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• Ama 10 years ago

  Well done . We all know that basic teaching materials including chalk are not available. Call your village school and learn the bitter truth. GET this is a shame and the government which is interested in propaganda with sanda ...
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  Well done . We all know that basic teaching materials including chalk are not available. Call your village school and learn the bitter truth. GET this is a shame and the government which is interested in propaganda with sandals and uniforms big shame. This is the mentality of the greedy African leaders.

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• NPP SENIOR CITIZEN 10 years ago

  I like this gentleman but his stomach direction articles are insane.

  I like this gentleman but his stomach direction articles are insane.

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• JA 10 years ago

  Well done with your analysis

  Well done with your analysis

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• Prof Lungu 10 years ago

  Ben,
  Thanks for the basic data about number of schools and classes/pupils, in Eastern Region!
  
  But, looks like we need to know exactly the size and content of each box.
  
  In other words, how many "chalks" contained in a ...
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  Ben,
  Thanks for the basic data about number of schools and classes/pupils, in Eastern Region!
  
  But, looks like we need to know exactly the size and content of each box.
  
  In other words, how many "chalks" contained in a certain size box does the average teacher require for "the period". And how does the 87,000 feature into all of that?
  
  But, this is really a question for the GES to resolve, to tell the people!
  
  GES Has Some More Explaining To Do!

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• IDRIS PACAS 10 years ago

  Thanks for writing!
  
  Having few or no chalk in school is really is a serious issue. So serious that I think the Vice President's wife, who is not a govt official, needn't have been told to tell the govt to supply schools wi ...
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  Thanks for writing!
  
  Having few or no chalk in school is really is a serious issue. So serious that I think the Vice President's wife, who is not a govt official, needn't have been told to tell the govt to supply schools with chalk.
  
  The headmistress knew exactly where to channel her problem. Thus, telling the wrong person the right info might have triggered the said embarrassing comments.
  
  Anyway, GES must work to solve the problem immediately.

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• GOLD COAST 10 years ago

  I think it's a Ghanaian/African thing for folks outside Accra and other capitals,to ask for all kinds of goodies,once a BIGMAN/WOMAN gets out of his/her car.
  
  The 2nd Lady was benevolent enough to take along books and lapto ...
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  I think it's a Ghanaian/African thing for folks outside Accra and other capitals,to ask for all kinds of goodies,once a BIGMAN/WOMAN gets out of his/her car.
  
  The 2nd Lady was benevolent enough to take along books and laptops to the school,and her goofing has made her charity work lost in the brouhaha.
  
  The central questions that should be asked are: why did the Headmisress not appeal to the Ministry of Education or the Education Officer(in the district)for chalk?;Is there a protocol for requisitions? Did the Headmistress appeal to GES ?;What about the MP,District Officer and the chiefs?
  
  Surely,the 2nd Lady was taken aback by the request and goofed. But was she the RIGHT PERSON to ask for CHALK in Kukurantumi? After all,the Headmistress is smart and knows the protocol.
  
  PEACE

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• Ofori 10 years ago

  No she is not benevolent but rather doing politics with her work. Are you telling me that she bought those items from her purse. The four-wheel drives she uses are state owned and fuelled by the tax-payer so get that.

  No she is not benevolent but rather doing politics with her work. Are you telling me that she bought those items from her purse. The four-wheel drives she uses are state owned and fuelled by the tax-payer so get that.

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• back door director 10 years ago

  Your infantile analysis rather exposes you as lacking in common sense.
  Once there are 26 districts then you believe they have the same number of schools and that all classes need the same amount of chalk.
  Tell us the stock ...
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  Your infantile analysis rather exposes you as lacking in common sense.
  Once there are 26 districts then you believe they have the same number of schools and that all classes need the same amount of chalk.
  Tell us the stock levels now and that in march. 2015.
  What is the average utilization rate for a box of chalk... How many pieces of chalk are in one box. Is it 1000 or 100..
  In your rush to please whatever you have rather exposed your lack of basic knowledge in logistics management. Woe unto attention seekers.

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• Prof Lungu 10 years ago

  back door director,
  The writer may be wrong! Or, the analysis is incomplete.
  
  But, this is a lot more than "logistics management".
  
  So, at least the writer tried explain a way at evaluating the response from the GES.
  ...
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  back door director,
  The writer may be wrong! Or, the analysis is incomplete.
  
  But, this is a lot more than "logistics management".
  
  So, at least the writer tried explain a way at evaluating the response from the GES.
  
  Seems to us, the response from the GES, that the Eastern region received 87,000 boxes is equally uninformative, misleading, incomplete, and UNPROFESSIONAL!.
  
  Why couldn't the GES tell us how many/much chalk has actually been shipped to that particular school "since March"?
  
  That is where the real rub is, the way we see it!
  
  After all, nobody asked the GES how many boxes of chalk the GES has shipped to the Eastern Region.

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• back door director 10 years ago

  Lungu do you think it is smartness to engage in such analysis?
  Your new found public vigilantes would not do you any good.
  
  If their aim is to embarrass the GES they have failed big time.
  That school has only written itse ...
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  Lungu do you think it is smartness to engage in such analysis?
  Your new found public vigilantes would not do you any good.
  
  If their aim is to embarrass the GES they have failed big time.
  That school has only written itself into the history book of infamy. This is due to the over zealousness of a head teacher who is an Oliver Twist incarnate.

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• Section B 10 years ago

  did you do Science at JSS?

  did you do Science at JSS?

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• back door director 10 years ago

  Section B I assume you did science in JSS. With your limited knowledge you assume every one is a JSS product..
  With you and Mr infantile analysis we are done as a country of mediocrity..

  Section B I assume you did science in JSS. With your limited knowledge you assume every one is a JSS product..
  With you and Mr infantile analysis we are done as a country of mediocrity..

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• Ofori 10 years ago

  First he didn't say that all districts have the same number of school. I think a box of chalk has 100 pieces and also know that at the KG level one clas can finish at least half of the box it's not only the teacher but all th ...
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  First he didn't say that all districts have the same number of school. I think a box of chalk has 100 pieces and also know that at the KG level one clas can finish at least half of the box it's not only the teacher but all the kids will use chalk to write on their slate.

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• Prof Lungu 10 years ago

  Ofori,
  Your: "...it's not only the teacher but all the kids will use chalk to write on their slate..."
  
  WE SAY: We are thinking that is one factor missing from most people's "analyses".
  
  And we agree!
  
  The author of t ...
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  Ofori,
  Your: "...it's not only the teacher but all the kids will use chalk to write on their slate..."
  
  WE SAY: We are thinking that is one factor missing from most people's "analyses".
  
  And we agree!
  
  The author of this timely essay, no matter the mistakes, did not claim that "all districts" in the Eastern Region "have the same number" of schools.
  
  We believe this essay is important: It pushes the debate further!
  
  Thanks.

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• Louis,Mankranso 10 years ago

  No chalk ,it is true we are right on the ground as teachers. At Mankranso here there are no chalk and other teaching materials. Yet mediocrity government led by a dead goat is still promising.While some kings like Nana Nebu a ...
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  No chalk ,it is true we are right on the ground as teachers. At Mankranso here there are no chalk and other teaching materials. Yet mediocrity government led by a dead goat is still promising.While some kings like Nana Nebu and Tepamanhene are cursing to support and vote for this visionless government and party!

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• Teacher Addo 10 years ago

  Chalk dust is not safe for teachers and students. It can increase asthma and other respiratory problems.
  
  Chalk Dust can accumulate in the human respiratory system, which can create long-term health problems due to overexp ...
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  Chalk dust is not safe for teachers and students. It can increase asthma and other respiratory problems.
  
  Chalk Dust can accumulate in the human respiratory system, which can create long-term health problems due to overexposure. If breathing in chalk dust for a number of years can create or trigger respiratory problems. Some of this chalk dust settles to the ground or is ventilated outside, but much of it falls on clothing, furniture, electronic equipment and shelves. Teachers and students also inhale a portion of this chalk dust, which usually becomes trapped in the mucus layers of the throat and upper lungs.
  
  Teachers and chalk always go together. But, would you believe that the same piece of chalk may be giving teachers and students respiratory and skin allergies? Several doctors in the city have been getting a lot of patients, who are teachers and even students, with respiratory and skin allergies and throat problems. Chalk dust seems to be the reason for this."This is not something new. They have been getting respiratory and skin allergies from the use of chalk for a long time. Chalk dust not only causes respiratory and skin allergies, but also affects vision," says Stewart D. Pitts, E.C.A. and computer In-charge at Daffodil Public School.
  
  "They also develop throat related problems. No matter how much we invest in treatment, there is no hope of complete recovery. Another important thing is we depend on our voice and once we get throat problem it becomes crippled and helpless and thus affects our teaching efficiency," she adds.
  
  Recently, the doctors in ENT Department of major hospitals in the city have reported the cases of complaining of a running nose, breathing problems and allergies in teachers mostly. The only viable alternative for teachers was to either switch to non-dust chalk pieces or try out innovative teaching methods that do not involve black boards or chalk pieces, An ENT specialist at TU Teaching Hospital says. "There are quite a few cases where teachers have also developed growths in their vocal chords. This happens owing to constant friction and their vocal chords are always strained," he adds. "I developed a severe respiratory allergy. Even after extensive treatment, it did not subside. I was forced to quit teaching owing to my deteriorating health," says Bimla Pradhan, a former teacher.
  
  Problem of respiratory allergies are increasing as the quality of chalk available in the market is bad. They have been using excess chemical to whiten and brighten the so called dust-less chalk crayons available these days in the market. Mr. B.K. Vaidya, a renounwned professor, says that other than occasional sore throat, he had never developed any allergies. "Teachers have to depend on their voice. Over a period of time, it starts changing. Primary and middle schoolteachers are the most affected in this regard," Mr. Vaidhya Principal of Thames Collage, says that teachers these days were more prone to getting affected.”
  
  Indoor air pollution is a problem in at least half of our nation’s schools—in classrooms and other learning areas such as laboratories, libraries, and gymnasiums. Poor indoor air quality affects students’ and teachers’ health and comforts in the following ways:
  •Uncomfortable, unhealthy students can be distracted and inattentive. Their concentrate and productivity suffer, which will affect their performance.
  •Students with asthma or allergies are particularly sensitive to indoor air pollutants, resulting in increased or more severe reactions and episodes.
  •Sickness and absenteeism rise. Absent students miss out on valuable learning experiences.
  • Your energy levels and performance suffer because of sickness and absenteeism.

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• back door director 10 years ago

  All those shedding crocodile tears for kukurantumi have their children in schools where they stopped using chalk ten years ago..
  What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

  All those shedding crocodile tears for kukurantumi have their children in schools where they stopped using chalk ten years ago..
  What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

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• Kwaku 10 years ago

  Fuck off. Stupid Ashanti litigants

  Fuck off. Stupid Ashanti litigants

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• manpee 10 years ago

  Thank u Ben and shame to GES and stomach followers of NDC

  Thank u Ben and shame to GES and stomach followers of NDC

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• Stepof Bronx,NY 10 years ago

  We need you to work at Ghana statictics board to get accurate figures in our economy system. Thank you

  We need you to work at Ghana statictics board to get accurate figures in our economy system. Thank you

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