Category: Education

Cape Coast, Dec 26, GNA – More than 1,500 young girls in selected Junior High Schools (JHS) within the Central and Eastern Regions have benefited from the girls in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training.

The four-year partnership project between the Ghana Education Service(GES) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) aims at promoting girls’ competency and participation in STEM courses to equally climb the academic ladder with boys.

The young girls drawn from 400 schools undertook a weeklong camping trip to equip themselves with practical and experimental courses in STEM to help them prepare to take up science related subjects moving forward.

The weeklong camping was on the theme:“Promotion of Girls Competency in Mathematics and Science with Gender-Responsive Pedagogy.”

The camp meeting formed part of activities held under the KOICA STEM project to groom and train the young girls to take charge and enjoy equal opportunities in the technological workspace as the World evolves.

In the Central Region, a total of 999 pupils selected from five districts namely Cape Coast, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Gomoa East, and Agona East participated.

Mrs Olivia Serwaa Opare, the Director in charge of National STEM Resources Center of GES, at the closing ceremony said the introduction of STEM in the country 21st century was timely because the world was evolving around technology hence the need to equip the younger generation to catch up with it.

There was therefore the need to target the young generation, especially young girls, who were mostly sidelined in taking up roles in STEM-related areas.

Mrs Opare said the project had an objective of increasing women participation in STEM courses through enhanced opportunities for girls in Maths and Science education.

Additionally, it seeks to promote a more effective pedagogy in Maths and Science that would strengthen the education system and provide a gilt-friendly school environment towards the socia-cultural factors creating a negative perception towards girls’ education, especially in STEM.

Though the outcome of the STEM project would manifest in the years to come, the Director was optimistic that the country was making headway in the quest to improve education through STEM.

She noted that the project was leaving no stone unturned therefore more teachers have been trained and empowered to provide the young girls with practical aspects of the Maths and Science to support in that regard.

The Director urged young girls to be humble, committed, focused, and determined in their efforts to climb the success ladder.

Maame Ekua Essoun Woode, a JHS two pupil at the Elmina Methodist School sharing her experience during the camping said it had insightful and educative experience on her side.

She noted that the facilitators and mentors have increased her confidence in taking up leadership roles and difficulty courses which she thought was male subjects.

Maame Woode appealed to the Government to provide more Science and Maths equipment and logistics to some deprived schools to leave no girl behind in the STEM agenda.

She called for the construction of modernized Science laboratory at their school to support them during practical and experimental part of their studies.

For his part, Mr Kwasi Abankwa Anokyi, the Project Officer and Information Communication Technology Coordinator of the KOICA STEM Project said the Ministry as part of the project distributed Science and Mathematics logistics and materials to all the beneficiary schools.

The move was also to improve access to STEM equipment in schools to fastrack the project for a positive result.

Also, the project has offered free sanitary pads to all pupils partaking in the project to ensure the young girls focus and commit to the whole agenda of improving STEM in the education sector and subsequently on the field.

Mr Anokyi spoke there will be Regional and National quizes for the beneficiaries to assess the learning outcome of the training and camping.

He expressed gratitude to KOICA and GES management for the support and commitment towards the project.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Service Persons (NSPs) working with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are embarking on an exercise to educate food vendors on hygiene and best practices ahead of the festive season, Mr Rodrick Daddey-Agyei, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Charge of Food has announced.

He said the NSPs are expected to visit eateries such as restaurants, chop bars and street food vendors to schedule them for inspection and certification.

“Some of the people selling along the roads do not know the right thing so, they will be educated to know what is expected of them, especially the use of potable water and a hygienic environment,” he added.

Speaking in an interview with the Deputy CEO of the FDA, Mr Daddey- Agyei urged the public to patronise restaurants that have certification and permits to operate, saying it was important for Ghanaians to help the FDA with necessary Information, to be able clump down on those without permits for them to do the right thing.

He said ” Food safety is everybody’s business, if you are assisting us and pointing out places that do not have hygiene permits it will help the FDA to take them on, ensure they do the right thing, and the benefit will be for the safety of everyone”.

“We consider the NSPs to be great assets because we have trained them and will be going round with authorised FDA personnel to sight and identify areas that do not have permits.

The FDA Deputy CEO urged the public to examine the integrity of products purchased on the market this festive season to ensure safety as expired products or bloated packages contain harmful substances and could affect people when consumed.

He said: “When you see a product that is bloated, please do not buy it, make sure you report to the nearest FDA office because a bloated product means there is a micro-biological contamination within the product which is producing gas and some of these products can kill people almost instantly”

“If you press and you hear what we call the tik tok sound, ‘ke ke ke’, be careful, there is an issue with it so please be on the lookout, look at the date markings, manufacturing and expiry dates, and batch number. Watch out for dented cans that have got burnt portions, be careful of cans that are rusted”

He added that, “we sometimes arrest people who had packaged low grade rice into nice bags to look authentic but remember, the FDA is your friend, if you find anyone guilty, please kindly inform the FDA and we will make sure we deal with the issues.

Mr Daddey-Agyei also warned the public not to be entertained by promotional products on the markets, as some of such products could have their expiry dates changed.

He also advised the public to check out for FDA hygiene permits at hotels, restaurants, kitchens, and fast-food joints. “The hygiene permits need to be displayed, if not, then those places may not be the right place to be, you eat there at your own risk.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kpordoave (VR), Dec. 21-Torgbi Dr. Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe II, Dufia of Kpordoave and Divisional chief of the Klikor Traditional Area has cut the sod for some educational infrastructural projects for the Akatsavakpor M/A basic school, in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region.

The facilities to be constructed include the teachers’ common room, ICT centre, Library, a urinal and a mechanised borehole.

The project, a collaborative effort by the traditional ruler and his partners Prestodea Care Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, working to better the lot of children in deprived communities across Ghana is valued at GHC 140,000.00 and is expected to take three months to complete.

Torgbi Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe, speaking at the ceremony emphasised the important role of education in the socio-economic transformation of nations and called for the need to prioritise and invest massively in the sector.

Borrowing a quote from Nelson Mandela – he said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world.”

The traditional ruler and businessman said, “our children’s future is very much dependent on the collective efforts of parents, teachers and all well-meaning individuals in society-it is a fundamental right to educate a child no matter where they live, however delinquency gives birth to poor education in most communities hence my desire to support efforts being made to improve upon education in Kpordoave and surrounding communities.”

He said given the authority to oversee was not power to manipulate but an honour of perfection, adding that “a leader does not betray his subjects to his interests but honours the people who gave him the mandate to lead them.”

He commended Prestodea Care Foundation for attending to his calls and taking up the initiative, adding that it was his hope that academic work in the school would be greatly enhanced upon the completion of the project.

“Our teachers will not have to sit any longer under mango trees to prepare their lesson notes, ” he stated.

He stated that it had been his interest and desire to transform Kpordoave and the Klikor traditional area since his inauguration as traditional ruler and not to engage in the fraudulent sale of reserved lands for project development.

He cautioned against such acts, saying his interest was to transform Kpordoave and the Klikor traditional area and not to fraudulently sell land at the expense of future generations.

Torgbi Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe II assured the people of Kpordoave of his resolve to guard against any unscrupulous acts by selfish and greedy persons selling the reserved lands and to resist any further attempts by these individuals including legal actions to change the status quo.

Torgbi Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe II noted that he was not against the sale of individual family lands but rather reserved lands for development projects.

He added that as Protocol officer of the Klikor traditional area, it was his duty to re-enforce decency and dignity within the traditional area and assured Torgbuiga Addo VIII, Paramount Chief of the Klikor Traditional Area of his readiness to explore the many opportunities within the traditional area to help generate the needed funds for developmental projects.

Dr Samuel Peprah, Founder of Prestodea Care Foundation, said the Akatsavakpor Basic School’s project was in line with the vision of Prestodea Care Foundation.

He said having paid a working visit to the school following Torgbui’s intervention, Prestodea Care Foundation took the decision to tackle the infrastructure deficit identified in the school and to “ensure that at the completion of the project we incorporate new and modern equipment and teaching and learning materials, in our bid to restore hope to the teachers and pupils of the school.”

He said Prestodea initially set out to help humanity by restoring hope to the hopeless. This the foundation does by getting children off the street and putting them through school so they grow to become useful citizens who can contribute to nation building.

Dr Peprah said Prestodea Care Foundation had now expanded that drive to cover the provision of infrastructure projects for schools in deprived communities and building of ICT labs to help children in those communities catch up with the fast-growing world of technology.

He pledged the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that the project was completed on time and applauded Torgbui Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe for his foresight and commitment to the welfare of the people of Kpordoave and surrounding communities and advised other traditional rulers to emulate such good and worthy causes.

Mr. Ignatius Kofi Futukpor, headmaster of Akatsavakpor Basic School, expressed appreciation on behalf of the school to Torgbui Korkudjaah-Boafo Tamakloe II and Prestodea Care Foundation for the project, which he observed would go a long way in addressing the many infrastructure shortfalls of the school.

He outlined many challenges facing the school, including inadequate classrooms, lack of a decent place of convenience and urinals for both teachers and pupils, which he said was hampering smooth academic work.

Notable among these challenges is the lack of staff accommodation which made it difficult for pupil-interactions after school hours as most teachers lived outside of the community and called on other NGO’s and well-meaning individuals to help the school address these challenges.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Dec 21, GNA – Ghana has spent a total of US$323,757,110 on HIV and AIDS related expenditure for a three-year period, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has said.

The total HIV and AIDS related expenditure for the year 2019, 2020, and 2021 were US$88,648,568, US$107,280,242 and US$127,828,300 respectively.

Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, the Director General of Ghana AIDS Commission, said the funds for each respective year was the total contribution made by the Government, the private sector and international donation.

Dr Atuahene made this known at the launch and dissemination of the National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) report for 2019, 2020, and 2021.

NASA is a comprehensive and systemic resource tracking method that describes the financial flow, actual disbursements and expenditures on HIV and AIDS programmes.

The report focuses on three dimensions, which include financing, provision and consumption as well as the overall estimates on the expenditures of the public, private sectors and the international donors on the national HIV and AIDS response.

The Director General explained that findings from NASA 2019, 2020 and 2021 also showed a similar trend of over dependence on international sources in financing the national HIV response.

He said there was the need to use the report as an advocacy tool for re-prioritising HIV spending as the country sought to address the complex inequalities in resource allocation.

“We all have a part to play in defining how we introduce and infuse quality into the daily activities of the national response,” Dr Atuahene stated.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Executive Oversight Minister for GAC and Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, launching the report, commended the NASA steering committee for providing technical support for the exercise.

He urged the Commission to continuously engage government, development partners and all the multi-sectoral stakeholders.

Dr Afriyie said that would help mobilise adequate funds to finance the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 to achieve the national targets and end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Mr Emmanuel Tetteh Larbi, the GAC Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, giving highlight of the report, said even though the quantum of funding for HIV kept increasing in the years under review, HIV spending was more than the estimated resources.

He said HIV care and treatment took the largest share of HIV financing, followed by programme enablers, health systems strengthening, and HIV prevention with the report indicating that HIV response in Ghana was heavily dependent on international funds.

Mr Larbi thus called for local resources mobilisation, and institutionalised routine HIV and AIDS resource tracking.

Mrs Cynthia Adobea Asante, Representing the UNAIDS Country Director, commended the GAC for the report and pledged continued support to ensure that the vulnerable and marginalised were protected.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra – The 1997-year group of the Accra New Town (ANT) Experimental 1 Junior High School (JHS) has donated laptops and other Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment to their alma mater.

The items, which were worth over GHC26,000, included three laptops and bags, two Epson projectors, three external hard drives and three computer accessories, aimed to support ICT education in the school.

Presenting the items at the Maiden Graduation, Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the school, the President of the ANT97 Year Group, Prince Kudjo Agbomadzi, said the gesture, which was funded by the Vice President of the group, Benjamin Kofi Quarshie was also to advance learning of other subjects at the school.

Mr Agbomadzi, who was also the Chairperson for the Speech and Prize-Giving Day, said, “in the era of technological advancements, it is vital for young students to get access to computers and other equipment to facilitate teaching and learning.”

He added that, it was important for the pupils to have practical experience with computers so they could develop their skills and advance in education and other fields of endeavour.

He encouraged other old students to come on board to support the school to raise responsible adults and future leaders.

He expressed appreciation to the Group Chairman of Allied Consortium SA, Mr Quarshie and other members for their support as they looked forward to future contributions to the growth of the school to become one of the best in the country.

Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Director of Education at Ayawaso Central Municipal Directorate, Mr Augustus Owusu-Agyemfrah, commended the group for the gesture, adding that it would go a long way to improve the learning of ICT at the school.

He said, “other old students must learn from this gesture and come on board to support their school to raise the next generation of future leaders.”

He urged the Headmaster of the school and staff to ensure that the items remained at the school and were used for the intended purpose.

Mr Owusu-Agyemfrah, who was the Guest Speaker for the occasion, urged parents to make the education of their wards a priority while challenging the pupils to study, be disciplined and eschew all forms of social vices to become responsible citizens.

He said, the standard of education at the school was on the high and efforts must be made to ensure it was maintained.

The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Nyavor, said the 1997 Year Group had been instrumental in the growth of the school for the past years and praised them for their efforts.

“They helped connect electricity to the school and donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth GHC20,000 the outbreak of COVID-19 two years ago,” he recalled.

He appealed to other old students and local authorities to help renovate their school block as well as provide a proper ICT science laboratory to support his bid to grow the school to become one of the best in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Savelugu (N/R), Dec 19, GNA – A total of 581 teachers and Ghana Education Service (GES) officials in the Savelugu, Tolon and Kumbungu Districts have been honoured for their dedication towards the adoption of Learning through Play methodology to improve learning outcomes.

They received certificates of competence, admiration, and recognition, as well as branded polo shirts, while 275 of them deemed to be exceptional, received branded laptop bags.

The awards were intended to show appreciation and inspire the teachers in their efforts to ensure that learners attend school, stay in school, and successfully finish their academic journeys while enjoying their learning through playful activities.

Aside the teachers, PTA/SMCs of Kpatuli Zaharia E/A Basic and Yoo R/C Primary were also recognised for their increased parental involvement in school affairs and resource mobilisation to implement activities in a developed action plan, and they each received 30 plastic chairs to facilitate their meetings in school.

The prizes were awarded to the beneficiaries during ceremonies held concurrently at Savelugu, Kumbungu and Tolon in the Northern Region.

Right To Play, an international non-governmental organisation, held the event as part of its Gender Responsive Education and Transformation (GREAT) project and the Partners in Play Project (P3).

During the awards ceremony at Savelugu, Mr Yussif Yakubu, Project Officer at Right To Play, said the awards’ recipients were chosen through a joint field visit with GES officers to observe the teachers’ lesson delivery using a set of criteria that included lesson planning, group management, communication and facilitation, discussion, supportive environment, inclusive environment, and child involvement.

Mr Yakubu said “The capacity of Teachers has been strengthened to include play in their class delivery and indicated that it transformed the teaching practice of Ghanaian teachers for the better, leading to an improvement in the learning result of children” through the GREAT and P3 initiatives.

The GREAT project’s ultimate outcome is to improve quality primary education for girls and boys in the country, while the P3 seeks to empower children to become creative, engaged, and dedicated to lifelong learning with the goal to improve the quality of education for girls and boys aged six to 12 years through playful learning.

Mr Yakubu said “Data from the Ministry of Education on the 2021 National Standardized Test, for Right To Play’s 60 direct schools, indicates that 30 per cent of Basic (4) learners can read and do Maths with no support, while 27% are able to read age-appropriate materials with little support.

The same data on the 72 indirect schools indicates high number (284.07) of learners can read and do Maths with no support, and about 276 learners require more support to read and do Maths.”

He said under the GREAT project, the organisation had so far launched “The Girls’ Mentorship Programme at the Circuit and school levels, reactivated the school clubs in all 65 implementing schools, developed and implemented action plans by PTA/SMC members on child protection, gender, and environmental issues, construction and renovation of school blocks at Moglaa M/A Primary School and Tolon Model Primary School, construction of two multi-purpose play spaces and construction of five urinaries with changing rooms for girls.”

He expressed the belief that “With this intervention by Right To Play, our children will not be left behind, as they will experience a new way of teaching methodology, learning through play approach like other children in developed countries.”

Dr Issahaque Munawaru, Savelugu Municipal Director of Education commended Right To Play for implementing the projects in the region, saying they complemented the government’s efforts to improve education delivery and outcomes in the area.

Mr Tia Anthony, Head Teacher at Pong-Tamale Experimental Primary School and an awardee, commended Right To Play for the honour, saying it would push them to do more to enhance children’s learning outcomes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Adausena (E/R), Dec.14, GNA- The Newmont Africa-Akyem Mine, in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has constructed and handed over four-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities and four workshops worth GHS31.000.00 to the Abirem community.

The Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI) is an initiative of the traditional authorities and the Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAKDeF) that aims to encourage the youth to take up technical related courses to help reduce unemployment in the district.

At a short ceremony to inaugurate the edifice, Mr Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, the Board Chairman of NAKDeF, said the gesture was to foster the employability of the youth through educational and skills development and to support the economic and social development in the Newmont Akyem mine catchment areas.

He said the AVTI had been in operation since February this year and the first cohort of 96 per cent students were on full scholarship from NAkDeF.

He said within the first year of operation, the Institute had been registered and accredited by the Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) Services under the Ministry of Education.

The Institute has also been registered and currently pursuing accreditation for competency-based training courses from the Commission for Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (CTVET).

He said through partnership with the GIZ, NAKDeF introduced the Akyem Skills, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (A-SEED) which aimed at directly and indirectly generating employment for roughly 600 youth and other benefits of communities affected by Newmont’s mining operations.

He noted that the programme introduced was in two components that included the establishment of a vocational and technical school and a Cooperative Credit Union, which was currently in full operation as the ‘Pempamsie’ Cooperative Credit Union.

He said the programme had been designed to ensure that at least 35 per cent of the trainees and employment generated therefrom are females.

Mr Gyimah- Boadi said plans were underway for the introduction of new programmes, including fashion and catering and promised of the Foundation’s commitment to support the AVTI and seeing to its successful handover to the Government of Ghana.

He lauded the traditional authorities for availing the land for the construction of the AVTI and entreated them to avail more lands for future projects to promote development in the district.

Mr Daniel Agya Mensah, the General Manager of Newmont Golden Ridge Limited-Akyem Mine, who the spoke on behalf of Mr Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, said technical centers in the country were meant to equip the youth with technical and professional know-how to drive socio- economic and industrial development of the country, and therefore must be taken seriously.

He said technical and vocational education training was a fundamental element in the development equation because it allowed individuals and societies to unlock potential, expand their horizons and adapt to the changes.

Mr. Mensah said by equipping young women and men with the technical and professional skills, NAKDeF had to accelerate socio-economic development and to pave the way for self- reliant youth and entrepreneurs who would be able to identify timeless opportunities.

He said Newmont Africa focused on community skills enhancement, hence the establishment of the AVTI to promote technical education in the catchment areas.

He urged the trainers and the tutors to focus on innovation-driven teaching to equip the students with the mindset for solving problems closest to them and transform these solutions into commercially viable ideas for wealth creation.

Nana Boni Abankro V, the Chief of Adausena, thanked NAKDeF and Nemont Africa for the gesture and encouraged the students, especially the females, to take up male related courses to enable them progress in their businesses.

Present at the occasion were dignitaries from the TVET Services, Chiefs, Assembly members, Staffs of Newmont Africa, the Sustainable and Development Goals (SDGs), teaching and non- teaching staffs and students.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sunyani, Dec. 13, GNA – The American International Online (AIO) Prep Academy, an American-based virtual/online High School has targeted to enroll and graduate 10,000 Ghanaian students into various universities in the United States of America (USA).

The focus of the school is to provide the students seamless pathway to the latest technologies and enable Ghana to become the first African Country with its own Silicon Valley High Technology Development community.

According to available statistics, sighted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) from the institution’s documents, during the COVID 19 pre-pandemic era there were 351,000 Chinese students, 204, 000 Indian Students and 35,000 students from Africa who attended American universities.

It further indicated in the post-pandemic era there were 317,000 Chinese students, 167,000 Indian Students,25,000 European Students and approximately 13,000 students from Africa currently attending universities in the US.

The AIO Prep Academy was founded in 2018 as a credit recovery component for student athletes in the United States participating in sports programmes, with most needing to improve a grade or class to qualify for a Division One Athletic Scholarship.

This Mr Rodney Abernathy, Senior Director of Business Development of the institution, in an interview with the GNA in Sunyani said the number of African students studying in America was meagre, saying, ”a number we must change, beginning with Ghana alone, our goal is 10,000 Ghanaian students entering America universities alone.’

He said the Academy assisted students to attend high school in the US, explaining, “once a student finishes the AIO Prep Academy junior year, in August prior to the beginning of their senior years, they can begin applying for the universities of their choice.”

”Every graduating student will qualify to attend an American university without question because each Ghanaian High School student will be going to school with American students and students are also eligible to attend Universities in Ghana, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries in the world,” Mr Abernathy added.

He said the Academy offered the highest level of advanced Mathematics and Science courses; plus, other courses offered which were Education used to prepare students for the 21st Century Technology.

Mr Abernathy said Africa had been left behind and it was therefore the goal of the institution to change the narrative for the African students.

Source: Ghana News Agency