Tamale, Dec. 9, GNA – A Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Mahama Ayariga, has noted that a dysfunctional educational system is the greatest threat to any nation’s security. Mr Ayariga stressed that a dysfunctional public education system that produce unskilled and functionally illiterate youth and adults unsuitable for employment is the greatest threat to national security and not small arms proliferation or ethnic conflicts.

The Minister was speaking on Thursday to teachers, students, educational workers and community leaders at a durbar in Tamale on the first leg of his tour of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, in a bid to halt the massive failures that Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE candidates suffer annually.

He is leading a Government task force to meet with stakeholders to discuss the implementation of plans to reverse the situation.

Mr Ayariga said an abnormal educational system breeds violence, crime and insecurity and retards development.

He assured the teachers and students that if they commit themselves to the measures proposed by the ministry to better prepare BECE candidates for 2012, Ghana would witness better results.

These new measures include greater discipline among teachers and students and extra tuition.

He promised that the Ministry of Education would provide the support needed to realise the implementation of the measures. The Deputy Minister asked for the commitment of parents and communities to the initiatives.

Mr Ayariga held a similar forum in Savelugu District.