The Independent: Kufuor attacks gov?t on education?Konadu to the defence

The Independent reports in a front age lead story that the presidential candidate of the NPP, Mr J.A. Kufuor, last Friday condemned the Rawlings government for its poor management record in education and other sectors of the economy. But the paper says 24 hours after Mr Kufuor?s bitter attack on Ghana?s educational system, the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, put up a spirited defence of the educational system.

Nana is reported to have stated that the educational reform launched in 1987, has led to the expansion of student intake at all levels.

She is said to have quoted figures to buttress her assertion, stating that as a result of the reforms, total secondary school enrolment has increased from 146,185 in the 1987/88 academic year to 218,500 in 1998.

The Independent says Nana Konadu, who was speaking at the 47th speech and prize-giving of Swedru Secondary School in the Central Region, picked on her favourite subject - women empowerment ? and said there has also been "an impressive increase in enrolment of girls in our schools". According to the paper, the First Lady remarked that "the NDC government deserves praise and not condemnation for its input in Ghana?s education"?