WAEC SSS syllabuses ready for distribution- Minister

Accra, Oct. 28, GNA- The Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr. Joe Donkor on Tuesday announced that the syllabuses for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE) are ready for distribution.

He said this in response to a question Nana Asante Frempong, NPP-Kwabre, as to when the Ghana Education Service (GES) will provide the syllabuses for WASSSCE.

Mr. Donkor, who was allowed to represent the sector Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu after about 30 minutes of debate over his qualification as a non-state Minister, told members of parliament that the distribution of the syllabuses would begin from the first week of November this year.

The Speaker Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, subsequently allowed the deputy minister to answer the questions on behalf of his minister. In response to another question by Mr. Frempong about the criteria for absorbing Gyaman Pensan Secondary School into the public system 10 years ago, the Deputy Minister stated that the school was absorbed for meeting GES laid down criteria.

He said the GES laid down criteria include, enrolment of over 100 students, location of schools in terms of distance from other schools, good physical facilities, registration, as well as favourable and comprehensive inspection report.

In a supplementary question Mr Frempong asked whether the Deputy Minister was aware that the school in question lack the facilities required under the GES criteria.

Mr Donkor assured the House that the ministry would take steps to ascertain the MPs concerns and report later.

In an answer to another question on when the proposed upgrading of one SSS in each district will be effected, he said 31 schools have been awarded for contract but due to lack of funding, work has started on only one.

He said the first funding was being sourced from government resources as well as from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) for the project, adding that hopefully work will be completed in seven years time. Mr. Yaw Effah-Baafi, NDC- Kintampo asked what the ministry's immediate plans were for the infrastructural development of the Kintampo and Jema Senior Secondary Schools

Mr Donkor said the two schools were part of a planned package to develop various SSSs in the districts, adding that efforts are underway to source funds for their development.

He assured the house that in the course of time he would provide the House with the necessary information on the specific progress being made on the school's upgrading program.