VCs pledge support for the new education reform

Accra, April 18, GNA - Vice Chancellors (VCs) of the country's public Universities have pledged to play a committed role to ensure the successful implementation of the new educational reform programme. Professor Jophus Anamua-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, their Spokesperson, said they were confident that the reform would have a major impact on the nation's human resource development and were therefore prepared to play their part to make it succeed. He was speaking at a meeting held between them and President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on Wednesday to discuss matters relating to tertiary education.

The Government's education reform policy, designed to produce the requisite technically skilled manpower to drive the country's march into globalization, takes off in September, this year.

Professor Anamua-Mensah said the Universities had a big role in this, but they needed to be supported with resources and relevant training tools.

He said they would have to expand their laboratories to ensure their effectiveness in the teaching of science and technology, which was a major thrust of the reform.

The reform policy aims at getting 60 per cent of students to pursue courses in the sciences with 40 per cent going for the humanities. At the moment, only about 25 per cent of students in the Senior Secondary Schools, which from September take on the new name, Senior High Schools, are offering science subjects.

Professor Anamua-Mensah, said it was important to stir up interest in science by giving incentives to science teachers as well as scholarships and bursaries to students.

President Kufuor said he was happy with the assurance given to him and the nation by the VCs.

He re-affirmed the Government's determination to ensure the success of the new education policy to enable the schools turn out products, who would be well rounded and productive to take Ghana into the future. President Kufuor said all stages of education would receive critical attention.