Mrs Ivy Asantewa Owusu, a graduate of the University of Education, Winneba, was at the weekend inducted into office as the new Eastern Regional Manager of Presbyterian schools.
The induction service, which was officiated by Reverend Dr Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and assisted by Rev Raymond Baah Abeka, Presbytery Clerk, attracted a large crowd of educationists.
Preaching the sermon at the induction service, which was held at the Ascension Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Koforidua, Rev Ayete-Nyampong expressed concern about how people with disabilities were being treated in Ghana.
He said it was unfortunate that people with disabilities were not given any proper attention in the Ghanaian society and appealed for a change in behavior.
Rev Ayete-Nyampong urged Christians to treat everyone equally and ensure that no discrimination takes place against people with disabilities in the church.
He said it was worrying that though the disability bill had been passed into law, it was not being applied as it should and appealed to the authorities to apply the law accordingly.
Rev Ayete-Nyampong reminded the new regional manager of schools that she was taking office at the time academic performance at the basic and senior high levels was not at acceptable levels.
He said considering the number of school children who kept performing poorly at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination year after year, something drastically needed to be done immediately to address the situation.
Rev Ayete-Nyampong appealed to the regional manager to come out with measures that would help improve standards at the schools.
He also urged teachers at the Presbyterian schools to bring back the proverbial “Presbyterian discipline” into the schools to address the high rate of indiscipline in the system.
The new regional manager thanked the Presbyterian Church for the confidence reposed in her by appointing her to take charge of the schools in the region on behalf of the church.
Mrs Owusu said her main vision was to create proactive administration and friendly environment that would enhance academic performance, moral development and spiritual growth in Presbyterian schools.
She said she would implement measures that would include setting up of motivational strategies that would raise academic performance in the schools adding that an open door policy would be operated where constructive criticisms and advice would be welcomed.
The new regional manager holds Master of Education in Administration and Management from the University of Education, Winneba, Bachelor of Education and Diploma in Special Education from the same university and 3-year certificate ‘A’ Post Secondary from the Presbyterian Training College.