NPP Director of Communications, Yaw Buaben Asamoa
The NPP says President Akufo-Addo has shown courage, conviction, commitment and compassion in transforming the education sector of the country.
Listing the achievement of the Akufo-Addo government in the education sector yesterday, in its weekly ‘Leadership Series’, the party’s Director of Communications, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, noted that the government has put in place several interventions to transform teaching and learning and improve educational outcomes, as outlined in the Education Strategic Plan, 2018 – 2030.
Teacher reforms
Mr Buaben Asamoa said apart from Free SHS, the government has implemented many reforms in the education sector. They include converting all 46 Colleges of Education to Degree awarding institutions affiliated to the five public universities to promote perfect competition for teacher education in Ghana; developing National Teachers Standards for pre-service teachers; developing National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework to guide teacher education institutions in the development of relevant world class curricula; and developing National Teacher Education Assessment Policy to ensure the training of high-quality teachers fit for teaching the new standards-based curriculum in basic schools.
Other reforms include the setting up of National Implementation Support Team made of NCTE, the five universities with affiliation with the 46 Colleges of Education to ensure the smooth implementation of the new Curriculum; introduction of a Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Assessment Tool for all 46 Colleges of Education; improving the conditions of service of Principals of Colleges of Education; developing a 3-semester top up programme for in-service teachers to upgrade and acquire Bachelors in Education; paying the migration arrears to tutors in Colleges of Education, among others.
Licensure exams
On teacher licensure exams, Mr Asamoa urged Ghanaians to reject former President Mahama’s promise to cancel the policy, which he started himself.
“Anything the NDC started in Government that the NPP is trying to improve, they have threatened to cancel. Everything they could not do, they are pretending they can now do.” Mr Asamoa said.
He added: “As Education Minister, licensure exams was piloted and commenced under the supervision of now running mate Prof Opoku-Agyemang.”
“In fact, on the 21st of September, 2016, the front page of The Graphic was emboldened with the headline ‘New Teacher Licensing Starts From 2016/17 Academic Year’. The same running mate is now singing their cancellation song,” he added.
Mr Asamoa went further to give a chronology of steps that the teacher licensure exams has gone through, exposing the NDC of double standards.
Teacher promotion
On teacher promotion and salary adjustments, Mr Asamoa noted that the former expensive and laborious face-to-face process, which was riddled with perceptions of corruption and victimization, has been abolished and replaced by an aptitude test. He added that newly-promoted teachers also see a reflection of the adjustment of their salaries within one month of being promoted while teachers who acquire post-graduate degrees in their field get promoted out of turn (within 2 years instead of 4).
He also mentioned a new set of conditions of service that is currently being worked on to support teachers.
Maintain NPP
Mr Asamoa called on Ghanaians to maintain President Akufo-Addo to protect the education sector.
“Education is a major game-changer and provides the shortest route between deprivation and prosperity. It is a valuable tool for upward social mobility. An educated society is more conscious of governance, health, family planning and so many others. An educated, skilled society is key to an industrialised society, and ultimately leads to better living conditions.
“The NDC would rather deprive you of education. Given the opportunity, they will cancel Free SHS. They are not committed to its funding nor do they believe Ghanaian children deserve the enlightenment of education. Where there is education, propaganda dies,” he said.
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