NGO Advises PTAs/SMCs

Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School Management Committees (SMCs) have been urged to closely monitor the distribution of resources allocated to schools to ensure that every school gets its fair share.
They have also been asked to educate parents to take keen interest in the education of their wards and constantly monitor their academic performance.

Mr Abdul-Karim Ziblim, Programme Manager of Wuni Zaligu Development Association (WUZDA) a local NGO involved in education, made these calls at a day's workshop for PTAs and SMCs in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region last Thursday.

The workshop was organised by the NGO and sponsored by the German Development Service. Participants at the workshop were treated to topics such as: “The review of human resource development under GPRS 1, education, skill, manpower and sport development for accelerated growth, increasing access to and participation in education and training".

Other topics treated were: " Improving the quality and efficiency in the delivery of educational services, establishment of PTAs and SMCs, tenure of office of PTA/SMC and SMC/PTA monitoring and supervision".

Mr Ziblim urged the PTAs to sensitise their communities on the need to send their children to school, especially with the introduction of the capitation grant. He also told them to educate the school children on the need to avoid absenteeism.

He further appealed to PTAs to assist parents to educate their female children on the dangers of teenage pregnancy, adding that, if they were left loose they would become a burden on their parents and the society.

Mr Ziblim said the encouragement of active citizens participation in the affairs of schools at the basic level would lead to a qualitative improvement in both teaching and learning.

He said there are plans to network all the PTAs/SMCs in the Tamale Metropolis to enable them to share ideas and experiences and also have a common voice that would play an effective advocacy role in bringing change for improvements in education.