THE Head of the Research Department of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Joshua J. K. Baku, has urged teachers to assess their students regularly to enable them to focus on their academic programmes.
He said continuous assessment of students enabled them to appreciate their standards and improve upon their weaknesses and also help boost their confidence especially during their final examinations instead of relying on foreign materials.
Mr Baku gave the advice during the first Ashanti Regional WAEC seminar in Kumasi, which was organised by WAEC and attended by teachers and students from selected senior high schools (SHSs) in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He described assessment as a technique to promote improvement in education in a holistic way and called on teachers and organisations involved in the assessment of students to appreciate its role in the education curricula and include it in their programmes.
Mr A. Owusu-Achiaw, Headmaster of Prempeh College, who chaired the programme, advised teachers to make assessment a priority and consider it an integral part of education.
He also urged them to endeavour to standardise the assessment of their students through class and group work and also offer them deserving marks to enable the students to concentrate on their academic programmes.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
WORKSHOP ON BURULI ULCER (PAGE 43)
A FIVE-DAY training programme on early detection and reporting of Buruli ulcer has been held for focal persons in Amansie Central District, one of the most endemic areas of the disease in the Ashanti Region.
There were 240 focal persons in attendance. The programme was organised by Health Foundation of Ghana (HFG), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), with support from Fontilles Lucha Contra La Lepra, a Spanish NGO, while the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NBUCP), the Amansie Central District Assembly, the District Health Directorate and the Ghana Education Service (GES) were collaborators.
The participants included 80 community-based surveillance volunteers, 80 school health educational programme co-ordinators, 40 community health workers and 40 members of staff of St Peter’s Hospital at Jacobu.
Since 2005, new cases of Buruli ulcer totalling 3,033 have been recorded nation-wide.
The programme was to equip the participants with skills and knowledge to detect and also report Buruli ulcer at its early stages and increase awareness of the disease through information, education and communication.
As part of its programme, Health Foundation Ghana would additionally undertake public education in selected communities and provide medical and theatre support for the district’s Buruli ulcer referral centre at Jacobu.
The HFG has been associated with Buruli ulcer in the Amansie area since 1996 when they undertook research into the treatment of the disease at St Martins Hospital at Agroyesum.
Between 2002 and 2008, the NGO trained over 750 community health volunteers, teachers and health workers in a number of districts who in turn undertook various activities in connection with the disease in their respective communities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at Jacobu, the Country Director of HFG, Mrs Lynda Arthur, stressed the need to remove the myths and stigma associated with the disease.
Participants at the training programme were informed that Buruli ulcer is covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme and urged to them report to the recognised health facilities anywhere in the country for treatment.
She urged health professionals and other health workers in the country to be abreast of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) current treatment recommendations for the disease to enable them to disseminate vital information to affected families and communities.
Mrs Arthur commended Fontilles for the support to Buruli ulcer endemic communities in the country.
The Amansie District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Matthew Tay, pledged the district assembly’s support to fight the disease.
Mr Charles Yeboah, a representative of the NBUCP, was confident that the efforts to control the disease would yield positive results because of the multi-sectoral approach adopted in the district.
The District Director of Health Services, Madam Agnes Adu, gave the assurance that her outfit was poised to team up with other stakeholders to control the disease.
There were 240 focal persons in attendance. The programme was organised by Health Foundation of Ghana (HFG), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), with support from Fontilles Lucha Contra La Lepra, a Spanish NGO, while the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NBUCP), the Amansie Central District Assembly, the District Health Directorate and the Ghana Education Service (GES) were collaborators.
The participants included 80 community-based surveillance volunteers, 80 school health educational programme co-ordinators, 40 community health workers and 40 members of staff of St Peter’s Hospital at Jacobu.
Since 2005, new cases of Buruli ulcer totalling 3,033 have been recorded nation-wide.
The programme was to equip the participants with skills and knowledge to detect and also report Buruli ulcer at its early stages and increase awareness of the disease through information, education and communication.
As part of its programme, Health Foundation Ghana would additionally undertake public education in selected communities and provide medical and theatre support for the district’s Buruli ulcer referral centre at Jacobu.
The HFG has been associated with Buruli ulcer in the Amansie area since 1996 when they undertook research into the treatment of the disease at St Martins Hospital at Agroyesum.
Between 2002 and 2008, the NGO trained over 750 community health volunteers, teachers and health workers in a number of districts who in turn undertook various activities in connection with the disease in their respective communities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at Jacobu, the Country Director of HFG, Mrs Lynda Arthur, stressed the need to remove the myths and stigma associated with the disease.
Participants at the training programme were informed that Buruli ulcer is covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme and urged to them report to the recognised health facilities anywhere in the country for treatment.
She urged health professionals and other health workers in the country to be abreast of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) current treatment recommendations for the disease to enable them to disseminate vital information to affected families and communities.
Mrs Arthur commended Fontilles for the support to Buruli ulcer endemic communities in the country.
The Amansie District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Matthew Tay, pledged the district assembly’s support to fight the disease.
Mr Charles Yeboah, a representative of the NBUCP, was confident that the efforts to control the disease would yield positive results because of the multi-sectoral approach adopted in the district.
The District Director of Health Services, Madam Agnes Adu, gave the assurance that her outfit was poised to team up with other stakeholders to control the disease.
5 TO CONTEST COUNCIL OF STATE IN ASHANTI REGION (PAGE 13)
FIVE people in the Ashanti Region, including a 75-year-old renowned industrialist, Mr Akenten Appiah-Minkah, are contesting for the slot of a regional representative to the Council of State.
The Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the Ashanti Region, Mr Isaac Owusu, said 10 people picked up nomination forms, but at the close of nominations on January 27, 2009, only five of the candidates had duly filed and returned their forms to the EC.
The rest of the candidates were Rev. George Antwi, 63, Senior Pastor of the Living Hope Baptist Church at Odum, Kumasi; Nana Asiama Poku Afrifa, 71, a traditional ruler and farmer from Toase; Mr Joseph Alexander Sarkodie Tuffuor, 77, Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency in 1992, who is a general contractor and farmer, and Mr Kwame Gyawu-Kyem, 82, a former Editor of the Ghanaian Times and Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima in 1992.
Speaking on the rules of the game, Mr Owusu said the Constitutional Instrument on the regional representation on the Council of State allows a person from a particular region to stand for election as a member of the Council of State.
He quoted the instrument, saying a non-Ghanaian was not qualified to be elected as a representative to the council.
"The person must be a registered voter, resident in or hail from the region from which he seeks representation."
Again, he explained that a candidate must be someone who had not been disqualified to stand for national elections or disqualified to hold or act in any public office.
The Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the Ashanti Region, Mr Isaac Owusu, said 10 people picked up nomination forms, but at the close of nominations on January 27, 2009, only five of the candidates had duly filed and returned their forms to the EC.
The rest of the candidates were Rev. George Antwi, 63, Senior Pastor of the Living Hope Baptist Church at Odum, Kumasi; Nana Asiama Poku Afrifa, 71, a traditional ruler and farmer from Toase; Mr Joseph Alexander Sarkodie Tuffuor, 77, Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency in 1992, who is a general contractor and farmer, and Mr Kwame Gyawu-Kyem, 82, a former Editor of the Ghanaian Times and Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima in 1992.
Speaking on the rules of the game, Mr Owusu said the Constitutional Instrument on the regional representation on the Council of State allows a person from a particular region to stand for election as a member of the Council of State.
He quoted the instrument, saying a non-Ghanaian was not qualified to be elected as a representative to the council.
"The person must be a registered voter, resident in or hail from the region from which he seeks representation."
Again, he explained that a candidate must be someone who had not been disqualified to stand for national elections or disqualified to hold or act in any public office.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
PARENTS MUST SUPPORT SCHOOL BOARDS (PAGE 11)
THE Director of the Gonzalez Educational Complex in Kumasi, Reverend Stephen Acquah, has asked parents to support school management boards to provide quality education, particularly at the basic level.
Rev Acquah noted that the critical challenge of education in the country was to make basic education more effective.
He made the remarks in Kumasi in connection with the first anniversary celebration of the school on the theme, 'Focusing on Child Training Technology'.
Rev Acquah said teaching is not an easy job but with the co-operation of parents and other stakeholders, teachers would be motivated to offer their best to lay a solid foundation for the children entrusted to their care.
'Without a fortified foundation at the basic level, whatever system you adopt in teaching will not be successful', he stressed.
He said the Gonzalez School needed the assistance of parents to train the children in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and also to put up a permanent school block and provide logistics for the school.
For his part, the Chairman of the school's Parent -Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Mark Asare Donkor, said education was very expensive all over the world but parents should think of its benefits and invest in their children and help them to become responsible people in the future.
Mr Donkor pleaded with the school board to fence the campus to protect the children from going outside.
The Director of Ghana Inland Mission, Rev E.K. Basoah, said parents should go the extra mile to train their children to take the mantle as future leaders.
He advised that parents should not leave their children at home when going to church, but make it a habit to always go with them.
Rev Acquah noted that the critical challenge of education in the country was to make basic education more effective.
He made the remarks in Kumasi in connection with the first anniversary celebration of the school on the theme, 'Focusing on Child Training Technology'.
Rev Acquah said teaching is not an easy job but with the co-operation of parents and other stakeholders, teachers would be motivated to offer their best to lay a solid foundation for the children entrusted to their care.
'Without a fortified foundation at the basic level, whatever system you adopt in teaching will not be successful', he stressed.
He said the Gonzalez School needed the assistance of parents to train the children in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and also to put up a permanent school block and provide logistics for the school.
For his part, the Chairman of the school's Parent -Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Mark Asare Donkor, said education was very expensive all over the world but parents should think of its benefits and invest in their children and help them to become responsible people in the future.
Mr Donkor pleaded with the school board to fence the campus to protect the children from going outside.
The Director of Ghana Inland Mission, Rev E.K. Basoah, said parents should go the extra mile to train their children to take the mantle as future leaders.
He advised that parents should not leave their children at home when going to church, but make it a habit to always go with them.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
WATER COMPANY ASSURES RESIDENTS OF KUMASI (PAGE 29, JAN 26)
THE Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has assured residents of Kumasi that water shortage in the metropolis will become a thing of the past when rehabilitation work on the Barekese and Owabi headwork is completed.
The company, therefore, appealed to consumers to exercise patience as repair work on the machines progressed. The rehabilitation work is expected to be completed by October this year.
This was made known by Mr Asoga Haruna, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the company, in Kumasi.
He said the 38 million euros expansion project being undertaken by Taysec Limited would improve the daily supply of water, explaining that six million gallons of water would be added to increase the water supplied from both the Barekese and the Owabi headwork to 27 million gallons daily.
Mr Haruna noted that the company’s inability to supply water to all parts of the metropolis was the result of low pressure and leakage that prevented suburbs in hilly areas from getting water regularly, while other areas got water very late in the night
He said some of the machines were old and weak, adding that the company was managing the situation through rationing.
“About three months ago we had a breakdown but we could not get spare parts to repair the machines because the company we bought the equipment from is no longer producing the parts,” he told the Daily Graphic.
He, however, indicated that two of the lines had been serviced and were functioning, while work on the third was progressing steadily.
He said new pipelines were also being laid in areas that hitherto were not covered to make water available to all.
The company, therefore, appealed to consumers to exercise patience as repair work on the machines progressed. The rehabilitation work is expected to be completed by October this year.
This was made known by Mr Asoga Haruna, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the company, in Kumasi.
He said the 38 million euros expansion project being undertaken by Taysec Limited would improve the daily supply of water, explaining that six million gallons of water would be added to increase the water supplied from both the Barekese and the Owabi headwork to 27 million gallons daily.
Mr Haruna noted that the company’s inability to supply water to all parts of the metropolis was the result of low pressure and leakage that prevented suburbs in hilly areas from getting water regularly, while other areas got water very late in the night
He said some of the machines were old and weak, adding that the company was managing the situation through rationing.
“About three months ago we had a breakdown but we could not get spare parts to repair the machines because the company we bought the equipment from is no longer producing the parts,” he told the Daily Graphic.
He, however, indicated that two of the lines had been serviced and were functioning, while work on the third was progressing steadily.
He said new pipelines were also being laid in areas that hitherto were not covered to make water available to all.
GHANA POST OFFICIALS WANT THREE TOP OFFICIALS TO RESIGN (PAGE 14)
WORKERS of the Ghana Post Company in Kumasi have embarked on a one-day sit-down strike to press home their demand for the resignation of the managing director (MD) and two other top management members.
They are also demanding the dissolution of the company's board of directors for “woefully failing to perform its duties”.
The call on the three to "resign honourably" was made by the divisional executive council of the Ghana Post division of the communication workers union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress on December 23, 2008.
The three, Mr Kofi Dua-Adonteng, the MD, Mr Kena Ofori Attah, General Manager (Finance) and Mr Seth Obeng, General Manager (Financial Services) have been accused of failure to discharge their duties, thus creating difficulties for the company.
According to the workers, Mr Dua-Adonteng has awarded contracts to himself without recourse to laid-down procedures.
They also alleged that there was overemployment and underutilisation of some staff in the company.
The workers further said due to mismanagement, some quality products of the company had been phased out of the system, citing phone cards and sale of passport forms.
According to them, when the MD assumed office in 2004, the company had surplus revenue of GH¢600,000, but it was currently indebted to the tune of GH¢7,500,000.
Again, Mr Dua-Adonteng was accused of taking action to consider the payments of retirees' benefits and staff legitimate claims.
Mr Obeng was, on the other hand, accused of seriously mismanaging the instant money transfer (IMT) business, resulting in the less GH¢3,365.00.
When the Daily Graphic called on the Ashanti Regional Director, Mr Yaw Addo Larbi, he declined to comment, with the explanation that he was not at post when the Kumasi staff embarked on the sit-down strike.
However, he stated that some amount of money had been released for the payment of staff claims and other benefits, while other concerns were under consideration.
They are also demanding the dissolution of the company's board of directors for “woefully failing to perform its duties”.
The call on the three to "resign honourably" was made by the divisional executive council of the Ghana Post division of the communication workers union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress on December 23, 2008.
The three, Mr Kofi Dua-Adonteng, the MD, Mr Kena Ofori Attah, General Manager (Finance) and Mr Seth Obeng, General Manager (Financial Services) have been accused of failure to discharge their duties, thus creating difficulties for the company.
According to the workers, Mr Dua-Adonteng has awarded contracts to himself without recourse to laid-down procedures.
They also alleged that there was overemployment and underutilisation of some staff in the company.
The workers further said due to mismanagement, some quality products of the company had been phased out of the system, citing phone cards and sale of passport forms.
According to them, when the MD assumed office in 2004, the company had surplus revenue of GH¢600,000, but it was currently indebted to the tune of GH¢7,500,000.
Again, Mr Dua-Adonteng was accused of taking action to consider the payments of retirees' benefits and staff legitimate claims.
Mr Obeng was, on the other hand, accused of seriously mismanaging the instant money transfer (IMT) business, resulting in the less GH¢3,365.00.
When the Daily Graphic called on the Ashanti Regional Director, Mr Yaw Addo Larbi, he declined to comment, with the explanation that he was not at post when the Kumasi staff embarked on the sit-down strike.
However, he stated that some amount of money had been released for the payment of staff claims and other benefits, while other concerns were under consideration.
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