Dr Hilda Ampadu speaking at the launch
The Executive Director of the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), Dr Hilda Ampadu, has called on Ghanaians to protect the gains made in the education sector under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by voting massively for the NPP on December 7.
Speaking at a short ceremony in Accra to launch the Graduate Research Trust Fund, Dr Ampadu said the government has shown commitment to developing a holistic education that leaves no part of the educational ladder behind.
“From the increase in capitation grant at the basic school level and expanding the number of schools that access the free feeding programme, through the masterpiece and innovative Free Senior High School Policy to the restoration of nursing and teacher trainees allowance, to the changes at the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) to make tertiary education less expensive coupled with the absorption of utility tariffs by the government and the dedicated GHC1.5 million to support post-graduate studies in the country together with the prompt payment of Graduate thesis and bursaries grant, the development in the education sector has been enormous and the next Akufo-Addo government will see to the sustainability and protection of the gains made,” she said.
Research critical
She added that Ghana as a developing country cannot underestimate the critical importance of research in its socio-economic development.
She noted that decisions on the country’s development “must be those that are grounded in well-researched findings in order to help the country make informed choices that are directly tailored towards the needs of its citizens and its development.”
She bemoaned how, over the years, critical research conducted by Ghanaian students had been left to gather dust on the book shelves of the various universities.
“The few that have not been allowed to gather dust are often funded by foreign organisations and institutions. These foreign institutions then turn to own the findings of the research and use them to develop their own country or bring the recommendations made back to us in a form of consultancy materials at outrageous cost,” she indicated.
To this end, she said the Graduate Research Trust Fund has come at the right time to solicit for all the scattered funding opportunities and put them together in one pool for easy accessibility.
“I am hopeful that, with the renowned Prof (Mrs) Esi Awuah at the helm of the management of this fund, judging from her record as a distinguished academic and how she transformed the then newly built University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), this fund, within a twinkle of an eye, will grow to become the go-to support fund for student research in the country,” she said.
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