Educational Reforms on course in Accra Metropolis

Accra Sept. 19, GNA - The Greater Accra Metropolitan Education Directorate said on Wednesday it had added the syllabi on the New Educational Reform to the various subjects and would be replicated and sent to schools by October, this year. Mr. James Nii Okaija Dinsey, Metropolitan Education Director said the directorate had already sent logistics, including textbooks and chalk to all 948 schools. Briefing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Dinsey denied media reports quoting him that the educational reform would fail because the directorate had not received the syllabi and supplies on the reform. Mr Dinsey said during his visit to Anumle Cluster of Schools, near Achimota, on the First Day at School, he admitted that they had not received the disc containing the syllabi.

According to him, on return from the tour, he picked up the disc at the Ghana Education Service head office and he and his staff put the information together in the various subjects.

The documents, Mr Dinsey said, would be sent to all schools by October and apologised to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ghana Education Service for any inconvenience caused by the publication. Mr Dinsey said a non-governmental organization had readily offered to assist teachers in the use of the syllabi adding, "we have also received bicycles and motor bikes to improve mobility of all circuit supervisors."

He expressed the need for an increase in the 85 kindergarten classes available now, which he said, were not enough. He said it was heartening that some areas with dilapidated structures had been renovated. "We are going to identify more schools with dilapidated structures and gradually build new ones where necessary." On the Capitation Grant, Mr Dinsey said the cheques on them were ready to be dispatched.

He said parents were required under the grant to play vital roles, including the supervision of their wards homework. Government on Sept 11 this year, commenced a new educational reform, which aims at ensuring 11 years of Universal Basic Education comprising two years of Kindergarten, six years of primary, three years for Junior High and four years of Senior High Schools. 19 Sept. 07