Day: March 2, 2024

Primary three pupils of the Gushegu M/A Primary School in the Northern Region, who are 161 in number, are all crammed in a classroom relatively smaller than the class size.

Aside being massed in the classroom, the pupils do not have enough seats leaving four and more of them sharing a desk while others sit on the bare floor.

? ? ?This came to light when a media team visited the school to monitor its furniture situation.?

? ? ?The desks in the class were arranged very close to each other making free movement in the unventilated classroom impossible.?

? ? ?The classroom was filled so much that some of the pupils sat on the floor very close to the black board leaving little space for entry.??

? ? ?Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) recommended standard class size is 35 pupils per class.

? ? ?During the visit, the pupils were seeing sweating during lesson as the weather was hot.

? ? ?Mr Abdul Razak Abdulai, Primary Three Class Teacher at the school, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, s
aid it was frustrating handling a class of 161 pupils saying he wished the number were lower to ease the stress on him and the children.?

? ? ?He said ‘The weather is hot, and the children are always sweating. They are not comfortable to learn.’

? ? ?He lamented about the inadequate furniture situation of the school saying it compelled the pupils to sit on the floor describing it as terrible.

? ? ?Mr Abdulai said the situation needed immediate intervention appealing for more structures and furniture for the school.

? ? ?The Ghana News Agency spoke with a Clinical Psychologist on the impact of the congestion on pupils’ learning abilities.?

? ? ?Mr Peter Amadu Mintir, Clinical Psychologist at Total Life Enhancement Centre, said overcrowding in an educational environment could lead to increased stress, anxiety, and the feeling of helplessness.

? ? ?He said the pupils’ ability to concentrate could be reduced during lessons and level of frustration heightened.?

? ? ?He stated that the learning outcomes of t
he class three pupils could be impaired because some pupils, who might need extra attention, would not be identified by the teacher due to the large class size.

? ? ?He said, ‘An overcrowded classroom can create discomfort that will impede the ability of individuals to achieve optimal learning outcome.’

? ? ?Mr Mintir added that there might be reduced individualised attention among the pupils, which could further deter them from retaining information.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Accra Technical University, has advised newly admitted students to abide by the University’s rules and regulations in the pursuit of their education.

He admonished the students to take their studies seriously and avoid activities that would affect the reputation of the University.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor gave the advice in Accra during the matriculation ceremony of students to undertake programmes in Bachelor of Technology, Higher National Diploma, and Diploma certificates for the 2023/2024 academic year.

The students took the oath of matriculation administered by Dr Sylvia B.Oppong-Mensah, the Registrar of the University.

In all, almost 11,000 students have been admitted for the 2023/2024 academic year to pursue courses in Engineering and Built Environment, Applied Sciences and Arts and Business.

‘The first reason for your stay at the University is to learn and gain knowledge and skills to contribute to national development,’ he said.

Prof Acakpo
vi encouraged the students not to give up when faced with challenges in their studies, but to make conscious efforts to overcome the obstacles.

He urged them to be determined to? succeed, persevere, and have a vision for their personal growth, adding that ‘ great people do not succeed easily, they go through difficulties.’

The Professor urged the students to visit the University’s website for information and be abreast with the latest news on campus.

He announced that the University had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Universiry in Germany to explore an internship programme.

That, he stressed, would help the students gain international practical experience in their field of discipline.

He assured the students of the University’s enabling teaching environment to succeed and called on them to fully cooperate with management for smooth learning sessions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Samuel Boakye Pobee, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, has advised first year students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa to embrace challenges with courage and resilience.

He said failure and setbacks were inevitable, but they should be viewed as learning experiences that contributed to personal and academic development.

Mr Pobee stated this in Tarkwa when Iduapriem Mine, UMaT and Ladies in Mining and Allied Professions, Ghana (LiMAP-Gh) organised the third edition of this year’s- ‘Start Right, End Well’ Mentorship Programme for first year students.

It was under the theme ‘Optimising the Undergraduate Experience.’

The Managing Director said: ‘We all know that the undergraduate experience is a crucial time in a student’s life, as it sets the stage for their personal and professional growth. As first-year university students, you are embarking on a journey that is both exciting and challenging.

‘Your undergraduate years are a time of immense growth and dis
covery. It is also a time when you will not only acquire knowledge but also develop crucial skills, build lifelong relationships, and lay the foundation for your future success.

He added: ‘I encourage you to empower yourself to take ownership of your education and personal development. Set goals for yourself, both academic and personal, and work diligently to achieve them.’

He recalled that over the past three years, they have been working collaboratively with the UMaT and LiMAP-Gh, to organise two mentorship programmes every year- ‘Start Right, End Well’ for first year’s students, and ‘Exit in Readiness’ for final year students.

The feedback has been commendable from both participants and stakeholders, so we are happy to sponsor this year’s Start Right and, End Well Mentorship programmes.

Over the years, Mr Pobee said the Mine had consistently shown its continuous support for improved educational standards through the provision of infrastructure, and other teaching and learning materials to enhance the q
uality of teaching and learning not only in their host communities but the municipality.

‘In pursuit of this objective, in 2023, we invested over 4 million Ghana cedis in the provision of appropriate educational infrastructure, teaching and learning materials to our host community basic schools. This year, our plan is to invest 7.6 million Ghana cedis on various education and youth development initiatives and projects in the communities.’

‘Through our community scholarship programme, last year we awarded and paid full scholarship of 146 youth across our host communities pursuing various Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related courses in tertiary institutions, with 53 per cent of them studying various courses related to mining’ he further said.

The managing director announced that ‘following this intervention, we are now able to attract skilled labour from our host communities which hitherto was difficult to find. We strongly believe in empowering our youth to foster sustainable deve
lopment within our host communities.

He said it was in furtherance of this objective that they wholeheartedly agreed to jointly organize the third edition of this mentorship programme to provide students with guidance, support and resources they needed to thrive during their time in university.

The Vice Chancellor of the UMaT, Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, thanked Iduapriem Mine for supporting them in this venture, adding ‘Indeed, they are the key stakeholders as far as this programme is concern, they are also funding so many programmes on campus and we are grateful.

In UMaT we try to engage our students and make sure that they pick appropriate skills while on campus so that by the time you graduate you can affect the world positively as you move along.’

Miss Peace Sitsofe Kploayi, Counselor at the Counselling and Student Support Unit, UMaT, for her part said: ‘Tertiary level education must be holistic and for it to be, so you have to take advantage of opportunities that are made for you to have that.

‘The decisions that you make will either make or unmake you, so make them well. And when you start well for which we are here, all other things being equal, you will end well.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Alumni Association of the Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health (FNBSPH), University of Health and Allied Sciences has been inaugurated with a five-member executive inducted into office.

The executive member are: Mr Patrick Agbenu, President; Ms Patricia Kafui Agbozo, Vice President; Mr Raphael Kwabena Angmortey, Secretary; Mr Robert Dedi, Financial Secretary; and Mr Godwin Adjei, FNBSPH Alumni Coordinator.

Professor Frank Baiden, Dean of FNBSPH, emphasized the essence of an alumnus group and the need for all members to belong and contribute their quota to its development.

Professor Emeritus Binka encouraged the executives to rally the entire FNBSPH alumni association to occupy sensitive spots in the health sector to advance the public health discipline in the country.

He recounted the instituting of the School of Public Health in Hohoe, highlighting the challenges encountered as well as the assistance he received from key individuals like Professor Margaret Kwaku that made the establishment of th
e school a reality.

Professor Paul Amuna, former Dean of the School who inducted the executives charged them to sacrifice more to achieve their set goals and objectives.

Professor Margaret Kwaku detailed her contribution to the setting up of the institution, her professional career and how it impacted the roll out of the Seasonal Malaria Chemotherapy in Ghana.

She also tasked the newly inducted executives to continue to push the frontiers of public health in the country.

Mr Patrick Agbenu, Alumni Association President, shared the journey after school and the efforts it took to receive financial clearance for recruitment. He mentioned the impressive feat most of the members have accomplished and the poise for action.

Mr Gabriel Agbanyo, UHAS Alumni President, said: ‘We embark on this journey together, let us rekindle the spirit of unity and solidarity that defines us over the past years. Let us work hand in hand to support current students, mentor the next generation and give back to the institution that
has given us so much.’

The theme for the inauguration was: ‘Healthy Partnerships for Public Health Interventions and development.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has admitted a total of 10,158 regular students for the 2023/2024 academic year.

The figure comprises of 9,053 undergraduate and 1,105 postgraduate students with 4,502 of the total figure being females, Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual, the Vice-Chancellor of the university announced.

The gender parity of the matriculants, he said, highlights the importance of fostering gender inclusivity in higher education and advanced studies.

The Vice Chancellor congratulated the students and assured them of the institution’s resolve to build their capacity to better themselves holistically.

‘We are committed to nurturing your intellectual growth and personal development,’ the Vice Chancellor noted.

‘Together, let us embark on this journey of exploration, discovery, and growth,’ he stated and urged the matriculants to recognise the inherent responsibility that came with education and abide by it.

‘We believe that each of you will become active citizens within our communit
y, contributing to the transformation of the communities in which you reside for a desired future,’ he said.

‘I urge you to dedicate considerable efforts to attend lectures and practical classes regularly, diligently complete assignments to excel and as well approach your studies with diligence, ethical conduct and a steadfast commitment to academic integrity,’ the Vice Chancellor advised.

Amidst the current economic challenges and high cost of living, the VC, charged the students to be prudent in their financial decisions, and avoid imposing additional financial, psychological, or physical strain upon themselves, which could derail their academic and personal aspirations.

They should stay focused, rational, and resilient, knowing that challenges were transients and with perseverance, they would overcome them, he added.

Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, the Acting Registrar of the University, urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations outlined in the university’s official documents, including the
student’s handbook and other authorised documents.

Source: Ghana News Agency