THE Director of the Institute of Education at the University of Cape Coast, Professor James Adu Opare, has stressed the need for teachers to regularly undertake professional development programmes as a way of improving their capacity and make them more proficient.
He noted that the diploma and degree programmes being instituted for basic education courses are meant to build the capacity of teachers in a more proficient way to enhance effective delivery in the classrooms.
Prof. Opare said it was only when teachers were able to meet the needed requirements and became skillful in their delivery that the standard of education in the country would improve.
The Director was speaking at the graduation ceremony of St. Louis College of Education in Kumasi, where a total of 1,258 diplomates graduated.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Improved Teacher Quality, a basis for National Development’ Professor Opare said it was important for teachers to be abreast of technology and other teaching and learning materials as a way of boosting their confidence in their service delivery.
He said the requisite qualification and proficiency in service delivery on the part of teachers would also impact positively on the human resource development to enhance accelerated national development.
Prof. Opare said since capacity building of teachers had direct correlation with national development, it was important for the government to support the professional training of teachers in diverse ways as a way of motivating them to upgrade their skills.
The Principal of the College, Mrs Mary Anane Druyeh, commended the Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for taking up the challenge of helping to implement government’s policy on human resource development of the country.
She said the programme was impacting positively on the educational reform target of training highly qualified teachers in every classroom .
Re-affirming that teachers were the central actors of every country’s human resource development, Mrs Druyeh said, it was for this reason that the GES had put in place the “Sandwich Programme” to enable teachers to build their capacity more meaningfully.
She stated that among other things, the programme has reduced the number of practising teachers without the national minimum teacher qualification for teaching in Basic Schools in the country.
Mrs Druyeh advised the graduates to be committed to the profession and also work extra hard for them to win the confidence of their students all the time.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
CEDEP TO HELP REDUCE HIV/AIDS (PAGE 29, AUGUST 19, 2010)
Executive members of the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) say they will collaborate with stakeholders to sustain the needed education to the public to reverse the spread of HIV AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
The Executive Director of CEDEP, Mr Patrick Amoateng-Mensah, who gave the assurance, said reversing the spread of such diseases would help the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Speaking at the official launch of the Ashanti Regional chapter of Fair Play for Africa campaign on the theme :“Reduction of HIV Aids stigma among women”, Mr Amoateng-Mensah said although Ghana had made efforts at increasing financial resources for the health sector over the years, the target of 15 per cent to support the sector was yet to be attained.
This, he said, had affected the efficient and effective medical care delivery in the country, stressing “hospitals and clinics remained ill-equipped, staff are inadequate, while women and girls of reproductive age continue to die from preventable pregnancy-related conditions”.
Mr Amoateng-Mensah announced that CEDEP supported societies that promote social, economic and civic rights of people in pursuance of equitable and sustainable human development with focus on education.
In her address, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom, Mrs Elizabeth Agyemang, said Ghana had made substantial progress towards achieving the MDG indicators.
She, however, noted that the progress had been slow and regretted that stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with the HIV AIDS had undermined the ability of individuals, families and communities to adequately protect themselves or provide support to others affected by the disease.
The MP advised women to lead morally upright lifestyles and also offer themselves to be screened and vaccinated against certain diseases to improve their health.
She said it was equally important for them to abstain from casual and pre-marital sex.
The Campaign Co-ordinator, Mrs Della Bright Kokroko, said Fair Play Ghana would campaign throughout 2010 by utilising key national and global movements to implement various activities to achieve its campaign objectives.
In an address read on his behalf, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, observed that the AIDS stigma had created enormous barriers to public health programmes.
He said it was therefore, important for all stakeholders to be creative in designing HIV AIDS interventions, policies and programmes for implementation to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
The Executive Director of CEDEP, Mr Patrick Amoateng-Mensah, who gave the assurance, said reversing the spread of such diseases would help the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Speaking at the official launch of the Ashanti Regional chapter of Fair Play for Africa campaign on the theme :“Reduction of HIV Aids stigma among women”, Mr Amoateng-Mensah said although Ghana had made efforts at increasing financial resources for the health sector over the years, the target of 15 per cent to support the sector was yet to be attained.
This, he said, had affected the efficient and effective medical care delivery in the country, stressing “hospitals and clinics remained ill-equipped, staff are inadequate, while women and girls of reproductive age continue to die from preventable pregnancy-related conditions”.
Mr Amoateng-Mensah announced that CEDEP supported societies that promote social, economic and civic rights of people in pursuance of equitable and sustainable human development with focus on education.
In her address, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom, Mrs Elizabeth Agyemang, said Ghana had made substantial progress towards achieving the MDG indicators.
She, however, noted that the progress had been slow and regretted that stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with the HIV AIDS had undermined the ability of individuals, families and communities to adequately protect themselves or provide support to others affected by the disease.
The MP advised women to lead morally upright lifestyles and also offer themselves to be screened and vaccinated against certain diseases to improve their health.
She said it was equally important for them to abstain from casual and pre-marital sex.
The Campaign Co-ordinator, Mrs Della Bright Kokroko, said Fair Play Ghana would campaign throughout 2010 by utilising key national and global movements to implement various activities to achieve its campaign objectives.
In an address read on his behalf, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, observed that the AIDS stigma had created enormous barriers to public health programmes.
He said it was therefore, important for all stakeholders to be creative in designing HIV AIDS interventions, policies and programmes for implementation to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
Friday, August 13, 2010
UNEMPLOYED JAILED 10 YEARS FOR STEALING (MIRROR, PAGE 27, AUGUST 14, 2010)
From Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Kumasi.
A KUMASI Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, has sentenced an unemployed man to 10 years jail term for unlawful entry to another person’s premises.
Tuffik Moro, 18, was convicted on his own plea for taking away some phones, DVD, LCD and other electrical gadgets valued over several hundreds of cedis.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei told the court that on August 1, 2010, a witness in the case woke up at about 2.10 am to go out and urinate only to see two young men scale the fence wall.
Moments after raising alarm the tenants arrested the convict, Moro, while his accomplice managed to outwit his pursuers.
When a search was conducted on Moro a Nokia, Sonny Errickson, and LG cell phones totalling over GH¢125. 00 were found on him. Again, another search from a Benz car with registration number GE 170 X packed in the yard revealed that a car radio and its booster had disappeared.
Moro allegedly admitted the offences during interrogation but denied being to the complainant’s residence to steal any car tape and booster.
Madam Baffuor-Kyei told the court that the convict in his caution statement mentioned one Kofi Adwuo as his accomplice but failed to assist the police to cause his arrest.
The convict is alleged to have stated that he and Adwuo went to Kotei, a suburb of Kumasi, and on their return at about 12 mid-night they reached ‘a certain house’ where his accomplice asked him to wait and keep watching.
A KUMASI Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, has sentenced an unemployed man to 10 years jail term for unlawful entry to another person’s premises.
Tuffik Moro, 18, was convicted on his own plea for taking away some phones, DVD, LCD and other electrical gadgets valued over several hundreds of cedis.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei told the court that on August 1, 2010, a witness in the case woke up at about 2.10 am to go out and urinate only to see two young men scale the fence wall.
Moments after raising alarm the tenants arrested the convict, Moro, while his accomplice managed to outwit his pursuers.
When a search was conducted on Moro a Nokia, Sonny Errickson, and LG cell phones totalling over GH¢125. 00 were found on him. Again, another search from a Benz car with registration number GE 170 X packed in the yard revealed that a car radio and its booster had disappeared.
Moro allegedly admitted the offences during interrogation but denied being to the complainant’s residence to steal any car tape and booster.
Madam Baffuor-Kyei told the court that the convict in his caution statement mentioned one Kofi Adwuo as his accomplice but failed to assist the police to cause his arrest.
The convict is alleged to have stated that he and Adwuo went to Kotei, a suburb of Kumasi, and on their return at about 12 mid-night they reached ‘a certain house’ where his accomplice asked him to wait and keep watching.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 11, AUGUST 11, 2010)
THE government and stakeholders in education have been urged to help make science and technology the pivot around which the socio-economic development of the country revolves.
“ Rigorous Science and Technology agenda is needed. Technological innovations could propel Ghana to a higher pedestal in the world of technology”.
The Dean of the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Reynolds Okai, said this when he addressed a three-day Science, Technology and Innovation camp for 730 Junior High School students selected from the Ashanti Region at the Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School in Kumasi.
It was on the theme ‘Gender Equality in Science, Technology and Innovations for Better Ghana.’
The camp was aimed at helping students to use the application of science to develop projects, and also encourage pupils in basic schools to study Science and Technology related subjects in senior high school.
Prof. Okai observed that the country had seen major transformations over the past years and had chalked up successes in the construction of science resource centres including the introduction of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Get Fund).
“Yet our educational system appears to be tilting towards one direction as the humanities appears to dominate the sciences,” said Professor Okai.
He called on all stakeholders, the government, parents, teachers, industries and institutions involved in science delivery to assist in tackling the problem.
Prof Okai urged the government to ensure that institutions mandated to teach Science and Technology had well equipped laboratories.
He lamented at the deplorable state of the Science laboratories and workshops at the various second cycle schools across the country.
“The government could generate interest in the youth to pursue science and technology related courses by providing scholarship packages for all students who opt for science and technology at the technical and senior high schools. The government could also absorb a certain proportion of their school fees, ” he suggested.
Prof. Okai advised students to translate what they had learnt in the classroom into reality.
In her welcome address, Mrs Gladys Amaning, the Kumasi Metro Director of Education, said Science and Technology had been rekindled to a higher level and urged the coordinators of the programme to help organise more of such camp projects as a means to encourage children to study science.
Madam Emma Amoateng Mensah, Director of Girls Education at the Regional Education Office, said the Ghana Education Service had put in place a mechanism to ensure that young students especially the girl-child got equal access to Science and Technology as their male counter-parts.
“ Rigorous Science and Technology agenda is needed. Technological innovations could propel Ghana to a higher pedestal in the world of technology”.
The Dean of the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Reynolds Okai, said this when he addressed a three-day Science, Technology and Innovation camp for 730 Junior High School students selected from the Ashanti Region at the Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School in Kumasi.
It was on the theme ‘Gender Equality in Science, Technology and Innovations for Better Ghana.’
The camp was aimed at helping students to use the application of science to develop projects, and also encourage pupils in basic schools to study Science and Technology related subjects in senior high school.
Prof. Okai observed that the country had seen major transformations over the past years and had chalked up successes in the construction of science resource centres including the introduction of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Get Fund).
“Yet our educational system appears to be tilting towards one direction as the humanities appears to dominate the sciences,” said Professor Okai.
He called on all stakeholders, the government, parents, teachers, industries and institutions involved in science delivery to assist in tackling the problem.
Prof Okai urged the government to ensure that institutions mandated to teach Science and Technology had well equipped laboratories.
He lamented at the deplorable state of the Science laboratories and workshops at the various second cycle schools across the country.
“The government could generate interest in the youth to pursue science and technology related courses by providing scholarship packages for all students who opt for science and technology at the technical and senior high schools. The government could also absorb a certain proportion of their school fees, ” he suggested.
Prof. Okai advised students to translate what they had learnt in the classroom into reality.
In her welcome address, Mrs Gladys Amaning, the Kumasi Metro Director of Education, said Science and Technology had been rekindled to a higher level and urged the coordinators of the programme to help organise more of such camp projects as a means to encourage children to study science.
Madam Emma Amoateng Mensah, Director of Girls Education at the Regional Education Office, said the Ghana Education Service had put in place a mechanism to ensure that young students especially the girl-child got equal access to Science and Technology as their male counter-parts.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
SPECIAL LIGHT TOPS THEM ALL (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, PAGE3, AUGUST 4, 2010)
Special Light International School in Kumasi came tops and took home a 24-inch colour television and 24 pieces of mathematical sets after competing in a cultural festival organised for private and public schools in Kumasi.
The competition was organised by Talented African Youth Cultural Group in collaboration with the National Youth Council on the theme, “Sankofa”.
Open Heavens International, Job Foundation International, Bethel Emmanuel School and Emmanuel Education Complex followed in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively. Each school received a standing fan.
Pupils from 13 public and private schools in the Kumasi Metropolis gathered at the Ahinsan Estate Youth Centre to compete in poetry recitals, coral music, drama, cultural and choreography displays.
The splendid performances displayed by the children put the audience on their feet amid intermittent applause throughout the three-hour competition.
In an address read on his behalf, the Chief Executive of Kumasi, Mr Samuel Sarpong, entreated the students to continue to work hard to make the programme popular among their peers to serve as preparatory grounds for theatre studies in schools.
He called for the provision of infrastructure, as well as the right motivation for teachers of drama and culture to enable the students to learn more about their culture.
That, he said, would help prevent the children from copying foreign values which ‘is killing the moral fabric of our society.’
Rev Isaac Kwesi Botwe, a member of the organising team called for public support and sponsorship, so as to be able to sustain the programme.
The competition was organised by Talented African Youth Cultural Group in collaboration with the National Youth Council on the theme, “Sankofa”.
Open Heavens International, Job Foundation International, Bethel Emmanuel School and Emmanuel Education Complex followed in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively. Each school received a standing fan.
Pupils from 13 public and private schools in the Kumasi Metropolis gathered at the Ahinsan Estate Youth Centre to compete in poetry recitals, coral music, drama, cultural and choreography displays.
The splendid performances displayed by the children put the audience on their feet amid intermittent applause throughout the three-hour competition.
In an address read on his behalf, the Chief Executive of Kumasi, Mr Samuel Sarpong, entreated the students to continue to work hard to make the programme popular among their peers to serve as preparatory grounds for theatre studies in schools.
He called for the provision of infrastructure, as well as the right motivation for teachers of drama and culture to enable the students to learn more about their culture.
That, he said, would help prevent the children from copying foreign values which ‘is killing the moral fabric of our society.’
Rev Isaac Kwesi Botwe, a member of the organising team called for public support and sponsorship, so as to be able to sustain the programme.
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