Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour says the government has put in place the right measures to ensure that all successful candidates out of the 571,894 BECE candidates will be placed in any of the public senior high or technical and vocational schools across the country.
This, according to him, will ensure that the successful candidates would also benefit from the government’s flagship Free Senior High School programme.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour announced this on Thursday when he spoke at the 59th annual national conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
The conference which was held on the theme: “Discipline in our schools and child rights; the fate of the school Head” was graced by about 730 heads of senior high and technical institutions in the country as well as other stakeholders in the education sector, especially the pre-tertiary level.
They brainstormed on gains made so far, discussed best practices, challenges and how to improve the sector for the good of the nation.
Readiness
The Deputy Minister mentioned some of the measures being put in place to absorb the fresh students at the senior high school level and said they are making strenuous efforts to ensure completion of various projects to accommodate the fresh students.
Again, he said the government is making sure that the right resources are made available before schools reopen to ensure a smooth admission process.
He charged CHASS members to put in place the right strategies and measures in their various institutions to create enabling environment for the next admission to be smooth.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour commended members of CHASS for their roles and dedication shown over the years towards the development of education in their various schools and the nation as a whole.
“The government appreciates CHASS for their diligent service and cherished partnership with the ministry in promoting improved education outcomes, particularly in senior high schools. It is heartwarming to note that the implementation of the government’s flagship Free SHS policy has become a success story largely due to the consistent and diligent support of Heads of Assisted Schools.”
“We do appreciate your honest feedback at various stages in the implementation process. We take your feedback in good faith and we want to assure you that with the fervent engagement between the Ministry of Education and CHASS, any challenge that you would bring to our attention will be timeously addressed,” Rev. Ntim Fordjour said.
The Deputy Minister hinted at plans by the government towards the introduction of Open University in the country as well as the adoption of the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the next academic year.
He said there is an ongoing construction of 11 STEM centres across the country that are at various stages of completion and these schools are going to apply the smart school concept as it is practised in Singapore and other developed countries.
Appreciation by CHASS
The President of CHASS, Alhaji Yakub A. B. Abubakar, lauded the government for its commitment and contributions towards the development of education in the country in terms of the provision of infrastructures like classroom blocks and dormitories, furniture, vehicles and other equipment.
He mentioned indiscipline as one of the major challenges confronting their operations and called on all stakeholders in the education sector to come together to help find a lasting solution to the canker.