East Gonja strategizes to improve education

Salaga (N/R), May 12, GNA - The East Gonja District Directorate of Education through the support of the District Assembly is to offer extra motivational packages to teachers to improve the standard of basic education in the district. The package includes motorbikes to teachers and supervisors, award schemes for hardworking teachers and ensuring the availability of necessary teaching materials.

The move is also to reduce the high teacher attrition rate in the district and possibly woo more trained teachers. This was the outcome of the first Multi-Stakeholders Meeting on Basic Education in the district held at Salaga. The meeting became necessary in view of the consistent decline in Basic Education Certificate Examination performance for 10 years and a general fall in access to quality basic education in the district.

The number of schools scoring zero per cent has also increased from four in 2004 to six in 2010. It was organized by the East Gonja District Assembly (EGDA) and the District Directorate of Education (DDE) in collaboration with Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Choice Ghana and Ibis West Africa, all development NGOs. It was attended by officers from the DDE, members from School Management Committees and Parent/Teacher Associations, teachers, politicians, traditional authorities, pupils and development partners operating within the district.

Mr Alhassan Mumuni, the East Gonja District Chief Executive, deplored the falling standard of basic education in the district and assured that the EGDA was willing to offer the necessary assistance to reverse the trend. Mr Mumuni appealed to the DDE to be strict on teacher deployment in the district to ensure that under-staffed schools had adequate teachers. He said few schools in the district capital were over-staffed whiles a lot more in the 93hard to reach areas" lacked teachers, warning that teachers who refused postings to such areas must choose between working in the district or leave for those willing to take their place.

Ms Christina Bonebe Tampie, District Director of Education, said her office would intensify monitoring and supervision of teachers and pupils' performance. She said even though some successes had been chalked over the years, a lot needed to be done especially in the area of increasing the ratio of trained teachers in the district for better performance. Alhaji Ibrahim Dey Abubakari, the Member of Parliament for East Gonja, told parents to take interest in the education of their children.

Kpembe-Wura Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna Kibashibi, Paramount Chief of Kpembe Traditional Area, pledged the readiness of the traditional authority to help to raise the standard of education in the district. Mr Mohammed Sachibu, Education Advisor of SNV, said the organization believed that through collective efforts and contribution, the district could move towards achieving quality basic education. The District Assembly launched an Educational Endowment Fund to support brilliant but needy children especially girls.