Dr. George Eric Gyamfi Osew, Director, Operations at National Lottery Authority (NLA) has called on the membership of Old School Associations to extend their mandate of providing support to their alma mater to one of playing advocacy roles in the general development of education and welfare of the people.
Speaking at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) old Boys Association’s (Odadee) 6th Engman Klufio-Batsa Commemorative lectures, he indicated that the associations will be seen in this new direction as a vibrant group contributing significantly to ensuring that the rights of both students and the rest of the citizenry are respected by government.
The lecture which was held at the auditorium of the school lately was under the theme,”Mobilising Odadees Around the Globe for National Development”
“We have remained within the limits of our mandate as providers or additional resources to our schools for far too long and the time to commend or draw government’s attention to burning issues of state is now,” he stated.
Describing the President’s Free Secondary School (SHS) as a timely lifeline intervention, he observed that it has taken a huge financial burden off the shoulders of parents.
While he appealed for putting measures in place to sustain the policy (free SHS), he also indicated that it was in fulfillment of the global call for Access, Equity and Quality education for all.
Dr. Gyamfi Osew who traced the history of basic education in the country lamented over the inconsistencies that has characterized the educational system of the country each time there was a change of government adding that adequate measures be put in place to ensure the nation knows its direction when it comes to education delivery.
“The future of our children cannot be taken for a ride, we need to know what we want to achieve as a people and hold onto it that our people will benefit from a well structured educational system- including technical and vocational education,” he stressed.
Planting for Food and Jobs
The Director who also congratulated government for the introduction of the Planting for Food and Jobs said they were interventions which will create job opportunities for the youth adding that such an intervention cannot go without comprehensive industrialization.
He urged Ghanaians to rise up to the fight against corruption, destruction of natural resources especially mining, indiscriminate disposal of waste and poor attitude to work among other negative traits.
By Solomon Ofori