Accra, June 22, GNA - The Private Universities Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has said any official of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) found liable over the leakage of this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) questions must be punished.
The Association said the leakage threatened to undermine the credibility of the nation’s educational system.
Showing posts with label Ghana Education Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ghana Education Service. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2015
GNAT appeals for long preparation time for BECE candidates
Accra, June 20, GNA – Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to West African Examination Council to give the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates ample time to overcome the psychological trauma to prepare for the re-scheduled examination.
GNAT is advocating enough and better time than June 29 and June 30 given by the Council for preparation because the nation does not have enough counsellors in the school system to offer the necessary support systems that would bring the affected students back to normalcy.
A statement in Accra and signed by Mr V. V. K. Demanya, Acting General Secretary of GNAT, indicated that it is the conviction of the Association that the Bureau of National Investigations which has been assigned the duty to earthen the culprits would live up to expectation.
“GNAT hopes that all persons in the chain of the examination processes will avail themselves to the investigators for a thorough work to be done.
“All those found to have compromised their positions in this year’s BECE should bow down their heads in shame for causing unwarranted mess in the country.”
The statement noted that the perpetrators caused the problem because of their selfish ends and the law should deal with them appropriately.
It said the Association one of the reasons for this kind of behaviour might be the moral breakdown which has resulted in all manner of corrupt practices.
Members urged the Government to start looking at the educational system again to find lasting solutions to it.
“The number of papers written in BECE is too many and we need to take another look at this situation.”
The Association noted that it is the hope of members that the pupils and teachers would be strengthened as they go through the challenging times.
Source: GNA
GNAT is advocating enough and better time than June 29 and June 30 given by the Council for preparation because the nation does not have enough counsellors in the school system to offer the necessary support systems that would bring the affected students back to normalcy.
A statement in Accra and signed by Mr V. V. K. Demanya, Acting General Secretary of GNAT, indicated that it is the conviction of the Association that the Bureau of National Investigations which has been assigned the duty to earthen the culprits would live up to expectation.
“GNAT hopes that all persons in the chain of the examination processes will avail themselves to the investigators for a thorough work to be done.
“All those found to have compromised their positions in this year’s BECE should bow down their heads in shame for causing unwarranted mess in the country.”
The statement noted that the perpetrators caused the problem because of their selfish ends and the law should deal with them appropriately.
It said the Association one of the reasons for this kind of behaviour might be the moral breakdown which has resulted in all manner of corrupt practices.
Members urged the Government to start looking at the educational system again to find lasting solutions to it.
“The number of papers written in BECE is too many and we need to take another look at this situation.”
The Association noted that it is the hope of members that the pupils and teachers would be strengthened as they go through the challenging times.
Source: GNA
GES Director-General calls for team work
Accra, June 19, GNA - Mr Jacob A.M. Kor, Acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has called for teamwork among stakeholders in education so as to achieve the aspirations of the sector.
Speaking at his maiden meeting with heads of educational institutions and stakeholders in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, Mr Kor said to achieve the aims of education, stakeholders, including the leadership of the GES, teachers, students, and labour unions, must play their roles effectively.
This, he said, should be done with the best interests of the children and the various stakeholders, while striving to serve them to the best of their ability.
He said leaders must have excellent interpersonal relations with their colleagues if they are to be successful in their roles.
Mr Kor said the most effective way to address some challenges in the sector such as declining performance, was not to apportion blame but to collectively work to address them.
He said there was the need to tackle teacher professionalism by addressing issues of teacher absenteeism, lateness and unpreparedness for teaching since these factors contribute to the student’s poor performance.
Mr Kor urged teachers to desist from the use of indecent language in the classroom and branding of children as their words had an effect on the children saying they should rather encourage the students to succeed.
“We cannot do anything without the support of the stakeholders” he said and tasked the District Directors of Education and heads of schools to respect the inputs of stakeholders like Parent-Teacher Associations, labour unions and community members.”
He said parents as first teachers played an important role in their children’s education and entreated parents to dialogue with teachers and other officials on issues affecting their wards’ education.
“Teaching is a calling like that of reverend fathers or Imams and if we serve the children with love, we will receive blessings and live long on earth. Our reward will be on earth, not in heaven,” Mr Kor said.
He urged students, as stakeholders in education, to be prepared to study with zeal to be able to pass their examinations without having to resort to cheating.
With reference to the cancellation of some papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), he noted that examination malpractices had become a canker in the sector and signalled the need to re-strategise.
Speaking at his maiden meeting with heads of educational institutions and stakeholders in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, Mr Kor said to achieve the aims of education, stakeholders, including the leadership of the GES, teachers, students, and labour unions, must play their roles effectively.
This, he said, should be done with the best interests of the children and the various stakeholders, while striving to serve them to the best of their ability.
He said leaders must have excellent interpersonal relations with their colleagues if they are to be successful in their roles.
Mr Kor said the most effective way to address some challenges in the sector such as declining performance, was not to apportion blame but to collectively work to address them.
He said there was the need to tackle teacher professionalism by addressing issues of teacher absenteeism, lateness and unpreparedness for teaching since these factors contribute to the student’s poor performance.
Mr Kor urged teachers to desist from the use of indecent language in the classroom and branding of children as their words had an effect on the children saying they should rather encourage the students to succeed.
“We cannot do anything without the support of the stakeholders” he said and tasked the District Directors of Education and heads of schools to respect the inputs of stakeholders like Parent-Teacher Associations, labour unions and community members.”
He said parents as first teachers played an important role in their children’s education and entreated parents to dialogue with teachers and other officials on issues affecting their wards’ education.
“Teaching is a calling like that of reverend fathers or Imams and if we serve the children with love, we will receive blessings and live long on earth. Our reward will be on earth, not in heaven,” Mr Kor said.
He urged students, as stakeholders in education, to be prepared to study with zeal to be able to pass their examinations without having to resort to cheating.
With reference to the cancellation of some papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), he noted that examination malpractices had become a canker in the sector and signalled the need to re-strategise.
Source: GNA
Parents asked to send children to school
Gomoa Brofo (C/R) June 19, GNA - Parents who refuse to enroll their children in school should be reported to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for their assistance.
This is because it is the basic right of every child to have access to education, especially the basic one.
Mr Alex Ebo Afful, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Director of CHRAJ made these remarks at a public forum to mark the “World Day Against Child Labour” at Gomoa Brofo.
The theme for the celebration was: “No Child Labour and Yes to Education.”
It was sponsored by the Gomoa West District Assembly
According to Mr Afful, if a parent found his next door neighbour maltreating a child, he or she should not hesitate to inform the CHRAJ for their intervention.
Mr Afful pointed out that any children not educated would grow to become a burden on society.
Education can, therefore, help to develop the mind even during apprenticeship training, and all aspects of life.
Mr Emmanuel Kwaku Glagoe, Assistant Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) at Apam, said that caning of school children had not be abolished, but with guidelines attached to it.
He explained that three strokes of the cane could now be administered by a headteacher only.
According to him, caning was not the only punishment that could be given to instil discipline, but other soft punishments could be used.
He said government was doing its best to ensure quality education in schools, and therefore appealed to parents to reciprocate the gesture by providing basic needs to their wards.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the programme, Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, said the Day was instituted by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Source: GNA
This is because it is the basic right of every child to have access to education, especially the basic one.
Mr Alex Ebo Afful, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Director of CHRAJ made these remarks at a public forum to mark the “World Day Against Child Labour” at Gomoa Brofo.
The theme for the celebration was: “No Child Labour and Yes to Education.”
It was sponsored by the Gomoa West District Assembly
According to Mr Afful, if a parent found his next door neighbour maltreating a child, he or she should not hesitate to inform the CHRAJ for their intervention.
Mr Afful pointed out that any children not educated would grow to become a burden on society.
Education can, therefore, help to develop the mind even during apprenticeship training, and all aspects of life.
Mr Emmanuel Kwaku Glagoe, Assistant Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) at Apam, said that caning of school children had not be abolished, but with guidelines attached to it.
He explained that three strokes of the cane could now be administered by a headteacher only.
According to him, caning was not the only punishment that could be given to instil discipline, but other soft punishments could be used.
He said government was doing its best to ensure quality education in schools, and therefore appealed to parents to reciprocate the gesture by providing basic needs to their wards.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the programme, Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, said the Day was instituted by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Source: GNA
GES recommends counselling for BECE candidates
Accra, June 19, GNA - Mr Jacob A.M. Kor, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has directed Heads of Basic Schools to organise counselling sessions for candidates in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
In a statement confirming the cancellation of five papers of the BECE due to the mass leakage of the questions, Mr Kor said the counselling was necessary as some of the candidates may suffer psychological effects due to the cancellation.
He stressed that: “The move would ensure that their confidence does not wane as they continue to write other papers.”
Mr Kor also tasked teachers to ensure that the new dates for re-writing of the cancelled papers - 29th and 30th June - were well communicated to the students and parents in order to avoid any absenteeism.
He also entreated teachers to educate parents on the need to support their children to take away any fears they might be harbouring.
“GES takes the opportunity to apologise to all parents, guardians and candidates for the unfortunate incidence and the inconvenience caused,” he concluded.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of five papers in the ongoing BECE, citing massive leakage of examination papers.
The affected papers are English Paper Two, Mathematics Paper Two, Integrated Science, Religious and Moral Education (RME) Paper Two and Social Studies.
In a statement confirming the cancellation of five papers of the BECE due to the mass leakage of the questions, Mr Kor said the counselling was necessary as some of the candidates may suffer psychological effects due to the cancellation.
He stressed that: “The move would ensure that their confidence does not wane as they continue to write other papers.”
Mr Kor also tasked teachers to ensure that the new dates for re-writing of the cancelled papers - 29th and 30th June - were well communicated to the students and parents in order to avoid any absenteeism.
He also entreated teachers to educate parents on the need to support their children to take away any fears they might be harbouring.
“GES takes the opportunity to apologise to all parents, guardians and candidates for the unfortunate incidence and the inconvenience caused,” he concluded.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of five papers in the ongoing BECE, citing massive leakage of examination papers.
The affected papers are English Paper Two, Mathematics Paper Two, Integrated Science, Religious and Moral Education (RME) Paper Two and Social Studies.
Source: GNA
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Intense competition cause of BECE leakage – Prof Dominic Fobih
Former Education Minister Prof Dominic Fobih has attributed the leakage of the Basic education Certificate Examination papers to intense competition between schools to outperform each other.
According to him, because most schools don’t want to score zeros or low marks during the BECE examination, they do anything to ensure that their students pass.
This encourages the leakage of the papers.
Prof Fobih’s comment follows the leakage and subsequent cancellation of five subjects in the ongoing BECE supervised and conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination administration body Wednesday.
Signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, the statement listed the following papers are having been "compromised".
Prof. Dominic Fobih was Minister of Education in the erstwhile Kufuor administration.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show ‘Dwaso Nsem” Thursday, Fobih believes there is no way students should be blamed for the leakage adding that it was simply a leadership problem.
But he did not spare the teachers and education authorities of blame.
Prof Fobih fears that this form of corruption, if not dealt with immediately will affect the integrity and moral judgment of the students in the long term.
He called on government and the stakeholders in the education sector to, as a matter of urgency, modify the
objectives of the BECE.
The former Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency said pupils do not have to qualify to go to SHS.
He said it is important to make SHS the mandatory terminal point, instead of using the BECE to terminate some pupils’ education.
Former Education Minister Dominic Fobih is calling for the complete restructuring of the BECE because “it lacks depth”.
According to the Professor, BECE should be an exam that seeks to identify the strengths of pupils and place them in their various preferred programmes like business, science, visual and arts at the Senior High
School (SHS) level.
In his view,” it is necessary to change the focus of the BECE” from its current selective system to a placement system which will be more beneficial to the student.
There is no need to sift through the candidates and take the supposed brilliant ones to SHS, every student’s strength in a particular subject or programme should be the standpoint for SHS education.
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba
Akwa
Teacher charged following death of coconut- climbing student
The teacher who allegedly caused the death of the 17-year-old student of the Suhum Aboabo Sonkor Presbyterian Basic School in the Eastern region, has been remanded into police custody.
Suhum police say Richard Djamgba’s teacher known only as “Sir Johnson” was arrested three days ago after he returned to the town on private business.
Sir Johnson, a Science teacher, in October last year, forced his pupil Richard Djamgba to climb a coconut
tree to pluck a fruit for him to quench his thirst.
He fell at least 15 feet from the tree and was left paralyzed. He developed urine retention and other complications.
Lack of funds deprived him of surgery at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Richard Djamgba died last weekend.
According to Joy News’ Eastern regional correspondent Kofi Siaw, the teacher was transferred out of the school following the incident.
But the police took advantage of his return to arrest him.
The previous charge of murder has been changed to exposure to danger.
Sir Johnson looked shaken and intimidated when he appeared at the Suhum magistrate court Thursday.
He was said to have come in the company of some teachers who were showing solidarity to him.
The court has now remanded him into custody to reappear on June 30.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
BECE leakage: NAGRAT calls for immediate resignation of WAEC boss
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has asked for the head of the Ghana Office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Sam Ollennu to step down.
This follows the massive leakage and cancellations of five papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate
Examination (BECE).
The Association also wants the dissolution of the WAEC Board.
Joy News’ Michaela Anderson was at a news conference and reports that NAGRAT is blaming WAEC for the leakage.
The group said it was necessary for the Rev Ollennu to step aside because his continuous presence as the Council’s head will influence the investigation process.
Vice President of NAGRAT, Angel Kabonu said “the results that students churn out is a reflection of our competence or otherwise and if people are adamant to our call…because our call does not stem from only what has happened this year, we have series of historical developments that we will present to the table, if that is not done we will have to reconsider our relationship with that examination body.
“Don’t forget the questions are from us, the assessment and marking of the examination is from us, we invigilate the examination and without us the examination cannot go on”, he added.
He indicated that examination body should be blamed for the leakage and no one else.
“When papers leak and the questions are on the internet, whatsApp and students could email them, then we will have to ask ourselves the question ‘where is it coming from’, definitely it is coming from WAEC”.
Angel Kabonu says students should not be made to pay for the incompetence of the Council.
Founder of Ashesi University, Patrick Awuah agrees with NAGRAT.
He is angry about how this canker continues to fester adding that the first step in dealing with cheating during examinations is for leadership of WAEC to be dismissed.
“We need to get beyond announcing the leakage and cancelling papers and really get into a process of house cleaning at WAEC, they really need to clean their house because clearly, individuals within that organisation are causing these leakages”.
These individuals according to him, need to be identified and sanctioned and “if we are unable to find these individuals who are doing this, I would say they need to look at the leadership of WAEC because at the end of the day the buck has to stop somewhere”.
Patrick Awuah said the leakages are occurring as a result of a weak leadership at WAEC and “that leadership must be changed”.
He added that the situation will not change unless tough measures and decisions are taken.
Source: Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa
School heads found culpable in BECE leakage will be sanctioned – GES
The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Jacob Kor says there will be tough sanctions for teachers and headteachers who may be found culpable in the leakage of examination papers and other examination malpractices.
Speaking to journalists in the Volta Regional capital, Ho on the sidelines of a meeting with District Directors,
he indicated that teachers and headteachers who assist students during examinations cannot be left
unpunished.
He said a teacher in the Eastern region has already been sanctioned for helping a student to cheat in an examination.
The said teacher, according to him will face the regional disciplinary committee of the GES and as soon
as investigations are concluded, the appropriate action will be taken.
Jacob Kor said those who indulge in this act must be punished, adding that “let’s teach our generation the right thing, the truth nothing but the truth.
“If we encourage them to engage in examination malpractices, they will end up killing us the hospitals as quack doctors because they have not learnt enough”, he added.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) Wednesday June 17, cancelled five papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after a massive leakage was noticed.
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination body Wednesday.
Signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, the statement listed the following papers as having been "compromised".
Meanwhile, some of the candidates say they are struggling to come to terms with the news that five papers they have written have been cancelled.
Some of them who spoke to Joy News’ Hannah Odame today at their examination centers say this will affect their preparation for the last two papers.
“I feel so bad. I couldn’t eat last night, some of my friends have fainted and are on admission at the hospital currently”, one student told Hannah when she was asked how she felt about the cancellation.
Some of the students who had gone to their various examination centres to write the French paper scheduled for this morning said they had no idea the papers had been cancelled.
Others pleaded with the Council to allow them write their papers because they had no hand in the leakage neither did they have any idea about it.
Source: Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa
WAEC: We accept responsibility for paper leakage
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has accepted responsibility for the leakage of some of the BECE examination papers.
WAEC cancelled 5 papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after they realized the questions have been leaked and was circulating on various social media platforms especially Whatsapp.
Agnes Tei Cudjoe, Head of Public Relations at WAEC told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Thursday’s edition of ‘Kokrokoo’, that as a government body in charge of exams, “we take ultimate responsibility” for the leakage and we are conducting investigations to find out where the leakage came from.
She said even though the re-take of the cancelled papers is going to be difficult for the students, “we appeal to teachers and parents to support them to prepare for the papers. We pledge to ensure that it doesn’t happen again”.
Source: peacefmonline.com
BECE leakage: I paid ₵200 - Parent confesses
Following a massive leakage of BECE questions, a parent has told Joy News he paid ₵200 to authorities in the school where his ward is a student.
A parent, Yaw Owusu, in the Ashanti Region was told it was for the BECE exams.
Yaw Owusu also explained that some invigilators emptied the pockets of all the monies belonging to the students in the examination room before exams began.
According to him, the teachers and invigilators claim the money was to help them in the BECE.
A nationwide probe is already underway as WAEC comes under fire for failing to stop the leakage.
Ghana Education Campaign Coalition's Bright Appiah believes “the whole system is responsible for this” and that every step of the process of examination administration can be faulted.
"It is unfortunate that we have to go through this again", he told Joy News Wednesday.
The West African Examination Council on Wednesday, cancelled five papers and postponed the writing of two papers following widespread leakage in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination administration body.
The leakage was displayed on social media Wednesday.
It has left parents, candidates and the education ministry fuming after what has been called one of the most embarrassing examination leakages in the history of the West African Examination Council.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Parent to sue WAEC over cancelled BECE papers
A parent of one of the candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has threatened to drag the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to court for the cancellation of some papers.
The parent, Owusu Tawiah Johnson who resides in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region said his son did not benefit from the said leaked exam papers and is therefore demanding an explanation from WAEC within 24 hours or else he will head to the court.
Five papers have been cancelled by WAEC in the ongoing BECE following a leakage of the questions.
The subjects are English Language 2, Religious and Moral Education 2, Science 2, and Mathematics 2 and Social Studies 2.
The Social Studies paper scheduled to be written on Thursday will not take place.
The Examination Council explained that it cancelled the papers to protect the integrity of the examination after questions from the cancelled papers had gone viral on social media after it was leaked by some unknown persons.
The cancelled papers will however be written on June, 29 and 30, 2015.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr. Johnson said his son is distraught and so he is unsure if he will be in the right frame of mind to write the remaining papers.
“I don’t understand why they should do that and I want to ask WAEC; have they thought of the psychological problems that will come on the children? As it is now, I don’t even know whether my ward can write the examination which is yet to come because he is really down,” he disclosed.
He said it is important for him to sue WAEC because they must be forced to take full responsibility for the leakage.
“I have to go to court because if you say there was an examination leakage, who caused that? It is your fault which means that somebody at WAEC must be blamed and not the candidate.”
An angry Mr. Johnson added that, “in Ghana, the candidates are always blamed. Why? Anytime there is a problem, it is the candidate that suffers…if WAEC doesn’t come out and give us a very vivid explanation as to what they are doing, in 24 hours, I will go to the court and then show them.”
Source: Efua Idan Osam/ citifmonline.com
National Security to investigate leakage of BECE papers
The National Security has been tasked to conduct thorough investigations into the leakage of the 2015 Basic Education Certificate Examination question papers.
Deputy Education Minister, Alex Kyeremeh, said the investigation will be independent of what the West African Examination Council has begun doing.
Five papers including Mathematics 2, religious and moral education, English Language 2, and Science 2 have all been cancelled.
Social Studies will also not be taken tomorrow, whilst French and ICT will be written as scheduled.
The widespread leakage has left the country shocked as WAEC struggles to explain the circumstances under which the leakage occurred.
WAEC says it will not shield anybody found culpable for the scandal.
The Head of WAEC, Very Rev. Samuel Nii Nmai Ollennu told Joy News' Kwetey Nartey an investigation has begun to unravel how the papers were leaked.
But even before WAEC concludes its investigation, the Education Ministry has ordered a parallel investigation to be undertaken by national security.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Basic Education Alex Kyeremeh said the ministry has given WAEC all the resources it needs and wondered why such a leakage would occur.
This is not the first time examination papers have been leaked in recent times.
Last year, a police officer at Atiwa, Lance Corporal Prince Opoku was indicted for breaking a seal on WAEC examination papers, taking photographs of the examination questions with his phone and subsequently leaking them to students.
He was allegedly contracted by a school proprietor to leak the papers and was paid 4,000 cedis for his work, the police report said.
One year on, the docket is yet to be sent to the Attorney General's department for prosecution.
Rev Ollenu had, prior to the 2015 leakage raised concerns about the failure of the police to prosecute the officer.
He is disappointed with the latest leakage, promising the Council will get to the bottom of the matter.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
United States and Ghana partner to improve child literacy
Accra, June 17, GNA - The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) will launch the ‘Partnership for Education: Learning activity’, which will benefit over 2 million children in the country.
The programme would be implemented through a broad- based, national project that aligns with and helps to meet Ghana’s basic education priorities.
It is aimed at improving early grade primary school literacy and exploring ways to improve numeracy.
“This five-year partnership with FHI360 seeks to improve, expand, and sustain reading performance for primary school learners nationwide, with a special focus on children in kindergarten 1 through grade 3 (KG1-P3)”, said a release from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S Embassy in Accra signed by Zainab Mahama, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
It further stated that, “Learning will bolster Ghana’s education sector human and institutional capacity to improve teaching excellence in early grade reading, support education systems to sustain reading outcomes and engage communities and parents to promote reading.”
The release explained that Learning is part of USAID’s integrated Partnership for Education Project, designed to support the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) primary school child literacy improvement plans and efforts, in partnership with key agencies, including GES, Universities and other affiliated Ghanaian organizations and institutions.
“With this launch, the Partnership for Education: Learning activity joins the recently awarded Partnership for Education: Evaluating Systems activity, focused on monitoring and evaluation systems strengthening, and the Partnership for Education: Testing activity, which will assess and measure students reading and mathematics performance through the Early grade Reading Assessment, the Early Grade Mathematics Assessment, and the National Education Assessment.”
USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.
Source: GNA
Ghana's Maths and Science ranking based on 2011 data
Accra, June 17, GNA – The Global Educational ranking that placed Ghana at the bottom of 76 nations in Science and Mathematics, was based on a 2011 Data, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Education Minister said on Tuesday.
The ranking was done by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Speaking at the Meet the Press series in Accra, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said although Ghana did not take part in PISA, its data from the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) was re-scaled onto the PISA scale.
This, she said, raised a number of concerns, which were tabled for discussion and analysis at the World Education Forum 2015 held at Incheon, Korea.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang, who was speaking on the State of Education in Ghana, said the report sought to highlight a global problem of the low scores of students in Mathematics and Science, especially in the low income countries.
She said the strategy adopted by the authors, appeared to be selective to enable them to achieve their aim of linking the country’s economic status with that of the performance in Mathematics and Science.
The Minister said the strategy further raised a lot of questions because it failed to recognize that Ghana’s scores in TIMSS since 2003 had improved over the years.
She said the argument was that the quality of schooling in a country was a powerful indicator of the wealth that those countries would produce in the long run.
The Minister noted that the report was intended to influence debate over development goals, and to facilitate the adoption of target that ensured that all 15 year olds achieved basic level of skills.
She said the report received mixed reactions from the Forum.
“While some thought it was meant for rich countries, that it was contextually inappropriate for poor countries and that it gives an incomplete picture of what education is; others thought it made the important point that access alone will not guarantee a country’s prosperity and that of the world,” Prof Opoku-Agyemang stated.
“Its conclusions were therefore enough to propel the world into action as some rich OECD and non-OECD countries also fell significantly below PISA score points in Mathematics and Science,” she added.
Other countries in the lowest ranks together with Ghana were Oman, Morocco, Honduras, and South Africa which were ranked 72, 73, 74 and 75 respectively.
She said for Ghana, the report emphasized the challenges Government had already identified as far as students learning outcomes in Mathematics and Science were concerned.
In that regard, she observed that governments over the years had introduced interventions to address the challenge, which she said, included the rigorous re-training of teachers in Science and Mathematics, including plans to establish centres for the training of Science and Mathematics teachers in basic schools.
Others are the rehabilitation of existing science resource centres, to train teachers at both the basic and secondary levels of education, basic school computerization programme, leading to the supply of computers and accessories to schools and teachers.
Source: GNA
Free SHS education to begin next academic year
The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang says the programme to make second cycle education more accessible, especially in underserved areas, is on course.
To give greater meaning to the programme, the government initiated a project to build 200 community day secondary schools in selected communities.
The President cut the sod for the commencement of the first phase of the project with the construction of 50 schools on March 3, 2014 at Kwaobaah-Nyanoa, near Adeiso in the Upper West Akyem District of the Eastern Region.
When the education ministry took its turn at the meet the press series in Accra Tuesday, Prof Opoku Agyemang said the 50 schools in selected communities were at various stages of completion.
She said the government’s policy of the progressive free SHS education would begin as announced in the 2015/2016 academic year for more than 367,565 second cycle students.
Additionally, she said, with support from the World Bank under the Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP), the construction of 23 new schools, with bungalows for staff and heads, facilities improvement for 50 existing schools, quality improvement for 125 existing schools and the provision of scholarships for 10,400 students were all progressing.
Highlights
The minister gave progress reports on the 20 educational institutions and agencies under the ministry.
She gave some of the highlights as improvements in teacher training and professional development, the institution of a best school award this year and the standardisation of school fees across the country.
On teacher training and development, the goal was to increase the numbers and quality of trained teachers in language, Mathematics and Science, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said that a teacher career progression policy to guide the licensing and registration of teachers, as well as an appraisal system to measure teacher effectiveness as a criteria for promotion had been instituted.
On the institution of best schools award, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said it would be an expansion of the Best Teacher Award initiative.
She said a committee of teacher unions, representations from teaching universities, past best teacher coordinators, retired directors of education and chairpersons of best teacher assessment panels were helping the ministry to expand the best teacher award scheme to cover the acknowledgement of schools.
The objective, she explained, would be to reward teaching and support services.
On the standardisation of school fees, the minister said all stakeholders had held consultative discussions to agree on standardised fees, based on the needs of schools.
Campus connect
Prof. Opoku Agyemang said the Campus Connect initiative, instituted to strengthen relations between the government and the student body, would be strengthened in fulfilment of the President’s pledge to promote accountable and transparent governance.
Social Interventions
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said a procurement process for locally made leather shoes had been completed for the shoes to be distributed to needy school children.
She said the ministry was also currently procuring 500,000 school uniforms and 15 million exercise books to be distributed to 36,686 basic schools.
Source: Caroline Boateng, Graphic Online
WAEC cancels 5 BECE papers
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has cancelled 5 papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after discovering to its dismay the papers have been compromised.
The papers involved are:
English Language 2,
Religious and Moral Education 2;
Integrated Science 2;
Mathematics 2;
Social Studies 2
The June 2015 BECE started only on Monday, June 15 and were expected to be completed on Friday, June 19.
As many as 438,030 candidates were registered to write the examinations in 1,446 centres across the country.
WAEC said investigations were underway to unearth the full facts of the malpractice and assured it is determined to follow the case to its logical conclusion and will not shield any person, including its own, who will be found culpable.
A statement issued by WAEC Wednesday confirming the cancellation said the compromised papers will be re-administered on 29th and 30th June, 2015 and a time table for the tests would be circulated shortly.
“In addition to other sources, the papers have gone viral on social media especially WhatsApp Messenger ,” the statement, signed by Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, said.
“In pursuance of its quest to demonstrate its abhorrence for examination malpractice of any sort, safeguard the sanctity of its examinations and integrity of certificates issued, the Council has CANCELLED the listed papers.
“As such, Social Studies 2 & 1 tests
slated for tomorrow, 18th June, 2015 will not be administered. However, the remaining papers, that is, French and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will be taken as scheduled.”
“The Council regrets any inconvenience caused stakeholders and, in particular, candidates who did not involve themselves in the malpractice.
It further calls on stakeholders to appreciate that the re-administration of the tests is in the interest of the candidates and to restore public confidence and credibility in the outcome of the examination.
Candidates and stakeholders are hereby assured the all the necessary measures are being put in place to forestall the recurrence of the malpractice.”
Source: Isaac Yeboah, Graphic.com.gh
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Invigilators to boycott BECE over unpaid transport fares
Some invigilators and supervisors of the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ashanti Region are threatening to boycott the exercise.
According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes them transportation fares from last year and until that is settled, they will withdraw their services as invigilators.
The Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates for the week long examination.
A total of, 87,815 made up of 45,197 boys and 42,618 girls.
The supervisor of the invigilators, Owusu Sakyi told Citi News, the money owed them from last year is just GHC 50 but after taxes, their take home is GHC 33
He stated that the invigilators say they will invigilate until 3pm on Wednesday and if “the government does not release the money, they will go back to their classrooms and teach on Thursday and Friday.”
Mr. Sakyi pointed out that the teachers are aggrieved because they commute from their various stations to the examination centers therefore, it is important that their transportation fares are paid.
Meanwhile following reported cases of female student absenteeism in the examination, the Education Ministry is promising to investigate the matter.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, such developments affect government’s quest to bridge the gender parity gap, hence, their resolve to investigate and bring an end to such happenings.
“If you look at the general statistics for this year, we are bridging the gender parity gap and those absent, I don’t think it’s so much but we’ve also asked the supervisors at the various centres to do their own investigations since headteachers were not there for further interrogation,” he said.
According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes them transportation fares from last year and until that is settled, they will withdraw their services as invigilators.
The Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates for the week long examination.
A total of, 87,815 made up of 45,197 boys and 42,618 girls.
The supervisor of the invigilators, Owusu Sakyi told Citi News, the money owed them from last year is just GHC 50 but after taxes, their take home is GHC 33
He stated that the invigilators say they will invigilate until 3pm on Wednesday and if “the government does not release the money, they will go back to their classrooms and teach on Thursday and Friday.”
Mr. Sakyi pointed out that the teachers are aggrieved because they commute from their various stations to the examination centers therefore, it is important that their transportation fares are paid.
Meanwhile following reported cases of female student absenteeism in the examination, the Education Ministry is promising to investigate the matter.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, such developments affect government’s quest to bridge the gender parity gap, hence, their resolve to investigate and bring an end to such happenings.
“If you look at the general statistics for this year, we are bridging the gender parity gap and those absent, I don’t think it’s so much but we’ve also asked the supervisors at the various centres to do their own investigations since headteachers were not there for further interrogation,” he said.
Source: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
BECE Invigilators In Volta Region Threaten Boycott
Some invigilators overseeing the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Volta Region are threatening to boycott the examination if last year’s invigilation fees were not paid by Wednesday, June 18.
They said the value of the allowance, owed them by the Ghana Education Service, was depreciating and they could not wait forever. The invigilators expressed the sentiment when Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, with some officials from the Regional Education Directorate, visited some examination centres in the region.
The invigilators said though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) paid their travel and transport fees, the GES, which was to pay the invigilating allowance was yet to do so.
The supervisors at the centres confirmed the threat of boycott but said they were encouraging the invigilators to consider the future of the pupils.
Madam Olivia Enyonam Kwawukume, a Supervisor at Dzodze Centre “B”, said the Centre suffered in recruiting invigilators because of the delay in paying invigilation fees, explaining that, many were not prepared to do the work anymore.
Meanwhile, three pregnant candidates defied all odds and joined their mates at the Awudome Senior High Centre to write the examination.
They said irrespective of taunts from some of their colleagues, they were determined to write the examination and further their education after child birth.
Mr Ganyaglo urged the candidates to remain focused and pass with flying colours. He asked parents and teachers to encourage the candidates and said the Region believed in them and was hopeful this year’s results would be good.
About 31,267 candidates, made up of 13,916 females and 17,351 males are taking part in the examination in the 26 districts of the Region.
Source: GNA
They said the value of the allowance, owed them by the Ghana Education Service, was depreciating and they could not wait forever. The invigilators expressed the sentiment when Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, with some officials from the Regional Education Directorate, visited some examination centres in the region.
The invigilators said though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) paid their travel and transport fees, the GES, which was to pay the invigilating allowance was yet to do so.
The supervisors at the centres confirmed the threat of boycott but said they were encouraging the invigilators to consider the future of the pupils.
Madam Olivia Enyonam Kwawukume, a Supervisor at Dzodze Centre “B”, said the Centre suffered in recruiting invigilators because of the delay in paying invigilation fees, explaining that, many were not prepared to do the work anymore.
Meanwhile, three pregnant candidates defied all odds and joined their mates at the Awudome Senior High Centre to write the examination.
They said irrespective of taunts from some of their colleagues, they were determined to write the examination and further their education after child birth.
Mr Ganyaglo urged the candidates to remain focused and pass with flying colours. He asked parents and teachers to encourage the candidates and said the Region believed in them and was hopeful this year’s results would be good.
About 31,267 candidates, made up of 13,916 females and 17,351 males are taking part in the examination in the 26 districts of the Region.
Source: GNA
Asabedie gets new school complex
Asabedie (E/R), June 16, GNA - Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, Eastern Regional Minister, has commissioned a six-unit classroom complex, at the cost of GH¢ 20,4200 for the Asabedie District Assembly(D/A) Basic School in the Akyemansa District of the Eastern Region.
Work on the facility, comprising a library, an office, and a toilet, with funding from the GETFUND, started in August 2014, and completed in May 2015.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako advised people in the area to take education seriously, and urged children in the community to take advantage of the facility to learn, be obedient, and come out as good citizens to contribute towards the development of their communities.
The commissioning formed part of a three-day working visit of the Regional Minister to the Birim South, Akyemansa and the Birim North Districts
Mr Tom Budu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), advised the youth of the area to use the knowledge acquired for the benefit of the residents.
He thanked government for adding the district to the LEAP programme, which he said, would cater for 1,200 elderly people in the district.
Nana Kwesi Dadzi, Odikro of Asabedie, was grateful for the facility, and appealed for computers to enable the students to become computer literates.
He appealed for the provision of reception for mobile telephone services in the community, to promote business activities.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako also visited an ICT facility at Ofoase, and inspected the 14-kilometre road stretch from Chia through Ofoase to Ayirebi, which is under construction.
The cost of the project to be completed within 14 months, is 16.2 million Ghana Cedis.
As part of his working tour, the Minister also commissioned a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Office at Akyem Awisa, inspected a classroom block under construction at the Akim Swedru Presbyterian School, a school project at Akyem Awisa Presbyterian Boarding School, and a school building under construction at Akim Asawase Methodist School, all in the Birim South District.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako in an interaction with the heads of department in the districts, urged public servants to be principled, determined and exhibit professionalism and commitment in their work, to ensure that the country moved forward
Source: GNA
Work on the facility, comprising a library, an office, and a toilet, with funding from the GETFUND, started in August 2014, and completed in May 2015.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako advised people in the area to take education seriously, and urged children in the community to take advantage of the facility to learn, be obedient, and come out as good citizens to contribute towards the development of their communities.
The commissioning formed part of a three-day working visit of the Regional Minister to the Birim South, Akyemansa and the Birim North Districts
Mr Tom Budu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), advised the youth of the area to use the knowledge acquired for the benefit of the residents.
He thanked government for adding the district to the LEAP programme, which he said, would cater for 1,200 elderly people in the district.
Nana Kwesi Dadzi, Odikro of Asabedie, was grateful for the facility, and appealed for computers to enable the students to become computer literates.
He appealed for the provision of reception for mobile telephone services in the community, to promote business activities.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako also visited an ICT facility at Ofoase, and inspected the 14-kilometre road stretch from Chia through Ofoase to Ayirebi, which is under construction.
The cost of the project to be completed within 14 months, is 16.2 million Ghana Cedis.
As part of his working tour, the Minister also commissioned a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Office at Akyem Awisa, inspected a classroom block under construction at the Akim Swedru Presbyterian School, a school project at Akyem Awisa Presbyterian Boarding School, and a school building under construction at Akim Asawase Methodist School, all in the Birim South District.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako in an interaction with the heads of department in the districts, urged public servants to be principled, determined and exhibit professionalism and commitment in their work, to ensure that the country moved forward
Source: GNA
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