Name changing will not solve educational problems - Amenowode

Ve-Deme (V/R), Dec. 1, GNA - Mr Joseph Amenowode, National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for the Hohoe South Constituency on Tuesday said the new educational system, which the government intended to introduce from next year would not solve the educational problems if its content, motivation of teachers, effective supervision and the improvement in infrastructure were not addressed.

He said the "the junior and senior high school concept the government wanted to introduce with an additional one year to the existing junior and senior secondary school would just be continuing with the same educational system under a different name.

"Changing the name of the educational system per se does not mean anything. It will not by itself bring improvement in the educational system".

Mr Joseph Amenowode, who was speaking to the GNA after holding rallies at Liate, Leklebi, Logba, Tafi and Ve-Golokuati about his aspirations when voted into Parliament said, "there is the need for proper infrastructure and supervision within our educational system." He said given that the existing educational concept did not come out of the blue and that it was drawn up by experts who saw the need for its introduction but that it had come under criticism not because it was bad but that workshops for the junior secondary schools could not be adequately provided for and that there was also the lack of teachers to handle some subjects.

"What could be done in the face of scarce resources was to choose two or three regions to well equip their junior secondary schools with workshops within a year and on rotational basis within three years or so all schools countrywide would have workshops and the demands of the current concept would have been addressed."

Mr Amenowode said what ever happened in changing the educational concept it must be recognised that it was not all pupils that could become academicians.

"Some children will end up as excellent tradesmen or artisans which calls for skilled training in different vocations."

He said the GETFund should be used for infrastructure development and to improve scholarship schemes for needy but brilliant children in the society.

The NDC parliamentary candidate said when voted into Parliament, he would support the establishment of Area IT centres by providing at least one computer to each community to be pooled into an area centre.

"I will put in place incentive packages like accommodation for teachers and reward them for efficiency, start a "child self support" system by providing start up materials for children beginning education and encourage and support the establishment of libraries in each area and town and supplement materials for learning such as exercise books, pens and pencils.

Mr Amenowode said an annual preparatory test for primary six and JSS 3 students would be done for students in the constituency to prepare them for best results that would guarantee them entry into the university.

He called on the electorate to vote for him and Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC presidential candidate to improve education, as the key to development.