Agatha Ofori, Headmistress of West Africa SHS, for unauthorised collection of money from students. She is to hand over the administration of the school to the Regional Director of Education pending final determination of the case by the Regional Disciplinary Committee,” GES added in the press release.
Earlier in 2023, the Ghana Education Service (GES) demonstrated its commitment to addressing misconduct by heads of second-cycle institutions in the country.
One such instance was the interdiction of Mr. Kenneth Agbomadzi, the headmaster of Fijai Senior High School in Sekondi. He faced allegations of charging illegal fees, which led to his suspension.
However, after a thorough investigation conducted by a committee specifically tasked to probe the matter, Mr. Kenneth Agbomadzi was vindicated of any wrongdoing. As a result, he was reinstated to his position in May 2023.
An officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES) reportedly recommended teachers to apply for loans to buy computers to teach their children, shocking the group of educators who had come for a session on innovative methods of teaching several topics, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
This comment from the GES official reportedly came up when teachers attended a session on new ways to teach ICT in schools, according to a former ICT teacher at the Akrofuom District Assembly Primary School in the Ashanti Region.
On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, Teacher Kwadwo, a guest on the Kokoase portion of the Angel Morning Show, claimed that because their classrooms lacked computers, his fellow educators insisted on knowing how to teach the course.
“That was when the GES officer at the workshop replied that we can go for loans to buy at least one laptop to teach the kids.…,” Teacher Kwadwo said.
A shocked Teacher Kwadwo who was also present at the workshop asked whether the GES official was indeed serious with his comment to which he responded “Don’t we even go for loans to acquire plots of land…?”
This and other factors, according to Teacher Kwadwo, helped him organize a movement to save the country’s education system.
However, he was expelled in December 2021 for taking a total of 55 unapproved absences from the classroom.
The Ministry of Education has stated that GHS241 million has been set aside for the payment of allowances to teacher trainees across the country.
The Ministry also stated that GH32 million has been set aside for the first batch of book and research allowance payments to be made to qualified senior members of public tertiary institutions across the nation.
This was revealed by Professor Yara Dzakadzie, the Ministry’s director of tertiary education, during a statement delivered on behalf of the sector minister at the 13th congregation of the Koforidua Asokore SDA Training College.
“It will interest the members of staff to know that the government has processed an amount of over GH¢32 million for the first batch of book and research allowance payable to senior members of tertiary institutions across the country.”
“The government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the smooth running of our colleges of education, and it is committed to providing our students with the best education. In light of this, the government has released an amount of GH¢241 million for the payment of teacher trainee allowances across the country.”
Dr. Cecelia Ofosua Odame, Principal of the Koforidua Asokore SDA Training College, called to the government to come to their aid, citing a number of problems to teaching and learning such as laboratories, lecturer halls, and staff lodging.
“The college faces several challenges which hinder teaching and learning on campus which include a lack of buses to transport students and also most of the equipment in the science lab has worn out and made it difficult to support practical teaching and learning and I wish to appeal to the alumni, the public, and the government to come to our aid.”
A National AI for Youth program has been developed to provide students with access to modules that may be used to build answers to problems in health, agriculture, and climate change.
The program, which is being spearheaded by Coral Reef Innovation Hub in collaboration with Intel, is also expected to assist kids in addressing challenges such as education, finance, and others.
Ghana is the continent’s second country to implement this initiative, following South Africa.
Dr. Kwabena Tandoh, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES), spoke during the launch at the Association International School in Accra, emphasizing the importance of students, staff, and parents leveraging technology to help make work easier.
The GES reveals intentions to introduce technology to every student in the country, emphasizing the importance of understanding technology and AI’s advantages.
Dr. Bienvenu Soglo, Africa and IGA CTO Liaison for Intel, highlights modules designed to provide accurate A.I. knowledge and its societal impact. These modules aim to empower students to responsibly use A.I. tools and methodologies to create purposeful solutions for local and global challenges.
Mr. Richard Anim, Managing Partner at Coral Reef Innovation Hub, announces extensive plans, including training 1,400 teachers, deploying AI smart labs in 700 schools with 45,000 devices, and ultimately reaching one million students nationwide.
The call is made for government, groups, schools, and individuals to collaborate and turn the National AI For Youth Programme into a reality.
The program will be implemented in schools nationwide, leading to The National AI For Youth Competition, where winners will represent Ghana at the prestigious Intel AI Global Impact Festival.
Prominent speakers, including David A. Ofori, Director of Innovation at NEIP; Lady Fatima Alimohammed, Founder & CEO of African Brand Warrior; and Lady Omega, CEO of Ampersand Technologies, stress the significance of embracing Artificial Intelligence as a transformative tool for the continent.
The Director of Education for Kadjebi District, Seth Seyram Deh, has expressed concerns about the negative effects of teacher attrition on education delivery in the area.
According to him, out of the 99 trained teachers assigned to the district in 2022, 43 had already departed, leaving only 56 remaining.
As of June of the current year, a mere 17 teachers had been newly assigned to the district.
In an interview with the media, Mr. Deh disclosed that if this issue persisted, it could result in a repetition of the situation faced by the district in 2012 when classrooms were left without teachers.
The Human Resource Manager of the Kadjebi District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Nutifafa Agbozo, it was revealed that the district currently required approximately 1,010 teachers for basic education levels.
However, only 831 teachers were presently serving, leaving a shortfall of 179 teachers.
Mr. Agbozo attributed the high rate of teacher attrition in the district to the practice of assigning non-local teachers from outside the Volta and Oti Regions to the district. These teachers, unfamiliar with the geographical area, tended to return to their places of origin after only a few months of service in the district.
He emphasized the need for internal recruitment to address this problem effectively, appealing to the Ghana Education Service for immediate intervention to remedy the situation and ensure the district’s educational well-being.
Ghana Education Service(GES) has disclosed that plans are underway to roll out Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions across all Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) in Ghana.
This is targeted at strengthening teachers’ understanding and adherence to the National Teachers’ Standards (NTS) and getting them ready for the introduction of the new secondary education curriculum which will be rolled-out in the 2024/25 academic year.
A 100-member National Training Team made up of representatives of GES, T-TEL, Senior High Schools, and Colleges of Education have gone through a five-day training to ensure an effective institutionalization and roll-out of the PLC sessions in 726 schools.
According to GES “These weekly PLC sessions have been piloted by GES since 2022 in 12 SHS and SHTS using structured handbooks developed in partnership with the National Teaching Council (NTC)”.
The training was led by GES with support from Professor Jonathan Fletcher, Key Advisor for Teaching and Learning Partnerships at T-TEL.
“Through these sessions, we hope to support teachers to make learning enjoyable, recognising the individual differences of learners and helping them to develop themselves, regardless of their challenges in learning,” Professor Fletcher said.
These weekly PLC sessions, facilitated by trained teachers within each school is to ensure that all teachers are familiar with the National Teachers’ Standards (NTS) and are able to incorporate concepts related to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) in their classrooms.
Mr. Robin Todd, the Executive Director of T-TEL, has emphasised that the success or otherwise of the new secondary education curriculum hinges to a large extent on the effective implementation of weekly PLC sessions in schools with the support of the training teams.
The Ghana Library Authority’s (GLA) CEO, Hayford Siaw, has urged the Ministry of Education and theGhana Education Service (GES) to give the authority control over school libraries in the country.
Mr Siaw believes that the authority is well-positioned to support and operate many of these school libraries, ensuring their improved management and overall state.
Mr Siaw expressed confidence in the authority’s expertise to effectively handle and enhance the functionality of these facilities.
During an interview with the media on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, he made this appeal.
Currently, the authority boasts of a collection of approximately 1.4 million books and has expanded its library network from 61 to 118 branches across the country.
In addition, the authority has established a partnership with a Mobile Network Organization to provide internet services in all library facilities nationwide.
As one of the oldest public institutions in Ghana, the GLA utilizes innovation and technology to meet the evolving demands of education.
“Our commitment to innovation has resulted in 1.5 million library visits last year, and we have the aim to reach 2 million visits by the end of this year,” he revealed.
Mr Siaw further highlighted that the authority has renovated its mobile library vans to reach out to underserved areas, particularly cluster schools lacking proper library facilities.
In conclusion, the CEO of the Ghana Library Authority has called for the incorporation of school libraries into the authority’s management, citing their vision, expertise, and commitment to improving library services across the country.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has rescinded its earlier approval of Tug of War and Pillow Fight as sports in basic and second-cycle schools in the country.
On 2nd May 2023, the Ghana Tug of War/Pillow Fight Federation wrote a letter to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service requesting the approval of the sports.
The GES in a letter dated 18th May, 2023, approved of the two sports and requested Regional Directors to officially inform Metro, Municipal and District Directors and Heads of Second Cycle Institutions that approval has been granted.
But in a statement on 8th June 2023, the GES ordered the suspension of the games. According to the GES, this is to deepen stakeholder engagement on the policy.
The Service has therefore directed all Regional Directors of Education to inform Metro, Municipal, District Directors of Education and Heads of Second Cycle Institutions of the said suspension.
Prior to the suspension, some social media users raised concern over the safety of students who engage in these sporting activities.
Tug of War
Tug of War involves two teams competing against each other in a test of strength. The objective of the game is for each team to pull the rope in opposite directions, with the goal of moving a designated marker on the ground in their favor.
The teams are positioned on either end of a long rope, and they pull the rope with all their strength in an attempt to overpower the opposing team and drag them across a center line or into a marked zone.
The team that successfully moves the marker past the designated line or zone wins the game.
Tug of War requires a combination of physical strength, teamwork, and strategy. It is often played as a recreational activity, as well as a competitive sport at various levels, including local, national, and international competitions.
Pillow Fight
A pillow fight is an activity in which participants engage in mock combat using pillows as “weapons.”
It typically involves individuals or groups engaging in a friendly, non-violent pillow fight. Participants swing pillows at each other, attempting to hit opponents while avoiding being hit themselves.
A Viral photo of Achimota School’s potential NSMQ team has caused social media buzzing.
Conspicuously visible among the students was Tyrone Marhguy, a young man who found himself at the center of a controversy that shook the education sector two years ago.
Tyrone was spotted in the social media post depicting Achimota School’s trial session ahead of the 2023 NSMQ season.
#AchimotaAt96 🎹 Last month, our @nsmqghana team participated in a Trial session as we prepare for the upcoming quiz season.
We encourage all members of our community to reach out to the team and help equip them for a successful season. pic.twitter.com/dyVTDMVoGR
He was one of two boys who cried foul because the school had denied them admission, citing their hairstyle as a violation of the school’s code of conduct.
The Rastafarian students dragged the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Minister of Education, Ghana Education Service, and the Attorney General to court for refusing to enroll them. Achimota School insisted that they comply with the school’s regulations by shaving their dreadlocks.
On May 31, 2021, a High Court ruling directed the school to admit the students.
However, his colleague, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, enrolled at Ghana International School on a scholarship.
In June 2021, following the court ruling, Tyrone Marhguy went to Achimota School and sat for his end-of-term examination just hours after being enrolled.
On the back of the latest development, social media users appear to be reeling over the possibility of this narrative developing into a ‘zero-to-hero’ story as the national quiz takes off soon.
This is not the first time Tyrone has been associated with the school’s NSMQ team.
He was also spotted among the team last year which sparked another conversation regarding his participation.
Find more reactions below:
Very progressive and a beautiful story. Tyrone, the “rasta student” who was nearly denied admission to Achimota School because of his hair. He’s now part of the #Nsmq team of the school. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZzqTUGtgMf— WhyAlwaysEQ (@WhyAlwaysEkow) June 2, 2023
The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for junior high school students is not going to be canceled, according to the Ghana Education Service (GES).
GES explained that it is moving from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, which is likely to change the nature and form of the BECE.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the grading system by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Director General of GES, Dr. Eric Nkansah, said reports of the purported cancellation of the BECE are untrue.
“We are not cancelling the BECE. What is confusing people or some of our people is that we are now moving away from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, and it does not mean that those on the standards-based curriculum will not write BECE. They will also write but perhaps the nature and form may change. So please don’t communicate that we are not writing BECE.”
The Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) is conducted by WAEC and serves as a standard exam for junior high school graduates who are about to enter senior high school.
In partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and with support from the GIZ Governance for Inclusive Development Programme, co-funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has successfully conducted awareness sessions on prohibited cyber activities and related issues in selected Senior High Schools located in the Eastern Region.
The five-day sensitisation programme which targeted some selected Senior High Schools in the Eastern Region started on the 15th May, 2023 and ended on 19th May, 2023.
The objectives of the programme was to create awareness on the mandate of EOCO, Prohibited Cyber Activities and the rippling effects these activities have on individuals (perpetrators and victims), families, businesses and the country as a whole.
The programme benefitted over Twenty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and twelve (29,512) students made up of 14,316 male students and 15,196 female students.
The beneficiary schools included Akuse Methodist Senior High School, Akro Senior High, Manyakrobo Senior High, Ghana Senior High, and New Jaubeng Senior High School. Others were Oti Boateng Senior High School, Larteh Presby Senior High School, Mampong Presby Senior High School, Adonteng Senior High School, Okuapemman Senior High School and Nifa Senior High School. Also, Yilokrobo Senior High School, Suhum Senior High School, Abuakwah State College, Nsawam Senior High School, St. Martin Senior High School benefitted from the programme.
In an introductory remark, the Eastern Regional Director, Mr. Justice Agbemava stated the purpose of the visit and gave a brief overview of the spate of cybercrime activities in the country and their negative effects on the nation and the individuals who are involved. He also added that despite various efforts being implemented by the Office to curb this menace, statistics still reveal that Ghana is increasingly becoming a hub for cybercrime activities hence the need for EOCO to reach as many young people as they can to spread awareness of this menace.
Head of Public Affairs, EOCO, Mrs. Faustina Lartey in her presentation, stressed on how the use of the internet has made the world a global village. She stated that despite the many positive things that the internet can be used for, some recalcitrant persons have resorted to using it for unexplainable negativities such as cybercrime.
She mentioned, Romance and Dating Scam, Mobile Money Fraud, Scholarship Scam, Hacking, Advance Fee Fraud (419), Examination Results Scam, Spam, Phishing and Identity Theft among others. While explaining these various types of cybercrimes to the students, she mentioned that persons engaged in advance fee fraud could spend up to twenty-five years’ imprisonment when convicted.
In addition, she emphasized that ignorance of the law is no excuse and that children who engage in these crimes could end up in the Juvenile Correctional Centre.
Mrs. Faustina Lartey, encouraged students who are engaged in hacking, that as a matter of urgency, should desist from it. She advised them to concentrate on their studies to pass their exams and apply for a course in “Ethical Hacking” and its related courses rather than becoming black hackers.
She concluded by stating that, it is important that Ghanaians work hard to maintain a positive global image of the country in order to appeal to foreign investors and make it a more attractive tourist destination. She further encouraged all persons present, to report perpetrators of cybercrimes to EOCO and other law enforcement agencies stressing on the protection of privacy and safety of complainants.
Also embedded in the presentation was a special message for all students from the Executive Director – EOCO, Mrs. Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah encouraging students to take their studies seriously and desist from engaging in criminal activities which could end up truncating their educational ambitions.
Heads and teachers of the beneficiary schools numbering about 167 were elated and encouraged the team to make routine visits to remind students of the need to desist from engaging in such criminal activities and also pledged to share the information with family and friends who were not privileged to benefit from the programme.
Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), Doughlas Haruna, who was interdicted over the alleged conversion of washrooms into dormitories has reportedly been reinstated.
The GES in a statement issued dated April 16, the Regional Director of Education asked both the head and senior housemaster to step aside for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The Headmaster and the Senior Housemaster have been directed to step aside to allow for further investigations into the matter by the Regional Director of Education and report back in two weeks,” the statement signed by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo disclosed.
On the matter, Mr Haruna denied the claim of washrooms being converted into dormitories to address accommodation challenges in the school.
Following this, many organisations called on the GES to immediately reverse the decision.
Amongst the organisations and persons were the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Builsa South MP Dr Clement Abass and Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu.
For GNAT, it said the move by the GES would affect the confidence of the embattled headmaster, Doughlas Haruna.
An official communique from the Ghana Education Service to confirm the report is yet to be obtained.
Also, it is unknown whether the GES has completed its investigations into the matter.
TheSafe School campaign, which was started in 2018 to address the issues of the incidence of violence in schools, has had its logo outdoored by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Held in Accra last Thursday, the outdoor also saw the launch of the Safe School Annual Awards scheme, which is to recognise and reward schools, teachers and students who demonstrate attitudes and behaviours consistent with the Safe Schools implementation in schools at the district, regional and national levels to motivate other schools and individuals.
The launch, on the theme “Harnessing our collective effort to promote a safe, protective and inclusive school environment”, brought together some stakeholders in the education sector, students and representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Awards
Awards were given to some students who won the National Safe Schools Logo Competition, which was geared towards creating an identity and visibility for the Safe Schools Programme.
The overall winner, from the Fomena T.I Ahmadiya Senior High School in the Ashanti, Ofori Enock Jibril, went away with Gh¢ 7,000.
Hannah Egbenya from the Volta School for the Deaf in the Volta Region, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Fayad of Nyohini Presbyterian Junior High School “B” in the Northern Region and Yasmin Alidu Zendin of the Early Childhood Development Centre at Agona Swedru in the Central Region, received GH¢ 4,000 each.
Safe environment
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mamle Andrews, who read a speech on behalf of the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said for the country to achieve inclusive and quality education, there was a need for the child to have a safe environment devoid of neglect, abuse and maltreatment to have successful outcomes.
“It is for this reason that the ministry and the GES launched the Safe School Programme in 2018 to eradicate all forms of violence in schools,” he said.
Dr Adutwum added that the ministry would continue to support the guidance and counselling units through the GES to intensify the localisation of the Safe Schools programme by training staff, teaching students in schools and classrooms and continuous collaboration with parents, families, communities and relevant stakeholders to see to the programme’s success.
According to him, leveraging individual and collective responsibilities and knowledge would help prevent and adequately respond to school violence and all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying.
Violence-free
The Director-General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, also reiterated that the service believed that the attainment of violence-free schools was a collective responsibility, hence the tagline, “Safe school, a shared responsibility”.
The tagline, he said, emphasised the fact that there was a need for all hands on deck to provide and promote a safe, secure and inclusive environment for learners
“We say thank you to all our partners for your commitment to our quest to rid our schools of all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, sexual harassment and bullying. I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, the Safe School Programme will be a success,” he added.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in the country, Fiachra McAsey, stated that for good quality education, it was important for children to have a safe environment where they could learn and achieve their goals.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has dispatched a committee on a fact-finding expedition to the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale in order to confirm the accuracy of rumors that bathroom cubicles have been converted into a housing facility for students.
This comes after the Ghana Education Service (GES) asked the headmaster and senior housemaster of the school to step aside following a viral video which indicated that students are using converted toilet cubicles as a boys’ dormitory.
The Ghana Education Service’s delegation to the school on Monday morning which was made up of the Deputy Director General of GES,Stephen Kweku Owusu, the Acting Northern Regional Director of Education and others inspected the said Gbanzaba dormitory and the cubicles which were said to be toilet facilities and converted into accommodation.
The Deputy Director General of GES, Stephen Kwaku Owusu speaking to the media said findings of their mission will be made public after the Director General is briefed.
“GES’ management attention was drawn to a video circulating in the media, regarding the management of GHANASCO putting students in a toilet. And we decided that the regional director should come down here to verify the truth of the report. We have received a bit of the report, therefore we decided to come from GES headquarters to find things for ourselves”.
“In a way to corroborate with what is happening in the media or otherwise, that is why I’m here, detailed by the director general of GES to come to the school to find out how the situation is. So that management can make a final decision on this. I will get back to my director and report to him, we will get back to the media on the next line of action,” he said.
Some students have also been speaking to Citi News on the issue.
“The actual fact where they said is toilet is not actually toilet. There’s no feature indicating that it’s a toilet. No one sleeps there,” he stated
Meanwhile, old students of the school have expressed disappointment in the report, insisting that there are enough bed spaces for students in the school.
“We have more than enough space, accommodation for students isn’t a problem at all, let alone to force them to sleep on the floor of the toilet cubicles that were showcased to the whole public,” Alhaji Baba Yakubu, President of the school’s Old Students of Association said.
Due to the delay in paying its members’ professional and skills development allowance, the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) has given notice that it would stop providing its services.
The Union claims that it has waited in vain for the concerned parties to address the issue, together with its members in the Ghana Education Service (GES).
A statement issued by the Union signed by its Secretary, Mark Dankyira Korankye, noted: “We have come to the conclusion that although processes leading to the payment of the allowance have been concluded, our Employer and the Government side are deliberately frustrating the union’s effort in getting this legitimate for our members.”
It noted that leadership of the Union can no more hold the pressure mounting on them by members.
It, therefore, served notice that if no pragmatic steps are put in place towards payment of the allowances, it will withdraw its services.
“If by 15 April 2023, we do not hear of pragmatic and positive measures put in place to ensure payment of the allowances, we will have no option than to resume our strike action which was suspended on 5 January 2023, in good faith and full of trust which has been broken on the side of government,” the statement added.
TEWU, whose members include bursars, cooks, cleaners, administrators, accountants, auditors, among others, called off its nationwide strike last year after a meeting with stakeholders to discuss their grievances.
A committee was set up to deliberate on their grievances after it had called off the strike.
On Wednesday, 13 January 2021, TEWU went on a similar strike over the government’s failure to finalise their conditions of service.
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has petitioned government to engage teacher unions in the creation of policy.
The group explains that as an implementer of policies from the ministry, it is necessary to include its leaders for the intended purpose to be achieved.
Speaking to Citi News, the Greater Accra General Secretary of NAGRAT, Peter Boateng, said this will prevent the opposition to reforms by teachers.
“One of the issues we need to look at is the relationship betweenGES, the policy formulator and the teachers. It’s more or less a master-servant relationship, and it doesn’t promote acceptance of reforms. We think that at the conception stage of the policy, everybody is involved. Getting documents, and having meetings with them is always a problem.”
“Nobody is willing to give information about what they are doing until they are done. When they are done, they call you for a meeting and do a PowerPoint presentation, and then they say they have consulted the unions,” Greater Accra General Secretary of NAGRAT stated.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has refuted claims that it is demanding money from individuals who are hoping to be recruited into the Service.
According to the GES, its attention has been drawn to dubious actions against unsuspecting Nation Builders Corp (NABCO) beneficiaries seeking recruitment into the Service.
The GES has noted that “it is not the practice of the Service to take money from applicants before recruiting them” hence disassociates itself from such allegations.
“These complaints are very disturbing and bring the image of the Service to disrepute.”
“We wish to emphasize that the Service has not contracted any individual to collect any money on its behalf in connection with recruitment,” the GES added.
The general public are advised to report such unscrupulous persons to the police or pay such monies at their risk.
“Ghana Education Service shall not be held liable for such payment.”
Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch Kofi Asare has chided District Directors of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for being silent and cowardly as the government fails to release funds to them to run basic public schools in the country.
Mr. Asare lamented that even as these District Directors are faced with financial challenges, they have remained timid concerning demanding funds for the administration of their schools but have rather looked on as parents are billed to pay for aspects of their children’s education which should be paid for by the government.
He cited the example of an examination fee that is being paid by parents when government is supposed to do so.
He noted that, unlike heads of senior high schools who consistently demand funds to run their schools, district directors have been laid-back and silent over the lack of funds to run basic schools.
Read his full statement below:
As usual, I have a list of District Education Directorates that collected up to GHC15 from pupils to conduct end-of-term exams in public basic schools. I know this is no news-actually a norm! Everyone from the Ministry of Education GH to Ghana Education Service is aware but silent because they have no alternative.
The District Directors, as usual, claim government has not sent any money for exam. I am aware only 12% of the Capitation & Base Grant required for this year was even budgeted by Ken, so I appreciate how basic education will suffer this year too.
While I am not against parental contribution to basic education, I will continue to reiterate that it is the responsibility of the GES under the MOE to fund examinations through the Capitation Grant.
Denying basic school funds and watching teachers tax parents to fund terminal examinations is against the free, compulsory, universal basic education policy and constitutional provision per Article 38(2).
Instead of always pouncing on poor parents to demand cash to fund basic education in the midst of low commitment by government, District Directors should rather muster courage and tell government that they cannot run basic schools with PR.
District Directors of Education must be bold and learn from CHASS to get results. Under the free SHS, immediately CHASS ‘shouts’, a ‘state of emergency’ is declared at the MoE for fear of closure of SHS. Quickly, money is found from nowhere and thrown at them.
This cowardice of District Directors who are responsible for managing basic education will continue to make government even more docile towards financing basic education.
There is too much timidity of leadership at the basic school level to attract any positive response from government.
After a 30 percent raise in the Single Spine Salary Structurefor public sector employees, teachers and staff at the Ghana Education Service (GES) have seen a boost in their basic salary.
This increment took effect from January 1, 2023, and also includes a 15 percent market premium which the government has also agreed to for all teachers and other public sector workers.
The 30 percent is the biggest increment organised labour has secured out of negotiations with the government since 2010 when the government increased the base pay by 20 percent and again by the same margin in 2011.
Since the current administration came to power in 2017, the highest increment has been 12 percent, which was secured in 2017.
The latest increment means the lowest-paid teacher takes home a net salary of GH¢434.01 while the highest-paid teacher takes home a net salary of GH¢8,271.95.
Social Media users have criticised the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Gushegu Districtfor making a student travel 428km to receive Ghc200 award.
Abdul-Latif Fawei who was adjudged the 2022 best student in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the Gushegu district, had to travel 306,4 kilomtres from Wa to Tamale and another 122kilometres to the Gushegu at the invitation of authorities for the award.
The shock has however been the fact that only Ghc200 was concealed in the envelope presented to the awardee and a former student of Gushiegu Senior High school.
Narrating his frustration to the media, he revealed “I went to Gushegu on the 6th March day that was yesterday for the award as best WASSCE student of Gushegu SHS. I was presented with an envelope (containing 200 ghc) by the education director”
Angry social media reactions have greeted the conduct of theEducationDirectorate who took Ghc43,515.00 from the Member of Parliament(MP) from the area in organising the event which coincided with the 66th Independence Day Celebration.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency has denied his involvement in the award of GHc200to the Best WASSCE student in the Gushegu district.
In a release signed by the Gushegu NPP Communication Officer officer, Mohammed Imoro revealed that the MP bore the whole budget of GHC 43,515.00 the District Assembly had presented him as cost of the whole celebration, stressing that the MP had no knowledge that 200 Cedis was going to be awarded to the best 2022 WASSCE student.
A former director general of theGhana Education Service(GES), Charles Aheto Tsegah, has urged the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to switch back to the previous calendar system for second-cycle schools.
In a gbconline.com report, he argued that the new calendar is confusing and disjointed and does not benefit students.
Mr. Aheto-Tsegah called on the two education management institutions to find ways to make students have more contact hours in order to cover the curriculum.
He stated that the current system, which has shortened the academic year, is not conducive to effective learning and does not give students enough time to cover the necessary content.
Mr. Aheto-Tsegah also noted that the new calendar system is causing disruptions in the academic calendar, as some schools are starting at different times and students are missing out on important instructional time.
He suggested that a return to the old calendar system, which had a systematic and comprehensive approach, would be beneficial for both students and teachers.
The former GES Director General emphasized the need for students to have more instructional time to effectively cover the curriculum and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.
He urged the Ministry of Education and the GES to consider this when making decisions about the academic calendar.
A former director-general of the Ghana Education Service(GES), Charles Aheto-Tsegah, has advocated for the closure of schools in the Bawku municipality due to the ongoing chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He made the call on the back of reports that students offered admission to schools in Bawku have turned down the offer.
Sharing his thoughts on the report, the former educationist said the time has come for the government and educational authorities in the area to take drastic and lasting measures to ensure the situation is resolved once and for all.
Making the suggestion to Selorm Adonoo on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah said “no one can tell to what extent the conflict will go, and it has put peoples’ children in danger, so it is better the authorities ensure adequate security measures are put in place to ensure the safety of these students.”
Asked what he thinks of convincing students of schools in the area to report to campus and putting some security measures in place, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah intimated that “the system shouldn’t force students to go to the place because we don’t know when hooligans will enter there and do anything to the students and authorities in the schools.”
“This a good opportunity for the government to close down the schools inBawkuand redistribute the students into other schools so that they can continue their education,” he stressed.
The Free SHS Secretariat in the Upper East Region disclosed the disturbing situation during a media interaction and said the Secretariat was working on providing counselling services for students that were placed in schools in the area.
The Tema Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 28 hardworking teachers for their dedication and performance in teaching.
Each award winner received a television set, citation, and certificate.
This year’s ceremony, which was held on the theme “The transformation agenda of education begins with the teacher,” captured diligent teachers from 2018 to 2022.
Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Greater Accra Regional representative on the Council of State who chaired the programme said Tema had been a citadel of education with good teachers who helped students excel in their academics.
He mentioned that during their days in schools in Tema, the students excelled academically to the extent that the Education Service visited the region to organise unannounced exams to confirm the grades of the students.
Mr E. T. Mensah said with the support of diligent teachers and parental control, the Tema students passed every unannounced quiz with distinction.
He said discipline was at its peak, in those days recalcitrant, and truant students were corporally punished to deter others from adopting unacceptable behaviours and lauded teachers for their work in the life of students.
Mrs. Bernice Ofori, Tema Metro Education Director said teachers made significant impact on the life of students as they were the ones that inspired, challenged, and guided them to come out with their best.
She added that teachers do not only teach their students’ academic subjects but also instill moral values in them.
She said some values included compassion, respect, perseverance, and many other contributions to the personal development of the students since most of their time was spent in school.
Mrs. Ofori also mentioned some challenges teachers go through to manage a diverse student body, navigate challenges in technology, and pedagogy, and adapt to new curricula.
She stressed that teachers needed access to resources, technology, and support from the communities to overcome these challenges they encounter.
Mr. Yohane Armah Ashitey, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive said that the teacher was key to educational transformation in the country.
He said the TMA was taking steps to improve educational infrastructure throughout the Metropolis.
He commended the students for their cultural display and stated that steps were underway to organize an inter-school cultural display competition in the metropolis.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for the publication of the “School placement for sale” committee report.
This comes on the back of the Education Ministry’s alleged refusal to take responsibility for errors and rather dragging GNAT in the widespread scandal that has hit the school placement system.
The Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Mr. Kwasi Kwarteng, according to reports had revealed that janitors and security personnel who were captured as middlemen in the investigative documentary by The Fourth Estate on the controversial ‘Computerised (School) Placement for Sale’ were not employees of the Education Ministry but of the GNAT Hostel.
However, GNAT in reaction to the matter described it as “unfortunate and unbecoming of a body with which we share a common aspiration of guaranteeing the country’s young ones a future of bliss and certainty through education.”
It added: “In view of the attacks by Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng on the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT, we demand the publication of the Committee’s report on ‘School placement for sale’ to assure parents, guardians, and the entire Ghanaian Public and all concerned of its (MOE/GES) continued commitment to upholding standards on the education front.”
Meanwhile, GNAT wants the Director-General to rebuke Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng to refrain from dragging the image of the Association into disrepute on any platform he appears on in the interest of ensuring industrial peace and harmony in the country and the educational front.
“The GNAT is happy that none of its staff was incriminated by the Fourth Estate and hopes that going into the future, the Ministry of Education would plug all loopholes, so that the exercise would not, in the words of Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng, be turned into a marketplace where officials linked to the exercise would exercise their mandate through a network of intermediaries, such as security guards and cleaners, as exposed by the Fourth Estate.
“As a key stakeholder in the sector, GNAT will always collaborate with the Ministry of Education in its efforts to improve the sector but will not condone comments and acts that are intended to tarnish the image of the Association,” GNAT warned in its statement.
Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Kwesi Kwarteng, says majority of students received automatic placement under the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
According to him, the system was able to place about 69.24% of students.
He made the remark on Monday, February 20, 2023, while responding to questions about the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
The remaining 30.76% of students who qualified are expected to undertake self-placement to secure a school.
Speaking on other matters, he noted that it is impossible for students to be placed in schools that they didn’t choose.
“When you miss your first choice, the system will consider you for the second choice,” adding that his outfit examines the available slots and “match it up with the number of remaining students who have to be placed.”
He further noted that there has to be transparency and audit in the protocol system.
The GNAT Hall inAccra is crowded with parents and students who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2022 to get placement.
The center was set up by the Ghana Education Service(GES) to help with both self-placement and replacement of students in available schools in all categories, excerpt category ‘A’ schools.
According to the GES, “Out of the 547,329 candidates who sat for the examination, 538,399 qualified for school placement. out of these, 372,780 candidates have automatically been placed into various schools.”
This leaves a total of “165,601 candidates who will have to do self-placement because they could not be matched to their school of choice.”
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the Deputy Coordinator for Free SHS, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah said “the exercise is going to run for six weeks.”
“We are doing the placement into secondary schools, TVET schools and the new STEM schools” she added.
According to one parent, Meshach Fred Mintah, her daughter who got aggregate 9 could not get placement into her first choice school, Holy Child SHS.
“She was rather offered her 4th choice Suhum SHS. She has worked hard so I want a better school for her to study General science.”
Meanwhile, another parent who got a boarding school for his child said, he wants a Day School for her instead.
Reacting to the activities of middlemen, Nana Afrah Mensah warned parents against dealing with such persons.
“The only accredited people you can approach are the people wearing tags. If you are a parent and anyone approach to take money from you and place you in any school, report them to us ” she warned.
The GES has also set up help centers in all 16 regional offices to assist with placement issues across the country.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to make changes to the new academic calendar for schools released recently.
The Local Secretary for Kotobabi District, Gideon Pappoe, and the Chairman for Accra Metro West District of the Association, William Yitah, who have been speaking on Joy Prime’sPrime Morning indicated that there was no consultation before the changes.
The teachers, they said, got the information like everyone else after the calendar was published.
According to them, the current rest days for teachers are not adequate. Their concern is that it will cause a lot of stress and tiredness, thus reduce productivity in class.
Speaking to the host, Roselyn Felli, Mr. Pappoe said, “If you look at this calendar, the vacation is like ten or nine days. Was the strike the teachers had about the Director General legit? About him being a professional, an educationist or coming from another place. I believe a proper consultation should have been done because teachers are also stakeholders in education.”
“What goes on during vacation? Every good teacher sits down and does evaluations and analysis of each student. So at the end of the first term, I have to look at each student’s challenges and positives and know how to plan myself for the next term. Now, I have nine days to do that. You have a class of about 60 or 70, and you have nine days to do that. You also have to rest and spend time with the family. Are nine days enough? Are parents ready to take their kids back to school after nine days?” He quizzed.
He suggested that the previous 25 rest days, despite being less than a month, were a bit sufficient for the teachers.
He also opined that there could be more consultations concerning the amendments before their publication. He thinks there can be a two-year plan to gradually wipe off the new system.
“If it has to get to a point whereby we have to cut one term off to go by the system, it is done. It’s our education system; it can be structured in a way to fit in,” he said.
Adding his opinion to the teachers’ strike about the director-general issue, the Accra Metro West District Chairman of the Association indicated that “it’s not about his competence but the nature of the job that he’s tasked to do. He needs to have an in-depth knowledge of what really goes on in the GES.”
He cautioned the GES not to appoint people who are not professional educators to lead the sector.
As to whether the new calendar will help improve the students’ academics, he said, “It will have an untold hardship on even the children themselves.”
He further revealed that the pressure from GES is having a ripple effect on teachers, as most of them are facing health challenges and even death.
Although the Association is not against the reintroduction of the old academic calendar, they believe it can be done gradually instead of in a rush.
Even though the Association is not satisfied with the changes, Mr. Yitah said “they will manage it with pain” in order to help the students.
Meanwhile, the chairman has notified the public that the Association is putting measures in place to appeal to the GES to make changes to the new calendar.
The ranking member of the Parliament’s education committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to postpone the February 20 reporting deadline for freshmen entering Senior High Schools.
The Akatsi North lawmaker argued that parents will be financially stressed should the government decide to go ahead with such a short reporting notice for freshers considering that the GES is yet to release the school placements for the 2022 BECE graduates.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe said the February 20 date is further going to disrupt the already stressed academic calendar which the GES is trying to rectify by bringing it back to the usual September to July period from the current January to December.
“It is going to affect the calendar because even February 20 is not feasible, and I am of the view that the reopening date should be on March 1.”
He said the prospectus of students varies with respective schools and so ample time should be given to enable parents the time to raise the necessary funds to buy them.
“What you will buy and need to take to the school depends on the school the student will be attending, and I will advise that time should be given to give parents some relief.”
He also urged the government to take measures to resolve the accommodation challenges confronting senior high schools across the country so the double-track system can be abolished.
“Every year, numbers increase, so it should be the priority of authorities to plan ahead and complete all projects on our various school campuses. We should give GETFund enough funds to complete all these uncompleted projects to eliminate the double-track system.”
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe was commenting on the decision of the Ghana Education Service to return to the old academic calendar which was adjusted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who have received placement into various Senior High Schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutions are expected to report to school on February 20, 2023.
This is part of the timetable the Ghana Education Service (GES) has released for the academic year for all SHSs and also basic schools.
The timetable comes ahead of the release of the placements by the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The SHS timetable is in two categories — that for schools under the double-track system and that for those that will run a single stream.
Under the double-track system, freshers are expected to report to school on February 20 and stay in school until April 13 when the first part of the first semester is expected to be over.
They will, however, be required to return to school on June 9, 2023 and stay until August 10, when they will take a second break.
The last lap of the first year begins on September 18 and ends on November 30, 2023, when the students would have completed the second semester of the first year.
For freshers going to schools running the single track, the timetable is slightly different.
For instance, even though they will report on the same day as their counterparts in the double-track schools, they will break on April 5, resume on April 17 and stay until September 15 when their academic calendar will end.
Meanwhile, Form Two students in the double-track system will head home on February 18 and return to school on April 11 till June 1, 2023 for yet another break.
They will be expected to return to school on August 14 until November 30, when the academic year will be over for them.
Meanwhile, their counterparts in the single track, who reported to school on the same date, January 10, will go home on April 6, resume on April 17 and remain until August 25, 2023, when the academic year will end for them.
Final-year students of both the double track and the single stream who reported to school on January 10 will take an 11-day break from April 6 to 16 and return to school on April 17 until June 1 for yet another seven-day break, before going back on June 9 until they complete writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on September 15, 2023.
Transitional calendar
The academic calendar, described as a “transitional”, has been scheduled in such a way that there are two cohorts of students in school at any given time for the double-track schools.
Explaining, the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of Quality and Access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, said the timetable was designed to ensure that over the years, “all students will complete a minimum of 3,134 hours, averaging 1,134 hours per year”.
On the calendar for kindergarten, primary and junior high schools (JHSs), the first term spans January 10 to March 24, while the second term begins from April 3 to June 15.
The third term begins from June 27 to September 14, 2023, while for JHS Three students, the third term begins from June 27 until the end of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which will be written in September this year.
Directive
A letter signed and issued by Dr Tandoh to all regional directors of education asked them to ensure that all heads of basic and second-cycle schools in their respective regions took note of the calendar and complied accordingly to facilitate the smooth running of the academic year.
The letter, titled: “2023 Academic calendar for all Ghana Education Service schools”, wished all staff a successful and productive 2023.
The immediate past Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwah says he and the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum must take full responsibility for the fraudulent acts exposed in the Computerised Selection School Placement System (CSSPS).
Reacting to the “School Placement for Sale” documentary in an interview with JoyNews on Monday, Prof. Amankwah explained that he wrote to the Criminal Investigations Department of Ghana Police while he was in office, to deal with the alleged corruption issues in the CSSPS.
This, he said was part of measures to accept his responsibility as the Head of GES to ensure that corruption-related matters with CSSPS are dealt with.
“If there is fraud in the matter then myself as Director General and the Minister should take responsibility.
“I fully accept that and I fully agree, but that is also the reason why I knew that I am part of it, I took measures to ensure that the issues relating to corruption and payment of monies and things like that have been dealt with and I wrote to the CID and the PMI,” he stated.
This comes after The Fourth Estate released its new documentary ‘School Placement for Sale’.
The documentary captures parents, guardians and officials in charge of the school placement, making deals to put wards in desired institutions.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has assured that persons found wanting in the expose will be dealt with as he promises to work with the relevant security agencies.
“If this is going on, there is a cartel. It has to be stopped and I will work with security agencies to make sure this does not happen under me as the Minister for Education.
“Free SHS is not for sale, so if anybody thinks they can manipulate the system and do something untoward, it has to be stopped,” he told JoyNews.
