‘I Won't Give You Chalk Today, I Won't Give You Chalk Tomorrow’

At a ceremony to present five sets computers to the Kukurantumi Presbyterian Primary School, the Headteacher Juliet Oppong appealed to the Second Lady Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur to communicate to the government led by President John Mahama the need to provide some basic teaching and learning materials like chalk,teachers log books, note books, registers,etc to ensure that the teachers have the tools and enabling environment to teach.

The Second Lady chastised the Headteacher for making a request from government for these basic and learning materials. She argued that because government has taken it upon itself to provide school uniforms, free lunch for pupils, free sandals and other things, these free goodies is not by force, and parents and teachers are shirking their responsibilities. She told teachers that if there is shortage of chalks, they can use their own money to buy them. She went on to say that the government have pampered parents as the government is providing basic things for their children.

It is the priority of the government to ensure that basic educational materials including chalks is provided constantly to the schools. Teachers across the country have been complaining bitterly about the fact that these basic items are in short supply in schools. The Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education document mandates government to provide essentials like chalks. Why should chalks be the responsibilities of teachers, whose meagre salaries can hardly take them beyond three weeks.

President John Mahama and the Ndc government promised Ghanaians quality education in the run to the 2012 elections, but the opposite direction is where this administration is leading us. Why the Second Lady would be insistent not to provide the school with the basic items despite the numerous promises made by the John Mahama led government towards achieving quality education. For propaganda reasons, they have twisted and defiled the defination of quality education. We now have a government that is not serious about education. The Ndc government has not released funds for the payment of their capitation grants since the payment of last trench for 2013. Ndc has a deliberate agenda to make a sizeable number of Ghanaians illiterate because they think when the people are educated they will not vote for them during elections.

The Second Lady's attitude was a total reflection of the John Mahama administration. President Mahama said Ghanaians have short memories, Ashantis are ungrateful, Ghanaians are not smart, Minority criticisms are ballony etc. Not forgetting Fiifi Kwetey who said Ghanaians behave like kindergarten kids.Solomon Nkansah the National Communication Director of the Ndc saying nothing good seems to come from the Ashanti Region and many more from Ndc government appointees and officials. Ghanaians must correct the mistakes of yesterday to avoid choosing wrong leaders. The best solution is to vote the Ndc out, come 2016.

Alex Tuffour
National Communication Director
NPP Germany.