YWCA Schools making changes to conform to Government's vision

Accra, Dec. 17, GHA- The Young Christian Women's Association (YWCA) Schools have begun making appropriate changes to meet the requirements of the new Education Reform. This is in line with the Government's vision of making technical and vocational education the bedrock of the nation's development. Consequently, all courses currently being run by the schools are Information and Communication Technology integrated. Teaching of Mathematics and English Language, which are two of the five core Senior High School subjects, have also been introduced in the schools. These were contained in a speech read on behalf Mr Kweku Ofori-Duro, Principal of the Secretarial School in Accra. It was during the 12th Graduation Ceremony of the Schools at the weekend, during which over 500 women graduated with Diploma in Dressmaking, Secretaryship and Home Management. Mr Ofori-Duro expressed his appreciation to YWCA Ghana for its assistance to the schools. He said "The YWCA of Ghana has provided the schools with adequate and modest training facilities such as classrooms, a training kitchen, a production unit, demonstration rooms, typing pools, computer laboratories, a library, a hostel and a lot more and for that we are most grateful." Mr Ofori-Duro urged parents to regularly pay the fees of their children since such payments were greatly depended on from the running of the schools. "When the fees do not come, we will not be able to upgrade our facilities, training materials and our human resources." Mr Ofori-Duro expressed his appreciation to the Parent-Teacher Association for its assistance to the schools and urged it to do more since the development of the Schools largely depended on it. He charged those who passed out of the schools to put the knowledge and the skills they acquired to good use in order to earn a decent livelihood. Mr Ofori-Duro also asked them to contribute their quota to the nation's development.

Mrs Mary Quaye, Deputy Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, advised the schools to liaise with Polytechnics so that they could introduce some Polytechnic programmes at the Schools to facilitate admissions of their products. She called on parents to invest in the education of their children to bring out the best in them. The ceremony was under the theme "Ghana@50; The Role of the YWCA in Youth Development".

Mr John Yaw Opoku, who was the Guest of honour, advised the women to work hard to earn a decent living so that they could earn the respect of their male counterparts. "Men usually respect women who work hard to make ends meet for themselves," he said. Mr Opoku educated them on the Domestic Violence Act and urged them not to hesitate to report to the appropriate quarters whenever their rights were trampled upon.

He advised the Schools to occasionally invite women achievers to encourage the students to work hard. Prizes were presented to those who excelled in their various fields of study.

Ms Mary Kosipa was adjourned the best student in dressmaking, Ms Natalena Quao won the best student in Home Management and Ms Helen Impraim received the most well behaved student award.