Minister Orders Closure Of Non-Formal Division

The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of all Regional and District Secretariats of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED). The measure is part of efforts at restructuring the division to make it more relevant to government’s objective of ensuring functional literacy, poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Consequently, all personnel are to proceed on indefinite leave. This will affect more than 800 personnel nationwide.

The Upper West Region has already complied with the order. The Regional Co-ordinating Council and the various district assemblies have been asked to take custody of assets and property of NFED such as vehicles, computers and accessories, motorcycles and other valuables. The Ministry’s directive was contained in a letter issued by the Minister, Professor Ameyaw Akumfi to all Regional Ministers, District Chief Executives as well as Regional and District Co-ordinators of NFED, among others, under the heading “Restructuring of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED)”.

It read: “As you are no doubt aware, the Ministry has embarked upon a programme aimed at restructuring the Non-formal Education Division to make it more relevant to the government’s objective of ensuring functional literacy, poverty reduction and economic empowerment. In line with this objective, I have directed all regional and district co-ordinators of the NFED who are staff of the Ghana Education Service, to report to the service for reposting. Directors who are not GES staff are also to report to the Ministry for reposting.”

Subsequent to the Education Minister’s directive, the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council issued a letter heading “Taking over the offices of Non-Formal Education Division of the Ghana Education Service which directed all DCE’s to carry out an inventory of the offices of NFED and to take over all their property pending further instructions.