KMA To Close down unqualified private schools

Kumasi, Aug. 17, GNA - The Kumasi Metropolitan Education Office is to embark on an exercise to close down unqualified private schools, Mr Yaw Osei-Nimako, an Assistant Director of Education and Basic Education Co-ordinator for the Metropolis has disclosed in Kumasi. Speaking at the 13th Graduation of the Ministries 31st December Women's Movement Day Care Centre, he said, there were some private schools in the Metropolis, which were not deserved to be described as schools.

Mr Osei-Nimako said such schools were just established out of the monetary gains for their proprietors and not to provide quality education to the pupils.

He therefore, urged proprietors of schools to create conductive environments in the provision of decent accommodation, well-ventilated classrooms, use prescribed textbooks and syllabi and suitable facilities.

Mr. Osei-Nimako said they should also provide adequate furniture, useful teaching and learning materials and sports equipment to ensure effective teaching and learning.

He also called on proprietors of schools to accord their teachers, who assist them a desirable amount of courtesy as they, (proprietors) could not single-handedly run their schools.

Mr Osei-Nimako emphasised the need for a cordial relationship between teachers and parents, pointing out that since the child was expected to be educated to fit responsibly into the society, co-operation between teachers and parents will help achieve this aim. He bemoaned the unco-operative intolerant and emotional attitude of some parents who storm schools to either insults or assault teachers, who discipline their children.

Mr Osei-Nimako therefore, warned that any parent, who took the law into his or her hand to assault a teacher would have his or her ward or child dismissed summarily and would find it difficult getting a school for his child.

Mr Paul Amaning Birikorang, Chairman of the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) appealed to parents not to withdraw their wards from the school after a change of government, only to bring them back, since the school was established to serve workers at the Ministries and the surrounding community and had no political influence on the teaching of the children.

Miss Mary Jantuah, Ashanti Regional Director of the 31st December Women's Movement, urged parents to make the education of their children a priority since it was the best legacy they could bequeath to them.