Category: Education

The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has appealed to the government to absorb the registration fees for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The Association said the owners of private pre-tertiary schools were unable to afford the exorbitant fees charged by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The high examination fees, the Association said, had forced many private school candidates to drop out of school in either the final year junior high school or senior high school.

Professor Damus Tuurosong, President of

GNAPS, said this in Accra at the launch of the private school Pre-tertiary Education Manifesto for the 2024 elections.

The Progressive Peoples’ Party and the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) were the only political parties represented at the launch of the programme.

He said the 2024 WASSCE candidates in private SHSs had to pay Ghc 465 as the WAEC registration fee.

‘Those who have prac
tical and oral language papers to write were required to pay an extra Ghc 14.50 and Ghc 19.50 respectively.

‘Over the past four years, BECE fees have increased from Ghc 77 in 2020 to Ghc 214.01 in 2014, representing a 178 per cent hike in the fees,’ he said.

He stressed that over the same period, private schools have, on average, increased their fees by only 45 per cent.

Prof Tuurosong appealed to the government to extend the free Senior High School programme to private school students.

He called for the review of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, Act 1023, to do away with exorbitant regulatory charges by the National Schools Inspectorate Authority, the National Teaching Council, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

The Association among others,called for the abolishment of ‘nuisance’ taxes that they believed were hiking the cost of doing business and the review of property rates and business operating permits charged by the assemblies.

The Professor appealed to the government
to scrap the 30 per cent Priority Placement System for candidates who sat for the BECE to avoid financial malfeasance.

Nii Adjetey Sowah, a representative from the CPP, said Professor Tuurosong’s presentation was a clear indication that there were challenges in the pre-tertiary level of Ghana’s education and called for urgent action.

He said a future CPP government would prioritise the interests of the private sector to engender growth in Ghana’s educational sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ada Noryami Kpe, a non-government organisation, has distributed 50 pieces of desktop computers to four second-cycle schools in Ada.

The beneficial schools are Ada Senior High School, Ada Senior High Technical School, Ada Technical Institute, and Bedeku Vocational Institute.

The organisation, whose members are indigenes of Ada in the diaspora, and Ghana have been at the forefront of spearheading development in Ada.

Naana Adede I, the Leader of the organisation, said it was a worry for the group when it learned that some schools in Ada had to rent computers from vendors to enable students to write their final year exams.

She said the Ada Noryami Kpe saw it as a responsibility to help improve academic performance in the area, hence the distribution of the computers to the schools to solve that renting problem.

She gave the assurance that they would work on adding to the number of computers in the various schools and ensuring that all students have access to one when needed.

She said they were committed
to helping in the development of the area, noting that they were instrumental in the construction of a new emergency ward at the Ada East District Hospital and aided victims of the Akosombo dam spillage in Ada last October.

The heads of the various beneficiary schools expressed gratitude to the group and appealed to other organisations to come to the aid of the schools to augment the work the government was doing in the education sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Vice Chancellor of the Pentecost University, Prof Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, has advised graduates to reflect integrity, morality and become problem solvers at the workspace.

Prof Agyapong-Kodua in his address to 334 graduating students of the University’s 15th Graduation ceremony for the second batch at their main campus at Sowutuom, Accra, urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to solves societal problems.

‘The world will test you on integrity and skills so do not fail. Make us proud. Let all know that you were trained at Pentecost University …don’t just go and add to the numbers,’ he said.

He said the University was working to expand its curriculum and courses and that alongside other tertiary institutions on the continent, it had received funding grant from international organisations such as the European Commission to embark on research.

‘Research is the strongest pillar of our A-plus agenda. We’ve made a significant stride in this area and one of them is the securing of the four-year
European Commission 2.669 million euros to conduct research in Artificial Intelligence and cyber physical systems, robotics and laser technologies,’ he said.

The 334 students graduated with certificates, and degrees in Communication Studies and Commerce, Science in Nursing, Midwifery and Information Technology; MPHIL and Masters in Theology, Church Leadership and Administration; Certificates in Mortuary Science and Funeral Studies, Counselling and Family Therapy amongst others.

Awards were presented to graduates who excelled.

Ms Perpetual Osei Tutu was adjudged the overall best student and overall best female student.

She is also the valedictorian of the 2023/2024 year group.

In an interview with the GNA, Ms Osei Tutu said ‘I decided that what men can do, a woman can also do and better. I employed a strategy whereby I aligned myself with the brilliant men of my year group and studied with them. That’s the results you see now.’

Founded in 2003, Pentecost University, Ghana, is a multidisciplinary private
university.

It was formerly a bible college, which offered theological training mainly for the clergy from the Church of Pentecost.

Later in the year, 2003, it was expanded to run other courses as a university.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Circle of Life School, located in Baakoniaba within the Sunyani Municipality, has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a renewed commitment to providing quality education for the pupils.

The school was officially opened on September 8, 2014, with a crèche, nursery, kindergarten one and two, and basic one to three.

It had 32 pupils, 15 from the Hannukah Orphanage and the remaining 17 from outside the community.

After a decade of training and grooming the pupils, the Circle of Life School now boasts of 284 pupils and a staff of 31.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Providing Quality and Equal Education for the Growth and Development of the Child in a Safe Environment for a Better Future,’ Mr Moses Asagbo, the proprietor of the school, announced that it had successfully prepared three cohorts of students to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

It had also achieved a remarkable 100 per cent distinction rate, with the lowest grade being 15.

The teachers also pursued professional development cour
ses and attended seminars to enhance their skills for optimal development of the children, Mr Asagbo said.

He highlighted the success of their exchange programme, which was initiated last year, which brought 12 students and two teachers from the Netherlands to the school, and expressed the optimism that the students and teachers would also have the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands for similar educational experiences.

The proprietor donated a brand-new air-conditioned bus to support the academic activities of the school.

Madam Yaa Kumi Yeboah, the Acting Head of Supervision and Monitoring, Sunyani Education Directorate, stated that investing in the education of children did not only secure their future but also contributed to the wellbeing of society.

She urged stakeholders to recommit themselves to providing high-quality and equitable education for all children, which was essential to ensuring that every child had access to the tools and opportunities to succeed and reach their full potential.

S
ource: Ghana News Agency

?Students of Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) have elected new prefects to manage the affairs of the school for the next academic year.

The election, done electronically at the school’s computer laboratory saw third and second year students totaling about 3,300 participate in the exercise.?

A total of 23 students were elected into office with Master Ewoenam Faith Bessie emerging as the School’s Senior Prefect with Edmond Seyram Eddah?as the first Deputy Senior Prefect and Miss Fafali? Elorm Amoah as second Deputy Senior Prefect.

Kingsley Seyram Nyagbenu, George Malorku, Veronica Afetsi and Debora Vorsah were voted as Compound Prefects, Felix Owusu, Ransford Adjei, Jessica Atama and Perpetual Tokolie emerged as Academic Prefects while Maurice Cudjoe Teye, Maur Lucas, Deborah Chimezie and Lawrencia Kemavor were voted Dining Hall Prefects, other positions voted for includes Health prefects and Entertainment prefects.?

Mr Victor Nutifafa Tamekloe, Chairman of the school’s Electoral Committee (EC) i
n declaring the results said ‘We are very grateful to all EC members and the candidates for a successful process. We are happy with the zeal portrayed by both candidates and voters. Everything was transparent, free and fair.’

Mr Segbefia Anthony, Deputy EC Chairman disclosed they were thrilled with?the successful electoral process.

He advised the students to be dutiful saying, ‘To those who could not win, this is not the end of the world, avail yourselves to serve your colleagues. And to the winners, be humble, do not portray any traits of arrogance when power is handed over to you.’?

There will be a handing-over ceremony to transition power from the current prefects to the newly elected ones at the school’s dining hall on July 21, 2024.

Keta Senior High Technical School, with the motto: ‘Dzolali, Now or Never’ is one of the prestigious second-cycle schools in the Volta Region offering?courses including General Science, General Arts, Business, Agriculture Science, Visual Arts, Home Economics and Technical
Skills.

? The school currently has a student population of over 4,000 and has distinguished itself in academic and co-curricular activities including the National Science and Maths Quiz, sports and games, and cultural and drama activities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Fijai Old Students Association (FOSA), an Alumni group of Fijai Senior High School (SHS), in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region has held its 2024 global Annual General Meeting.

The meeting was to celebrate the successes and achievements of the Association, spot out challenges and discuss strategies to spur the growth and development of their alma mater.

It was attended by FOSA 1955 to 2009 year groups, current staff of the school, and representatives from corporate institutions among others.

Mr Kenneth Dotse Agbomadzi, the Headmaster of Fijai SHS, expressed delight for seeing the old students come together for the collective growth of the Association and the school in general.

He commended the old students for their tremendous efforts and support in ensuring the development of their alma mater.

He, however, appealed to members of the Association to continue to be instrumental in the school’s management efforts in maintaining the institution’s glory it had attained since its establi
shment.

Professor Edward Appiah, the President of FOSA Global, in a speech read on his behalf congratulated his members for their hard work and commitment towards the growth of the Association and Fijai SHS.

He also applauded the Headmaster and his team for the excellent performance of students in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), saying it was the very best in the last eight years.

He gave the assurance that the Association would continue to collaborate with the management of the school to help improve upon the students’ performance through strategic policies.

Prof Appiah mentioned that the FOSA would see to the completion of a fence wall for the school to help guarantee the security and safety of students and staff on campus.

Dr Sally Sarah Acquaye, the First Vice-President of FOSA Global, who chaired the occasion, commended all year groups for their enthusiasm, selflessness and commitment in ensuring growth and development of the school.

As part of the meeting, new
Global Executive Council Members were inducted into office to steer the affairs of the Association for the next two years.

Source: Ghana News Agency