THE COMMON CORE PROGRAM (CCP) CURRICULUM IS TO CURB UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN GHANA- GNACOPS BOSS DISCLOSES

The Executive Director of Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), Mr. Enoch kwasi Gyetuah has disclosed that, the introduction of Common Core Program (CCP) as a new curriculum for B7 to B10 level of education is a critical tool that will help to eradicate the growing unemployment situation among young Ghanaian secondary and tertiary school graduates. Mr Gyetuah made this declaration when addressing the media On Friday, 28th February 2020, after a national stakeholders engagement which was held at the Ghana National Association of Teachers- GNAT hall at Adabraka on the new *Common Core Programme-CCP.

He reiterated that the introduction of the program is prudent and in the right direction for our educational sector taking into account the teaming unemployment situation facing the youth in Ghana after secondary and tertiary education. He added that the CCP curriculum has some ingredients that focus on hands on activities which also challenge students to be critical thinkers to solve complex situations thereby creating job opportunities and offering the needed skills that propel employment viability in the global competitive market which is missing in our current educational system. He advised the government and the Ministry of Education to put all positive measures in place to ensure smooth implementation of the programme by involving all stakeholders in any decision making. Mr. Gyetuah also encouraged the Private School Operators in Ghana to put off their old skin of educational delivery methods, and sink into the new wine for better quality assured educational outcomes.

He pledged the private schools council's readiness and support to partner the government in ensuring effective implementation of the Common Core program. The stake holder engagement was at the instance of the National Curriculum and Assessment-NaCCA on the CCP which will start from Basic 7-10. The conference was dubbed, the Common Core Programme (CCP)- curriculum at a glance-using curriculum to achieve better educational outcome The CCP is the new program which is to be introduced in the next academic year in September. The current Basic 6 pupils are going to be the pioneers of the program. With the CCP which starts from JHS 1 to SHS 1, it's in line with the career path readiness of learners. The learners will combine the already achieved behavioral enhancement which mostly deals with the cognitive aspect with hands on practical training into any chosen discipline. At SHS 1, all core programs will end from where learners will pick and learn towards their elective career path course from SHS 2 till they complete school.

The forum was to collate feedback and inputs from key educational stakeholders and partners to help in crafting a very comprehensive CCP. Speaking at the conference, the acting Executive Secretary of NaCCA, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah said that the curriculum seeks to bridge all gaps in the previous syllabus. He added that, the curriculum was designed to help teaching and learning to follow a progressive trend. According to him, the framework of the CCP would be used to take decisions on remediations, placement, assessment and certification on the learners progress. He also hinted on a build up of a National Assessments Strategy to monitor learners' performance right from Basic 1 to basic 10 unlike the previous syllabus where major assessment was taken only in basic 9. He also added that there would be a teacher's resource pack as well as learner's resource pack in this new CCP to aid teaching and learning. He encouraged all stakeholders to open up and embrace the new program which has been developed to cater for the current academic, economic and social needs of the people and particularly on the job market. On his part, the Director General of the Ghana Education Service-GES, Professor Opoku Amankwaa added that, the government was working at a scheme where they will be installing internet connectivity in the various secondary schools to help in improving teaching and learning. Other key educational stakeholders and partners present were teachers, Teacher Unions, Curriculum Framers, Heads and Principals of Colleges of Education, Educational Consultants, Heads of Basic and Secondary Schools. Present were also Private Schools bodies including Ghana National Council of Private Schools-GNACOPS team which was led by the Executive Director Mr. Enoch kwasi Gyetuah and other council members. Also in attendance was the team from Ghana Association of Private schools-GNAPS amongst others as well as students and Curriculum Training Officers. At the questions and answers segment, all identifiable bodies present got the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by the organizers. There were a lot of contributions, suggestions and other critical inputs made on the day for consideration and possible inclusion into the CCP before the final document.

As his closing remarks, the Chairman of the conference, Professor Dominic Fobi thanked the organizers as well as all the stakeholders for their commitment to seeing to the best of education for the Ghanaian child. He however asked that the engagements should not end till the final document is ready. He prayed NaCCA to still open its doors for contributions and inputs which will only make the CPP better in the end.nference, Professor Dominic Fobi thanked the organizers as well as all the stakeholders for their commitment to seeing to the best of education for the Ghanaian child. He however asked that the engagements should not end till the final document is ready. He prayed NaCCA to still open its doors for contributions and inputs which will only make the CPP better in the end.

DISCLAIMER, PRIVATE SCHOOLS' INSPECTIONS AND REGISTRATION .

DISCLAIMER The Leadership of GNACOPS have sighted a letter purportedly coming from the Ghana Education Service, claiming to have modified certain parts of its regulations in line with National Inspectorate Authority's guidelines for inspection/registration and addressed to Regional, District, Municipal Directors etc. There is another specifically addressed to the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions with timelines for inspection.

Recent communication also indicate that the *GES* is demanding that schools produce a GES Certificate before their schools' BECE registration can be processed. This information is completely False and has no basis whatsoever. The Ministry has not approved such unreasonable demands by an agency that no more possess the power to register and there is no such document as GES Certificate anymore. Any school or private candidate who has fallen victim to this extortion should report the case to the Ministry through the NED of GNACOPS for proper sanctions to be applied to whichever Director or Exams Officer engaging in this illegality and denying schools and candidates their constitutional rights. We wish to emphasize here that the Ghana Education Service does NOT have the mandate to inspect and register schools. It is only the NIB (National Inspectorate Board), also referred to as the NIA(National Inspectorate Authority), that has been vested with the authority to inspect and register schools and *NOT* the GES. This has been re-emphasised over and over and very recently by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Hilda Ampadu. For emphasis, it is only the National Inspectorate Board that has the mandate to inspect and register your schools. Do not entertain or pay monies to any group if they are not coming from the *NIB*. In due course, when on-going negotiations have been concluded, you will be furnished with final details and charges by the NED of GNACOPS. For further clarification please contact the NED (GNACOPS) on 0249641349 Thank you. STEVE REVSS, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, Int.Rel.,Mnt., Bus-Int. (0276111999) For and on behalf of the NED and GNACOPS Executive Council. The attached are the controversial letters from GES

GNACOPS NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO ALL PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS GNACOPS IS GRATEFUL,Accra, Wednesday,1st January 2020.

GHANA NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS- GNACOPS Accra, Wednesday,1st January 2020 GNACOPS NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO ALL PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS GNACOPS IS GRATEFUL

At Midnight, 2019 came to it's logical end and 2020 was ushered in. What a year it was!!!! We thank the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, that we are all alive today and reading this message. It is His overshadowing grace that has eclipsed all our lives and brought us this far. Even though GNACOPS's formation began over two years ago, this group's Certification, Official and legal recognition by the Government of the Republic and all other related agencies was about 25 months ago and what a journey it has been. To all loyal hard workers of GNACOPS and the 30 million Ghanaians who have followed our activities, it's as if we have been in existence for decades. This is the result of the extremely hard work put it by all Regional Coordinators and Executives, National Directors and all activists who fight for Private Education behind the scenes. The journey has been very difficult but very fulfilling. Two years on, GNACOPS has managed to carve a niche in history by doing what no other Private Educational Group has been able to accomplish throughout the years. We have managed to put together, the first ever group of Proprietors, Managers, Educationists,Headteachers, Educational Workers, Consultants, Facilitators and Parents in the private sector.  Over two years, GNACOPS has gained Parliamentary Recognition and Approval. We've been accorded extremely high ratings from all Public Educational Agencies, Several Ministries and Ministerial select committees. Our work and collaboration with the PreTertiary Department of the Education Ministry, Ghana Library Board,Ghana Education Service, National Teaching Council, National Inspectorate Board, NaCCA and Agencies from the United States, Europe and the Far East has placed GNACOPS on the apex pedestal as the only true embodiment of Private Education in Ghana. Despite the distance travelled and huge milestones chalked, we at GNACOPS can emphatically affirm that this is just the beginning of greater achievements and honour to come. On the ground, we have combed the entire country, interacting with Schools to lay this solid foundation. The distribution of hundreds of thousands of books to schools across the country and collaboration with the Ghana Library Authority in the past, went a long way to encourage reading in our schools. The successful execution of two successful Conferences and the First Ever National Private Schools Awards in the past, was a ticker for greater milestones ahead. Another first that we chalked was when we brought together all four existing private school groups to a single table in collaboration with NaCCA that resulted in the first ever training of Private schools across the country by GNACOPS. Our acquisition of office space at the prestigious Ghana Atomic Energy Commission premises was a huge step in the right direction that placed GNACOPS in pole position to fully operate with the heart of the capital. Our visit to the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo,with whom we had several discussions and deliberations bordering on Private Education cannot be forgotten because it opened the floodgates to greater achievements to come. Followup visits to the Former President of the Republic, H.E. John Mahama to further discuss matters related to private education was a clear indication of our political neutrality in our quest for a better private education system. Looking ahead, no one should have any doubts about the leadership capabilities of GNACOPS to chart the course of Private Education and provide other stakeholders with a sustainable roadmap into the future and to continue with ongoing deliberations. To all GNACOPS members, Directors, Regional Coordinators, Regional Executives and Activists who have stood solidly with us throughout the journey so far, we say Thank You and Ayekoo for all the good work done. From all of us, the *GNACOPS TEAM*, we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Let us all endeavour to work harder this new year to move GNACOPS to higher heights. May all of our hardwork pay off for generations yet unborn. From STEVE REVSS, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/PROTOCOLS AND SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS. For and on behalf of the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL DIRECTORS, REGIONAL COORDINATORS AND EXECUTIVES.

RE: GNACOPS Propaganda on Licensing of Private School Teachers Written By the Acting President of GNAPS.

Though it may not necessarily apply to those who are honored with doctoral titles, it is the general character of carriers of Doctoral titles, to research, beforbe making conclusive decisions and more so, publications. We would all appreciate for you to serve your association from a more facts informed position than emotional and political stands. We pray that the GNAPS fraternity would have higher expectations of you, to do better than your predecessor, in whose position you are acting without any communication of reasons for which he has to be replaced by you. You asked in your write up who mandated GNACOPS to collate data? Have you forgotten so soon that the Ministry of Education through NaCCA empowered Master Trainers to train private schools teachers? When we published that the SBC training was going to be use to build a Database of Private schools, for lack of understanding of the vision, your organization published counter messages just as you are doing now, to discourage teachers from participation in the training. In return, what did GNAPS do? Ran to GES to tell them you had no capacity to train your teachers, for which reason you invited GES trainers to come exploit private school teachers. If you had forgotten so soon, I hoped your mind has been refreshed. When a proactive organization like GNACOPS speaks on issues, you shouldn't be too quick to counteract because we operate at different altitudes which may be a bit difficult for your organization to understand. With all due respect Sir, it would be helpful if you could introspectively ask yourself these few questions; 1. What really is the focus or motivation of the Executive arm of GNAPS, besides reacting to issues brought to the fore by GNACOPS, for which your administration should be identified with? 2. Having assumed a new office from a Vice Chair position, was a counter message to GNACOPS' the best possible way to introduce your new position to the Private Schools community that pay some attention to publications from GNAPS? 3. If going this way could not help your predecesor to succeed in the position you are now acting in, do you honestly believe it will be helpful to you? 4. Did your predecessor tell you how frustrating, it was for him to try so hard to rundown a genuine proactive organization like GNACOPS, trying so hard to fight for Private Education in Ghana? 5. In any case, have you been attending Education Stakeholders engagements to which our two organizations are invited, including the NTC meeting you have referenced? Or like your predecessor, you boycott such engagements and still expects your opinions to be considered from the comfort of your home or school? 6. Since when have Private School teachers been a part of GNAPS? 7. Has GNAPS ever represented the interest of teachers in private schools? 8. Does your organization have any data on the teachers, even in the schools of your executive members which you can readily provide without asking them to supply? 9. Since the discussion on Licensing of Private School teachers came up a few years ago, what contributions and solutions has GNAPS brought to the table? 10. Are you aware that a school owner's membership of GNAPS does not in any way take away their rights to join any other Private school organizations? What are you so scared of, even with your supposed members reading GNACOPS messages? That they will know the vast difference in the beneficial services we render to private schools and your non-existent service delivery aside demanding for dues and payments? We believe it would be very helpful to put away your GNAPS prejudice of GNACOPS and learn of our vision, mission, membership composition and core mandate. It's only by doing that you would learn to appreciate that GNACOPS is an entirely different organization dealing with issues of Private education at a higher and far broader level than that of Association. The next time you are pushed by forces to counteract any publication of GNACOPS', think of the above before you act. We hope that GNAPS would be a better association under your leadership. We wish you well in your new post Adjei Kwarteng-Amaning, Greater Accra Regional Organizer - GNACOPS.

SPEECH BY REP OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GNACOPS ,ENOCH KWASI GYETUAH AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF NATIONAL MASTER TRAINERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS ON THE STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM.

Mr Chairman, Honourable deputy Minister of education, The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) the Director, Pre-Tertiary Directorate, the Executive Secretary, NaCCA, National Executives of the various Private Schools organisations, Facilitators, Participants, Friends from the media, invited guest, ladies and gentlemen The contributions of the private school system in Ghana from time immemorial is highly appreciable and has helped to sustain and improve upon quality education delivery. It is interesting to note that despite all these achievements, there seems to be an unintentional disjoint with the sector ministry in terms of inclusion in vital national activities such as the about to commence training of national trainers for the new curriculum. Today’s event, and subsequently that of this whole week, marks an indelible milestone in the education delivery in Ghana. Today, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Educational Service and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Agency, we will kickstart the training of 130 national trainers who will in turn train private school teachers in 98 centres nationwide. Never in the history of private school education in Ghana, has there been such a close relationship with the mother ministry as we are witnessing in recent times. I recall the promise made by his excellency, president Nana Akufo-Addo, when he invited the national directors of GNACOPS to his office in November last year. He assured the private schools of his government’s willingness to further deepen our mutual relationship us in decision-making on all policies on education in Ghana. In furtherance of this, the education ministry, through the Hon. Minister, the deputy minister in charge of general education, Hon. Yaw Adutwum and the director of the Pre-tertiary division, Mrs Catherine Appiah Pinkrah have been at the forefront to see to the revamping of the private schools in Ghana to make it an able partner with in the delivery of quality education in Ghana. This is a task they are executing to the letter and wish to request our participants to show appreciation through a loud applause! Hon., and madam Appiah-Pinkrah, private schools say Ayekoo! I will also like to commend the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Dr. Armah, who despite his neck-deep schedules, made sure that this training programme becomes a success. This training programme, the first of its kind for the private schools in Ghana, comes at a time when the policy change in education in Ghana is calling for teachers who are well vested not just in the subject they teach but also how to implement the curriculum to the benefit of the Ghanaian child. Over the years, we have witnessed the situation where individuals parading themselves as educational consultants and so on, have trooped in to train teachers in the private schools to their own whims. To ensure uniformity and standards, henceforth any agency or consultancy who wish to train teachers in the private schools, especially on this Standard-Based Curriculum, have to seek approval from the appropriate quarters. I will plead with the Hon. Deputy Minister and the Director General of education to make their regional and district directors aware of this new development. I will like to appreciate the support given to us by the Ministry of Education and its associate agencies. So far, the ministry and NaCCA have supported us with to the tune of 25,000 Ghana Cedis. The Pre-tertiary directorate has also given quite a number of teaching and learning materials. An entire team from the Pre-Tertiary Directorate is also here to support the training. But like the legendary Oliver Twist, we are soliciting more of your assistance in any other form, including the provision of facilities of the public schools to be used as our training centres during the cascading training. For the training to become a continuum and beneficial to every child in the private school space; a monitoring team, with members drawn from the Pre-Tertiary directorate, NaCCA, the private schools associations, the National Teaching Council (NTC) and the National Inspectorate Board (NIB) will be constituted. Their report will be a guide for mop-up and subsequent training schedules for the private schools. Moving forward, although we are here to commence the training of the teachers in the private schools; one of our big challenges has been the ability to retain our teachers. This has further been compounded by the new teaching standards. It is a fact that a good number of the teachers in the private schools have no yet had the required qualification to sit for the licensure exams. To alleviate this, there has been the introduction of a Volunteer scheme, where interested unlicensed teachers in the private schools will be given the required training towards the award of an equivalent degree in education and subsequently the opportunity to write the licensure examination. Talks are ongoing with the National Teaching Council in this direction. There is also in progress the development and generation of a database of the entire number of teachers in the private schools across the country for onward submission to the National Teaching Council. Mr Chairman, this program would not have come off without the great effort put forward by the various associations, member colleagues and corporate partners. I’d hereby like to express our appreciation to all national and sub-national executives of Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), the Foundation for Education, Research & Devt (FERD) and my own association, the Ghana National Council for Private Schools. We also say a BIG thank you to BISTA Solutions Ltd., for offering to develop or online forms and database and Ruach Education Consultant for Project Management Services… Last but not the least; I will urge all the participants to open up and learn very well so they can also pass on this unique knowledge being acquired to their colleague teachers to maintain an unbroken chain. You should note that the future of the Ghanaian child and for that matter the nation lies within this standard-based curriculum and how you teach it for onward implementation is most crucial in our march forward as a nation. I will like to end by re-echoing the Director General’s slogan for the training which is: WHEN I GET IT RIGHT, WE ALL GET IT RIGHT Thank you.

Just in; The national council for curriculum and assessment*(NACCA) organises training for private school teachers

The deputy minister of education and the executive secretary of NaCCA Would be opening training sessions of 130 master trainers to train all private schools across the breadths and widths of the country. The training program is in action in Accra, at GHANA ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, the Graduate schools of Nuclear science campus.

The deputy minister and his entourage would officially commission the program today, 26th July, 2019 at exactly 8:00am. In the history of Ghana, this has been the first of its kind to have some teachers in the private schools to be trained as master trainers to impart their experiences to other teachers in the private sector of education. For more information, contact the PRO for GNACOPS, Mr Samuel Nyamekye on 0548470808. 0506277718

GNACOPS holds stakeholders training on new education curriculum

The leadership of Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has organised a day’s training for Proprietors,Managers and teachers of Private Schools in Ashanti region.

The training focused on equipping stakeholders of education with adequate information and understanding on the current accademic reformation vis-a-vis the introduction of a new curriculum by the Ministry of Education. The stakeholders training which had the approval of the Education Ministry again sought to prepare participants to adapt and deliver in comformity with the new system. As announced by the Ministry, the new curriculum will replace the current one from Kingdergarten to Primary six. Under this new system, subjects to be taught at the KG level have been reduced from seven to four and have been integrated into themes. The themes for KG are Numecracy, Literacy, Creative Arts and Our World, Our People (citizenship). There is, however, no change in the number of subjects at the primary level. Speaking in an exclusive interview with GHANA BULLETIN ONLINE on the sidelines during the training, Director for GNACOPS Mr. Steve Revss underscored the new curriculum as far better than the previous since it is much practical and learner centered. He described the old educational system as robot based and that students were made to learn by memorising “chew and pour” which for him were not helping. “The new curriculum is just like that of the colonial days where we had few subjects and much practicals” he recalled. He disclosed that majority of teachers within the private sector have been trained and are prepared to flow with the new system come September 2019. Dr. Mantey Jectey Nyarko who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Art- KNUST also in his statement applauded the Ministry for moving Ghana’s educational curriculum from a content based to a standard type. This he indicated will make Ghana part of the world learning process considering the reality that skills in learning are changing and that “if students are not trained to acquire those skills, they will become irrelevant in the world of jobs and learning”. Dr. Mantey disclosed that the old curriculum has outlived its relevance and that training Ghanaian students with the old will put them completely out of the world of jobs and learning.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY -Story of a 35-year DCE

Thu, Mar 28, 2019

EDUCATION IS THE KEY
-Story of a 35-year DCE

From a poor background, Andrew Adu Boahen attended Bodwesango Junior/Senior High Schools, then to Akrokerri College of Education in the Ashanti Region and proceeded to the University of Education, Winneba.

From the college of education he combined teaching with politics, rising through the position of an assembly member of Bodwesango to a presiding member and actively involving himself in the 2008, 2012, 2016 general elections in different capacities for his constituency.

He landed himself a lucrative job in the United States of America (USA) in October 2017 but in less than 2months he had a call from his member of parliament (MP), K.T. Hammond, to return to the country to serve, in any available capacity, in the newly created Adansi Asokwa District. That was met with family and friends resistance as his sojourn abroad was a great hope for the family of the man not in politics to amass wealth but to solve problems.
But the determined patriotic young man defied the challenges and, by God's grace and dint of hardwork, became the first district chief executive (DCE) of Adansi Asokwa.

Mr. Adu Boahen's passion for education inspires him to, through thick and thin, better the educational lot of his people through timely provision of furniture, building materials, among others.

The less talking, action-oriented young politician is in the good books of the president of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for protecting the public purse when he once fought for the slashing of assembly member allowance by 50% because the previous amount was needless.

Mr. Adu Boahen believes his young age better positions him to serve, for a long time, his people and wants "to be remembered as a problem solver" .

The inspirational teacher has encouraged teachers to go the extra mile in making the best out of pupils especially from deprived communities.

Mr. Adu Boahen is married with two children.

He spoke in an exclusive interview with LEARNING MATTERS' founding editor Osei Kuffour on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in the chief executive's office in Adansi Asokwa.


Story: Osei Kuffour
Fb: Osei Kuffour OK
E: okeditor5@gmail.com

EDUCATION MINISTRY, PRIVATE SCHOOLS MEETING POSTPONED

Press Release

Due to last minute challenges with schedule the much anticipated meeting between the Education Ministry/Education Service and the various private school groups initially slated for Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (KASHS) has been suspended indefinitely to allow  proprietors/proprietresses involved to make time to prepare their West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates for the forthcoming exercise.


The stakeholders engagement intended to deliberate on the New Educational Reforms Implementation, National Policy for Private Schools, among others in pre-tertiary education in Ghana.

The next schedule will be duly communicated.

Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.

Signed
ENOCH KWASI GYETUAH
GNACOPS ,NED
0249641349

TEACH OUR MUSIC AT BASIC LEVEL -Late Prof. Nketia's protégé

Thu, Mar 14, 2019

TEACH OUR MUSIC AT BASIC LEVEL
-Late Prof. Nketia's protégé

"Hmmm...He saw a star in me, took me from a village in 1995 and, by God's grace, fathered, mentored and exposed me to the world through my performances with the seperewa. He taught me what and how to say it on stage. He would have turned 98 in June and just as we were contemplating how to celebrate him, we've been hit by his demise. To me, it's like having lost a rising youth, " Osei Korankye breaks down.


Osei Kwame Korankye (affectionately called Osei Korankye), a foremost harp-flute (seperewa) player in Africa and a lecturer of traditional music/instruments at the University of Ghana, Legon, was under a 24-year (1995-2019) tutelage of the global music great, Emeritus Professor Kwabena Nketia, who, at 97, passed on on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at the Legon Hospital in Accra after a short illness.

Eulogising his mentor, Osei Korankye bemoaned our crave for foreign or Western music and instruments at the expense of our rich heritage that offers us invaluable socio-economic gains that we have not taken advantage of.
And that the foreigners who come down to learn go back to make huge economic gains out of that.

Teary Osei Korankye further condemned the mocking of the few youth interested in the learning and performing indigenous music and instruments and called for the re-introduction of the teaching and learning of our music and instruments at the basic school level.

He called on the state to give the stage to our indigenous performers to encourage the promotion of our rich heritage for our generation and posterity.

On the media and tractional music event sponsors contributions to this quest, he didn't hesitate to say that there is more room for improvement.
Adding that he struggles to get his songs and events promoted by his own (the Ghanaian media) who, unfortunately, often promote other country's indigenous music.

He further called for unity among his colleague performers of the Ghanaian music and instruments because with selfishness and bickering there's no future for the field.

Osei Korankye has his mentor, the late Emeritus Professor Kwabena Nketia, eulogised in some of his compositions performed on international platforms.


Story: Osei Kuffour
Fb: Osei Kuffour OK
E: okeditor5@gmail.com

45YEARS OF GES -Waste of taxes

Thu, Mar 14, 2019

45YEARS OF GES
-Waste of taxes

In the words of a consultant to Ghana's Education Ministry, Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah,

"We know public schools are not doing well so we looked at the potential partnership between the private and public sector, and that is what has informed what we call Ghana Partnership School programme...It's anticipated that during the process, our public schools will learn from the experiences in the private sector and that is the principle behind the policy.
Under the programme, there will be effective supervision of teachers in public schools. If the head teachers are not happy with the behaviour of a teacher, they could ask the Ghana Education Service to bring to them a new teacher. So here, we are looking at how the private schools have performed by ensuring accountability. "

These statements come ahead of the policy which the ministry is due to introduce in September this year by piloting it in over 100 state-controlled basic schools in four regions viz Ashanti, Central, Greater Accra and Northern for the next three years.

The policy which the ministry indicates is not  privatisation of schools but leveraging the expertise of the private sector is expected to improve the performance of public basic schools in the country by changing the operational system to improve management of schools for better results.
And that it will not have any financial burden on parents.

This move, however, has been opposed by some teacher unions who say, contrary to the ministry's assurance, is a recipe for privatisation and eventual commercialisation of Ghana's education sector.

The latest to hit hard at the government is the Ghanaian National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) which is mandated to internally regulate over 22,000 private schools across the country.
GNACOPS intimates that for the nation to come this far in terms of poor standards is a reflection of the education service's failure to deliver on it's core mandate of quality education over the past 45years.
"GES must be dissolved as soon as possible and their offices and funds given to those who have succeeded in making the private sector worth  emulating by the public sector, " National Executive Director (NED) of GNACOPS, Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah, strongly stated in an interview with founding editor of Learning Matters, Osei Kuffour (Editor OK) on Wednesday, March 13, ahead of a non state actors stakeholder meeting by close of March.

GNACOPS call has been backed by several expert stakeholders in the country's educational sector.

In a related development, the owner of Joy Standard Schools, a leading name in the private sector for 27years in Ashanti, Stephen Donkor, has kicked against the publishing of the West African Examination Council (WAEC)'s results rankings.
Mr. Donkor says the practice, contrary to enhancing learning by schools, especially those who don't live up to exam expectations, trigger to the use of various ways and means by some schools and parents to buy questions for their candidates.
The development, he added, does not reveal the true abilities of candidates hence they perform abysmally when they progress to other levels where such bad practices are not countenanced.


Story: Osei Kuffour
Fb: Osei Kuffour OK
E: okeditor5@gmail.com