Day: June 28, 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Africa West Area, in collaboration with the Ga Manste Foundation, has renovated the Mantse Tackie Tawiah I Cluster of Schools in Adabraka, Accra.

The project, fully funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aimed to provide better educational opportunities for pupils in Adabraka and the surrounding area.

The newly refurbished school now boasts state-of-the-art facilities that will provide students with a better learning environment.

Classrooms have been upgraded, new educational materials provided, and essential amenities installed to support the holistic development of the students.

The Mantse Tackie Tawiah I Cluster of Schools now features a newly built library with over 2,000 books and a state-of-the-art ICT center with 40 fully installed computers.

The project included the renovation of the 12-unit Mantse Tackie Tawiah block, the 6-unit Liberty Avenue block, the Mantse Tackie Tawiah KG block, and the Liberty Avenue ICT Laboratory and of
fice.

Additionally, a new astro turf football pitch with a 60-seater spectator stand, an 8-seater toilet facility with urinals and girls’ changing rooms, and a 100-seater canteen have been constructed.

A 20-seater toilet facility was also renovated with the school’s perimeter upgraded with a new fence wall, improved drainage, new pavements, landscaping, a new security post, and an upgraded entrance.

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Africa West Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed joy in seeing the project come to fruition.

‘We are honoured to support this vital initiative that will impact the lives of many children in this community,’ he said.

He said education was the cornerstone of a bright future, and ‘we are committed to helping provide the resources needed for these children to succeed.’

‘Successful completion of the Mantse Tackie Tawiah I Cluster of Schools renovation is ample proof of the power of collaboration and the impact of community-driven initiatives,’ he a
dded.

Elder Nielsen expressed the hope that as the students and teachers of the school step into their new and improved environment, the foundation has been laid for a brighter educational future in Adabraka.

Nii Kwartei Titus Glove, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, said it was a day of great delight seeing the advancement of education through enhanced infrastructure.

‘This is consistent with our agenda to make education accessible to all Ghanaians,’ he noted.

Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for the Korle Klottey Constituency, commeded the collaborative efforts that made the renovation possible.

‘This is the most dramatic transformation of any school I have personally witnessed. This project is a shining example of what can be achieved when communities and organisations come together with a shared vision,’ she added.

The MP said the refurbishment of the school would undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on the children’s education and future prospects.

King Tackie Teiko
Tsuru II, whose vision and dedication drove the project, said, ‘This renovation is just the beginning. I have many more dreams for the Ga State, and with the continued support of our development partners, we will achieve them.’

He said every child deserved the opportunity to receive quality education and realize their full potential.

The project, which began on August 2, 2021, during the King’s 50th birthday, stemmed from his commitment to enhancing the educational infrastructure for the children in his community.

Instead of a lavish birthday celebration, the King chose to spend the day with the students of the Mantse Tackie Tawiah I Cluster of Schools.

Shocked by the dilapidated state of the school, he pledged to renovate it to provide a conducive learning environment.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Ghana Chapter, has engaged actors within the education sector on its digitised gender-responsive pedagogy (GRP) platform which serves as professional development model.

The GRP basically is about approaches or methodologies that are gender responsive in addressing issues of girls and boy in a fair and dignified manner during teaching and learning and other schools related activities.

The engagement which took place in Accra brought together officials from the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education, NaCCA, teachers, heads of schools amongst others.

Its purpose was to let stakeholders understand that the GRP platform exits and need to integrate it into national policy, national teaching curriculum and courses at Colleges of Education and universities.

The GRP tool-kit is a course that consists of two parts where there are GRP 1 on Teaching and learning and GRP 2 on Gender-based violence.

It consists of 12 units and a quiz at the end of each unit with a
final test after completing Part II of the course and to generate a signed certificate, to answer correctly to at least 80 per cent of the questions.

Mr Richard Amoani, National Coordinator for FAWE Ghana Chapter. said, the digitised GRP platform was a tool-kit that could scale up learning outcomes because it promotes that equal and conducive atmosphere devoid of gender biases, fear and intimidation within the school setting.

‘We should address girls and boys the way we should taking into consideration their needs. We should look at them as people having different needs and therefore the tools and the methodology to reach out to them should not be the same,’ he said.

He said the toolkit was developed at the African level and had the content of different countries within the 34 chapters that FAWE operates in Africa, adding that continuous engagements would help tailor it to address the issues within the Ghanaian context.

‘UNICEF West and Central Africa, International Institute of Capacity Building of UNESC
O at the African level have partnered FAWE Secretariat and with collaboration from the Education Ministry and Curriculum Assessment Development Unit, gender responsive pedagogies will be an integral part of education,’ Mr Amoani said.

He said policy makers, parents, caregivers, TVET, apprentices, craftsmen and women at the Community level would also be engaged, adding that ‘within one year we will collect enough information and together with Ghana Education Service, we will roll out the digitised GRP in the middle of next year or by 2026.’

Dr Mercy Nyamekye, Acting Director, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, NaCCA, after participating, said the digitised GRP ought to have approaches that could accommodate every learner in the class, adding that teachers after going through the model should have gender clubs in their classrooms.

‘At the community level, we should produce a parent guide of about 12 pages where five pages should be full of illustrations and graphics to explain the images. Daily text messag
es on gender responsive issues on what to do and not to do be sent to parents,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

One thousand, three hundred and forty-nine (1,349) candidates from 53 basic schools within the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region are expected to participate in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The exercise will take place at seven examination centers, Mr Ferdinand Amuzu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service in Keta, told the Ghana News Agency at Keta on Friday.

Forty-two public and 11 private schools would participate, he said, adding: ‘Schools in the area have begun camping their candidates ahead of the exams to hold extra classes and encourage the spirit of group studies.’

Mr Amuzu urged the candidates to remain resolute amidst rumors of cancellation of the examination and stay focused.

He cautioned them to shun any acts of examination malpractice by strictly abiding by the rules and regulations governing the exercise to avoid any punishment.

‘My only advice is that they should not entertain any form of fear. The examination is just to test th
em on all that they have gone through academically.’

Mr Amuzu commended all headteachers and their staff for the preparation so far and urged them to keep guiding the candidates to the end.

Checks by the GNA revealed that the Keta Municipality has recorded a significant downfall in the performance of BECE.

The area recorded 31.8 per cent in 2019, and 23 per cent in 2020 with 14.6 and 20 per cent in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Some BECE candidates the GNA spoke to expressed optimism and readiness ahead of the examination.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that the 2024 BECE would commence from Monday, July 8, to Friday, July 12 with an additional session on Monday, July 15, for candidates offering Arabic.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Credit Union has presented 282 pieces of mathematical sets to candidates of Kokomlemle Circuit Schools writing the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The donation formed part of the Union’s Social Corporate Responsibility to support students with their basic needs to enhance access to quality education in the Municipality.

The mathematical sets and pens would be distributed to students in the Ayawaso Central Municipal assembly.

Mrs Maureen Erekua Odoi, Board Member of GNCCI, said education was important to a country’s socio-economic and political development, which when well delivered, helped to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

In that vein, she said she would be extremely excited to see students becoming lawyers, educationists, soldiers, commissioned police officers, business entrepreneurs and other professionals to help build the country.

She said the Union pledged its commitment to sponsor students to perform w
ell.

Mrs Victoria Enyonam Dotse, Manager, GNCCI, urged them to see themselves as future leaders and endeavour to succeed and give back to their communities.

She said empowering the students would be one of her policies since education was a bedrock of human and national development.

Mr Stephen Oteng, Treasurer, GNCCI told the candidates to reflect soberly on all that their teachers had taught them and what they had also learnt and write the examination in confidence.

Mrs Felicia Adu Mensah, Deputy Director, Supervision and Management of Teaching and Learning, Ayawaso Central Municipal Education Directorate, was grateful to the Union for their kind gesture.

Some of the candidates also expressed their appreciation towards the gesture and promised to excel in their exams.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Alhaji Fanday Turay, Chancellor and Board Chairman of Regional Maritime University (RMU), has called on governing Member States of the University to interact and cooperate with each other to develop the maritime industry.

He said the advancement in technology had called for significant investment and changes in the maritime industry, making it important for efforts to be made to meet international demands, saying ‘vessels are now being remotely manned goading.’

The Chancellor was speaking at the 31st Board of Governors Meeting of the RMU in Accra.

The primary focus of this year’s Meeting is to develop strategies for enhancing educational standards.

It is also to facilitate discussions on challenges, knowledge sharing, and the resolution of concerns that will ultimately impact the university’s progress.

He said RMU must rethink and realign some of its programmes to fit international standards, indicating it equally called for the acquisition of the needed equipment to replace the outdated ones in order
to match the current trends.

He pledged to enhance academic excellence by ensuring that all curriculums were both rigorous and relevant to changing maritime trends.

‘By fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking, we will equip our students with the skills they need to succeed in a dynamic marine industry’, he said.

Speaking of partnerships, he said the University would deepen collaborations with maritime companies, government agencies, and international organisations to provide students with practical experience and to ensure that programs align with industry labour market.

He said his tenure would promote an inclusive environment where everyone would feel valued and supported, and diverse perspectives to enrich academic and social life on Campus.

He assured Member States of investing in learning equipment and infrastructure to improve education for students.

Mr Fredrick Obeng Adom, Deputy Minister of Transport, said Ghana remained committed and would continue to channel resources towards t
he positioning of RMU as a world-class maritime training institution.

He said the maritime industry contributed to more than 80 per cent of customs revenue in Ghana and the largest contributor to the revenue base through taxes and levies on imported and exported goods.

‘Therefore, our commitment to the training of the manpower for this very important industry has been unwavering,’ he said.

‘Efforts must be made to ensure the RMU maintained its international standards and reputation,’ he added.

Mr Adom urged member countries to lend support to the University to navigate through its challenges and achieve its strategic objective.

The meeting was climaxed with commissioning of a new administration block annex and seven vehicles procured by the Board of Governors to ensure smooth operations of the University.

Col. Turay (Rtd) is Sierra Leone’s Minister for Transport and Aviation and succeeded Mr. Ebrima Sillah from The Gambia as Chancellor during the Board of Governors meeting.

The chairmanship of the Boar
d is rotated among the five Member States every two years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A professor of civil engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has stressed the need for the government to design and implement a national programme on universal toilet coverage in the country.

Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko said it was required of the government to commit and invest in creating the needed enabling environment for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce laws on household toilets.

In his inaugural professorial lecture at the KNUST in Kumasi, Prof. Nyarko explained that a clear enabling environment would engender compliance and quality standards through robust monitoring and supervision mechanisms.

‘The construction, operation and maintenance of household toilets for the nearly six million inhabitants without them, could be a game changer by creating sustainable jobs along the sanitation value chain – it will create job for artisans, suppliers of construction materials, financial institutions and other service providers.’

His top
ic was ‘Universal Access to Water and Sanitation Services: A Myth or Reality.’

Prof. Nyarko, who is also the Provost of the College of Engineering at KNUST further tasked the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to integrate greywater management in water and sanitation programming.

According to him, greywater management was virtually non-existent in Ghana adding that, over 90 percent of greywater generated in Ghana was untreated before disposal.

He again suggested a comprehensive assessment of the overall water supply landscape for urban areas, small towns, and rural communities.

This was necessary to determine the best management arrangement based on economies of scale, efficiency improvement and regulatory enhancement.

We should also explore the creation of two or three utilities that serve a combination of urban, small towns and rural areas across the country.

Prof. Nyarko indicated that, to provide sustainable water and sanitation services, it was imperative to address the high rate of non-fun
ctional water and sanitation infrastructure.

All existing water and sanitation infrastructure must have a functional management access plan, with budget for recurring expenditure such as repairs, rehabilitation and access renewal linked to the conditions and useful life assets, recommended.

This approach would ensure the sustainability of investment and lead to more effective and impactful service outcomes.

The government, he said must invest in research, development, and innovation to generate solutions to address the water and sanitation challenges and this should be in areas such as financing, technology options, institutional designs, marketing to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.

He believed when these were taken into practice, Ghana could achieve universal access to basic water services and make significant progress in sanitation.

Source: Ghana News Agency