GOVT URGED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO EDUCATION

From Samuel Agbewode, Ho

 

A former Principal of the Peki College of Education, Mr. S.W.K. Tsadidey has called on the government to pay special attention to the educational sector to help ensure that education is made relevant for the rapid development of the nation.

Mr. Tsadidey observed that the school environment in most basic and second cycle institutions across the country remains unattractive, as poor school infrastructure still persists.

The former Principal, who made the call at this year’s World Teachers Day celebration organized by the Volta Regional Secretariat of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) stressed that for the nation to see an appreciable level of development, much attention should be given to education.

Mr. Tsadidey continued that the government, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), ought to tackle matters of education holistically by involving all stakeholders particularly teachers before coming out with polices that would concern them.

 

He expressed regret that even though the teacher remains  the pivot around which all educational activities evolve, they are most of the time not consulted in the decision making process.

 

The former Principal pointed out that, for example, in building classrooms for schools, the authorities have failed to consider the interest of the teacher, as classroom blocks are provided without teachers’ quarters.

 

According to Mr. Tsadidey, matters concerning education have now occupied the minds of politicians, but insisted that talking was not enough, but implementing the policies they have outlined after the elections was what Ghanaians expect.

 

Mr. Tsadidey noted that the declining level of discipline in schools was another issue that should be of much concern to all stakeholders. According to him, the situation where parents openly assault teachers in the presence of their students and pupils for the simple reason of correcting them when they misconduct themselves, should stop.

 

He also cautioned teachers to refrain from negative practices that would tarnish the image of the teaching profession, such as drunkenness and lateness to school.

The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Ford Kamel recalled the high respect society  accorded teachers in the past and wondered what had now gone wrong. He, therefore, called on teachers to carve a new image for themselves.

 

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=48304