Major highlights of educational stories for 2016

Innovation and entrepreneurship needed in educational pursuit

Koforidua, Jan. 3, GNA - Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has noted that innovation and entrepreneurship could help improve the pursuit of education.

She therefore called for a shift in mindset, for education to provide a mix of creativity, experiential learning and skill building.

Mrs Trebarh was speaking in a speech read on her behalf in Koforidua at the first Education Camp Conference which brought educationists together to discuss issues about education challenges as well as successes.

Upper West Region recording poor results at BECE - Minister

Wa, Jan 5, GNA - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, said the Region has been recording poor results at Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) for the past three years.

He said comparative analysis of performance of the Region at the BECE showed a gloomy picture as the results kept on worsening each passing year.

Non-professional teachers advised to upgrade themselves

Tamale, Jan. 20, GNA - Alhaji Mohammed Harun Cambodia, Northern Regional Director of Education, has advised non-professional teachers in the Ghana Education Service (GES) to upgrade themselves academically to fill the many vacant positions at the GES.

He has also advised volunteer teachers engaged by some non-governmental organizations to teach to also take advantage of the opportunity given to them to upgrade themselves in the profession so as to gain employment with the GES as professional teachers.

Alhaji Cambodia gave the advice in Tamale on Tuesday during the Community Volunteers Appreciation Day organized by Net Organization for Youth Empowerment and Development (NOYED-Ghana), a non-governmental organisation, to appreciate and reward the volunteers for the services they render to deprived communities.

Investment in tertiary education vital for development - Rector

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Professor Sylvester Achio, Rector of the Accra Polytechnic, has called for more investment into tertiary education and research as they are the main engine through which Ghana could achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

'At no point in history has it been more important to invest in higher education, as a major force in the eradication of poverty and the attainment of sustainable development than at this time', he said.

Speaking during the 23rd matriculation of 4,791 students at the Polytechnic on Friday, Prof Achio, said the current economic crisis that had hit many countries, including Ghana had affected the fortunes of the educational institutions as funding for its GETFund projects had delayed.

Gender parity in enrollment gaining grounds at UCC
Cape Coast, Jan. 12, GNA - The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Domwini Dabire Kuupole has observed that the university's move for gender parity in enrollment is gaining grounds.

He said the gap between males and females narrows every year in the school.

His observation was grounded on a gender-based analysis of enrolment into various programmes at the university's College of Distance Education (CoDE) for the 2015/2016 academic year, which showed a total female enrollment of 8,205 as compared to that of 10,634 males.

Ghanaian student excels in an international competition

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - Ms Elizabeth Amihere, 13, a student of Blessed School Complex in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra, has emerged the first runner-up in the basic level of the 20th Universal Concept Arithmetic System (UCMAS) ABACUS and MENTAL Competition.

The annual competition, which was held in New Delhi, India, last year, saw Master Augustus Maasonus Aleer, a student in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region emerging the second runner-up in the Advanced Level out of 11,000 pupils from about 22 countries throughout the world, with a six-year-old Richel Laryea of Ranson Education Centre in Mamaprobi, Accra, also excelling in the Kindergarten category.

The competition organised by UCMAS ABACUS and MENTAL International for students between the ages of five to 14 years aims at building the concentration and strong memories of participants, Mr Roger Ohemeng, Chief Executive Officer, UCMAS Ghana Limited, stated in Accra on Thursday at a media briefing.

School enrolment up in cocoa growing areas
Hintado (W/R), Feb. 15, GNA - Enrolment in basic schools in some cocoa growing areas in the country has increased in the past five years.

Community basic schools in the areas also increased within the same period.

This came to light when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) toured selected cocoa growing areas in the Western, Ashanti and Central regions, where some pupils learn under cocoa trees due to large numbers.

More students to benefit from President's scholarship

Koforidua, Jan. 28, GNA - Over 50 brilliant but needy students from selected basic schools in the Eastern Region are to benefit from the Presidential Award this year.

The award, initiated in 2011, is organized annually to help support brilliant but needy students in the Region to finance their education at the secondary level.

Telecom University tops private universities
Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - The Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) has been adjudged the best private university in Ghana due to its quality publications, research and web presence.

The 2016 University Web ranking said GTUC beat also 59 public and private institutions to clinch the fourth topmost academic institution in the country.

The University of Ghana came first while the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology placed second. The University of Education, Winneba, clinched the third position out of 63 academic institutions ranked.

Use ICT to enhance academic work-Barton-Odro
Nyinasin (C/R), Feb.19, GNA - Mr. Ebo Barton Odro, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast North Constituency, has advised pupils at the basic level to take advantage of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) to enhance their academic advancement.

He said ICT has over the years shown to be an important element that improves pupils' levels of understanding.

The First Deputy Speaker said this at a ceremony to commission an ICT centre at Nyinasin MA Basic School in Cape Coast aimed at developing interest of the pupils the study of science at the basic school level.

Technical University means new approach to training - NCTE

Ho, Feb 29, GNA - Mr Paul Dzandu, the Deputy Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) Saturday urged Ghana's pioneer technical universities to establish stronger linkages with industry to strengthen the competency base of academic staff and students.

Those institutions must also re-orient their staff, students and auxiliaries to the new culture that comes with their new status, he remarked at the 16th Congregation of the Ho Polytechnic.

Counsel students to accept technical education - President Mahama

Ada (GAR), March 7, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Monday tasked the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to step their counselling and guidance programme on Vocational and Technical Education.

He said the perception that Technical and Vocational Education was meant for students who were not able to make good grades to the Universities and other tertiary institutions was not tenable.

President Mahama said this when he cut the sod for infrastructural projects estimated at $124 million dollars under the Development of Skills for Industry Projects(DSIP ) for 13 Technical institutions at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.

GIJ holds maiden postgraduate congregation
Accra, March 19, GNA - The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) on Friday held its maiden postgraduate congregation, during which 80 students graduated with Master of Arts in various disciplines such as Journalism, Public Relations, Media Management and Development Communications.

Of the total number, males constituted 43 and females 37; the breakdown of the list include Master of Arts Journalism - eight, Media Management 15, Public Relations - 27 and Development Communications 30.

Ghana to become preferred destination for higher education

Ho, March 17, GNA - Ghana is on the threshold to becoming Africa's preferred education tourism destination.

'...we will set Ghana to become Africa's number one education destination,' Mr Kwaku Kwarteng Yeboah, I-Texon Programme Co-ordinator, told the Ghana News Agency at the Volta Regional Higher Education Fair organized by the organisation in Ho.

Performance Contracts ensure good performance in Schools

Navrongo (UER), April 5, GNA - The leadership of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES), to make it mandatory for teachers in Government schools to sign performance contracts.

This would ensure that the teachers take up their duties seriously and students given effective lessons to help them perform well.

The Chairman of the GNAPS in charge of the Kassena-Nankana Municipal and the Kassena-Nankana West District, Mr Remy Affah Kamboe, made the call at the Association's week celebration held at Navrongo in the Upper East Region.

President Mahama cautions WAEC to protect integrity

Tarkwa (W/R), April 12, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama, has tasked the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to protect the integrity of its examinations by preventing the frequent examination leakages.

He said WAEC is an independent examination body therefore Government would not interfere in its operations and asked officials of WAEC to put its house in order.

GIMPA Faculty of Law wins Inter-Schools Debate
Accra, April 14, GNA - The Faculty of Law of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has emerged the winners of the maiden 2016 GIMPA Inter-Schools Debate.

The event was organised for representatives of GIMPA's four Schools: The Faculty of Law, the School of Governance, the School of Technology and the Business School.

It was aimed at advancing sound argument on educative and intellectual discourse among the students.

UPSA Dean calls for strict adherence to quality culture

Accra, April 29, GNA - Professor Goski Alabi, Dean, Centre for International Education and Collaboration, University of Professional Studies, (UPSA) has called for strict adherence to quality culture at all levels of organisations.

She said looking at the global economic competitive index of 2015, out of 140 countries that participated in it, Ghana placed 111; and noted that that this would be made better by focusing on quality as a culture to reduce wastage in the system.

Prof Alabi made these remarks in Accra at the UPSA's Second International Conference on Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development.

Education Minister condemns threats on teachers
Accra, March 30, GNA - Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Minister of Education, has condemned threats by some parents on teachers.

She said any aggrieved parent should report their grievances to the educational secretariat, rather than taking the law into their own hands.

She cautioned teachers and school authorities not to impose illegal fees on school children. since education at the basic level is free.

Tertiary institutions must strengthen quality assurance systems

Cape Coast, June 1, GNA - Professor George Kweku Oduro, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University Of Cape Coast (UCC), has urged tertiary institutions to strengthen their internal quality assurance systems to enhance the calibre of their products.

This, he said, would also help to meet the targets of their supervisory institutions.

He said quality assurance was the systematic review of educational programmes to ensure that acceptable standards of education, scholarship, finance and infrastructure were being upheld at all times.

Ho Polytechnic wins ICT quiz competition
Ho, May 16, GNA - The Ho Polytechnic Computer Science Association has won the maiden edition of the National Computer Science Students Association Quiz and Hackathon Competition.

The competition, facilitated and hosted by the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, is aimed at unearthing the 'next generation of leaders in computing and information technology'.

Institutions that competed in the maiden competition were the University of Cape Coast, Koforidua Polytechnic, Kumasi Polytechnic and Ho Polytechnic.

President Mahama advises graduates to be entrepreneurial

Koforidua, May 28, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday said much as government would not renege on its mandate to create jobs, tertiary institution graduates should also initiate entrepreneurial skills that could make them self-reliant and major employers.

He said with the rising graduate population in Ghana and the entire world, it was becoming extremely difficult for government alone to absorb them and, therefore, developing entrepreneurial skills would help in reducing the high incidence of unemployment.

President Mahama said this when he addressed the 16th and 17th graduation ceremony of 354 students of the All Nations University College, a private university in Koforidua, on the theme:"The Growth and Development of Private Universities, and the Impact on the Socio-economic Development of Ghana."

Takoradi Polytechnic Rector honoured
Takoradi, June1, GNA - Reverend Professor Frank Eshun, Rector of the Takoradi Polytechnic h has urged students to aspire for quality learning and research in order to develop their cognitive abilities.

'It will also help you find solutions to myriad of problems facing the society. Your time in school is not the time for enjoyment, take your studies seriously and you will not regret doing that in the near future,' he said.

School replaces corporal punishment with apology letters

Ho, June 08, GNA - The Ho Polytechnic Basic School has instituted the writing of apology letters to replace corporal punishment in the School.

Pupils now write apology letters, after a written report on the misdemeanor, and read them in front of their mates, with a promise not to repeat the wrongdoing.

The School authorities announced the initiative at a Parent Teacher Association meeting on Tuesday.

The authorities told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the initiative was in response to directives from the Ghana Education Service (GES) on the use of corporal punishment.

BECE candidate gives birth on examination day
Kwahu-Nketepa (E/R), June 16, GNA - A 19-year-old candidate in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from Kwahu Nketepa in the Eastern Region delivered a baby girl on Monday, a few hours before her first paper started.

The candidate and new mother still defied the odds to sit for all the papers for the day.

GES urged to pay attention to students with special needs

Accra, June 30, GNA -Ms Anita Neequaye, a 25 year- old lady with a condition called Muscular dystrophy (MD), has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES), to pay more attention to students with special needs who partake in examination.

MD is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion (walking or moving). The disease is characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.

Guidance and counselling units in schools must be resourced

Cape Coast, July 8, GNA - Mrs Bridgette Nzima-Mensah, Central Regional Guidance and Counseling Coordinator, has expressed the need for effective and honest career guidance programmes if the country is to make full utilisation of its human resources.

This, she, said would prevent thousands of people becoming frustrated, disappointed and unhappy because of inappropriate career ambitions.

Mrs Nzima-Mensah was speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the side-lines of the opening ceremony of a two-day Career Guidance and Counseling seminar in Cape Coast on Thursday.

Government urged to adopt clear language policy
Tamale, July 19, GNA - Stakeholders from various sectors have called for the need for government to adopt a clear language policy to specify the roles of 'our Ghanaian languages and other languages in our national life'.

They said the need for a national language policy 'is a necessity and not a choice' adding that 'this policy must have a legal backing to ensure its enforcement'.

This was contained in a communiqué issued after a two-day language policy conference organised in Tamale by the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT).

Government approves recruitment of lecturers to public universities

Ho, July 24, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday said government has given approval for the recruitment of 1,018 new lecturers in all public universities.

He said approval of the list presented by the institutions was to boost the faculties of the country's universities.

President Mahama said this at the maiden graduation ceremony of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho on Saturday.

Kofi Annan urges universities to tackle challenges of global peace

Accra, July 28, GNA- Institutions of higher education, have been entreated to address the deficits of democratic governance and the erosion of social cohesion by tackling the challenge of global peace and security.

Mr Kofi Annan, the Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said universities could play powerful roles in attacking contemporary challenges of global peace and security, which have been heightened by growing economic and social inequalities.

Government reviews students' loans upwards- President Mahama

Ho, Oct 20, GNA - Government has approved the upward adjustment of student loans administered by the Students' Loan Trust to range from GH₵ 1,000.00 and GH₵ 2,000.00, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.

He said government had also established Students' Loans plus to cater for needy but brilliant tertiary students throughout the county.

President Mahama announced this when he addressed students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences at the Trafalgar Hall as part of his four-day campaign tour of the Volta Region.

42 Community Day Schools ready to admit students - Minister

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Minister of Education has affirmed Government's commitment at building new Community Day Senior High Schools (SHS) as well as expanding the capacity of the existing ones in the country.

She said out of the 123 Community Day SHS under construction, the first batch of 42 schools is ready to admit SHS students for the 2016/2017 academic year, and some even admitted students well ahead of the completion schedule.

Ex-President Kufuor honoured by UG Alumni Association

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor and four other prominent Ghanaians have been honoured with Membership into the University of Ghana Alumni Association.

At the 28th Alumni Lecture on Thursday, Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Emeritus Professor Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, former Director of the Language Centre, UG, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, the former Pro-Vice Chancellor and Current Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, and Mr Kofi Esson, former Chief of Staff at Tullow Oil Ghana Limited, were honoured to become members of the Alumni.

Technical universities need funding - Professor Adei

Takoradi, Nov. 16, GNA - Professor Stephen Adei, the former Rector of GIMPA, has said technical education is the most expensive form of education and that the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities must receive funding from government.

He said the funding per students in technical universities must be much higher than that of students in the traditional universities.

University of Education develops new Masters programme

Winneba (C/R), Nov. 29, GNA -The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has come out new masters and degrees programme for postgraduate and undergraduate students to promote academic excellence.

Professor Mawutor Avoke, Vice Chancellor of the University made this known at the 21st congregation of the University in Winneba. GNA