Bueman SHS Headmaster calls for national conference on education

Accra, Nov. 19, GNA - Mr Gordon Kofi Ansah, Headmaster of Bueman Senior High School (SHS) in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region, has advocated a national conference to arrest the fallen academic standards in the country.   He suggested that the consultation should involve policy makers and implementers as well as parents, school heads, retired educationists, students’ representatives, political parties and other stakeholders.   Mr Ansah who made the suggestion in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Jasikan expressed worry that though serious efforts are being made by individuals, organisations and government to develop educational pursuit particularly at the basic and SHS level, the sector remained threatened by myriad of problems.   He noted that educational standards in the district have declined, citing some schools which performed poorly in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination as example.   Mr Ansah called on the District Assembly, parents, teachers and opinion leaders to collaborate to find solutions to the problem.        “Despite the fact that some teachers absent themselves from school and engage in alcoholism and other acts that affect academic work, placing the blame of the woes of the country’s education solely at the door steps of teachers and school authorities, would mean over-simplification of the issue,” he said.   Mr Ansah asked Parents-Teacher Associations, and opinion leaders to ensure that teachers are disciplined and carry out their duties.    He noted that education would continue to form the foundation for national development hence the need for comprehensive measures to tackle problems affecting teaching and learning.   He appealed to students to take advantage of government’s educational interventions and study hard so that they could pass their examinations, and acquire knowledge and skills required for national development.   Mr Ansah advised school children to use the Internet and other Information Communication Technology to enhance their studies and not to use the facility for fraud and other acts of immorality.   “Whilst some parents and guardians work hard to pay school fees, provide educational needs, and take good care of their children, some students engage in drug abuse, alcoholism, truancy and sexual promiscuity.   “ However, some parents are irresponsible and do not know where their children, particularly the girls, sleep in the night and fail to pay their school fees or provide the educational needs of their children. Some men shirk their parental role to women,” Mr Ansah said.   He observed that though education might not necessarily result in direct employment for all school leavers, it would help them to create their own jobs and shape their lifestyles and make them law abiding citizens.   GNA... Read Full Story