Government to hand over Mission Schools

Cape Coast, Aug. 30, GNA - The Minister of Education and Sports, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo on Tuesday said the government was considering handing over Mission Schools back to Mission and stressed the need for them to re-dedicate themselves to undertake the task.

He said, they should develop policies and regulate in consonance with government educational policies, re-introduce and effectively monitor their local management systems to ensure effective teaching and learning and good management practices at all levels.

Mr Osafo-Maafo, stated this in a speech read for him by his Deputy, Mrs Agelina Baiden Amissah at the opening of the 31st Annual Conference of Managers of Educational Units (COMEU) at Cape Coast. The five-day conference is on the theme: "Strengthening the educational partnership between government and religious bodies," and is being attended by 90 participants from all over the country. Mr. Osafo-Maafo also stressed the need to ensure that discipline and moral education were enforced in schools to help check moral decadence that has engulfed the society and said the government will delegate "certain special factions" to the managers of Mission Schools, and reserve other rights, since it will not be prudent to allow them full responsibility.

He said in order to strengthen and sustain the educational partnership, the way forward is for both the government and religious bodies to consciously and seriously commit themselves to their respective collaborative and collective roles in educational delivery, adding, "this will once and for all clear the confusion, misinterpretation and misrepresentation surrounding the issue of handing over.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo further noted that situations where there is the need to have a look at appointment and posting of teachers, especially the head not belonging to the Mission of the School, he or she heads or teachers, must be handled with tact and caution to avoid conflict and misrepresentation and disappointment.

Mrs. Amissah took the opportunity to repeat warnings to school heads not to send children home to collect school fees. The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, assured the participants that government recognises the immense contribution that sector had made towards education development in the country, and also assured them of the needed support.

He further assured them that concerns raised on the educational reform programme would be addressed before it is fully implemented. "The National President of COMEU, Reverend Dr Richard Foli, said the educational units are indispensable, and synonymous to quality education delivery and must therefore be maintained, improved and strengthened to facilitate discipline, high moral standard and academic excellence in the country.

He urged managers to ensure that the change of school uniforms was done gradually.

Ms. Eunice Amba Amuah, the Deputy Regional Director of Education, who chaired the function, called for closer collaboration between traditional rulers, educational units and government to help achieve greater excellence in educational delivery.