TRULY,COMPASSION IN ACTION!!!LET YOUR VATS OVERFLOW CONTINIOUSLY AND MAY THERE BE AN OPEN HEAVENS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS TO LOCATE YOU WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.BLESSINGS TO The Archbishop,First Lady and all those who made it a reality ... read full comment
TRULY,COMPASSION IN ACTION!!!LET YOUR VATS OVERFLOW CONTINIOUSLY AND MAY THERE BE AN OPEN HEAVENS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS TO LOCATE YOU WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.BLESSINGS TO The Archbishop,First Lady and all those who made it a reality.BLESSINGS!!!AMEN
Grace Accra 10 years ago
Stop building new schools and renovate the old buildings.
Stop building new schools and renovate the old buildings.
TEACHER KAY 10 years ago
Madam you are truly right, but this is the case in Ghana now it is only the rich who can afford formal education. Come to my village you cannot count many scholars all due to poverty . So the issue of classrooms alone doesn't ... read full comment
Madam you are truly right, but this is the case in Ghana now it is only the rich who can afford formal education. Come to my village you cannot count many scholars all due to poverty . So the issue of classrooms alone doesn't solve the poverty problem. Can we think about affordability in terms of tuition fees?
j gian 10 years ago
where is the quality education u promised Ghanaians
where is the quality education u promised Ghanaians
j gian 10 years ago
let your words work and stop druming
let your words work and stop druming
Azie 10 years ago
Is really shame as if Ghana is centre around Ga people, Voltarian and the northerns. I am not suprise they are the people who can be bought with peanuts and pesewas. Since the NDC government came into power all their so call ... read full comment
Is really shame as if Ghana is centre around Ga people, Voltarian and the northerns. I am not suprise they are the people who can be bought with peanuts and pesewas. Since the NDC government came into power all their so call developmental projects are within these regions what about the other regions. The hard working people who are helping the country to grow are being pull down, why, why!
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
The First Lady is right and ought to be applauded for highlighting this issue. A solid foundation to education, development and discipline begins at the primary school level. The trouble is, we need the best teachers and ment ... read full comment
The First Lady is right and ought to be applauded for highlighting this issue. A solid foundation to education, development and discipline begins at the primary school level. The trouble is, we need the best teachers and mentors at that level to complement parental home training however it seems to me the primary level is one of our weakest links in educational development.
The fact is, this problem is not unique to Africa or Ghana for that matter, but we need to address ours. Children growing up need good role models and teachers who are not only well trained, but are dedicated, passionate about their jobs and are duly rewarded.
For starters, let us review the backgrounds and qualifications of our primary school teachers and you will find that many are simply not qualified. I admire those particularly in the rural areas who are willing to help develop our children at that level who otherwise would have nothing to stimulate them and help unveil their God-given talents. I made this point to Hon. Ekumfi-Ameyaw over 10 years ago when he was Director-General of the GES and later became Education Minister.
I am pleased the First Lady appears to be championing this cause and would strongly suggest that not just the infrastructure, but the personnel issues at primary school level be given the greatest attention.
Frankly, we didn't much care where we were taught when we were kids. In fact, we didn't even see nor appreciate any difference, except what we were taught. Without trying to downplay the importance of the classroom environment and the need for good school blocks, I believe those who deliver the product are central to training and mentoring and should be our nation's top priority.
I take this opportunity to salute all the selfless teachers who taught us, and those who are doing so to our children up and down the country today. We need to empower these teachers through good re-training in many cases with government support. President Clinton did it in the US State of Arkansas as governor of that State before becoming US president and it made a huge difference.
I lament the fact that government under the leadership of president Mahama, the First Lady's husband, has decided to suspend the training allowance which was an incentive for trainee teachers and especially those wishing to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
As part of her campaign for improving primary education, I plead with the First Lady to use of influence to get the government to re-think their decision and to invest in the PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER for the sake of our national development. the dividends will be there for all to see 30 years from now!!!
Kofi 10 years ago
Even teachers trained in Heaven College of Education headed by Apostle Paul himself, cannot do much when basic items like chalk and attendance registers (I'm not even talking about textbooks!) which were never an issue when s ... read full comment
Even teachers trained in Heaven College of Education headed by Apostle Paul himself, cannot do much when basic items like chalk and attendance registers (I'm not even talking about textbooks!) which were never an issue when some of us went to school, are not provided. I'm sorry the First Lady is not "championing" anything but was only making an appearance at the function to create an spurious association between the provision of the school block and the government.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
I believe part of our business as observers and social commentators is to encourage and exert some pressure on those in authority to 'do something'. You come across as someone who has simply given up on anything good coming o ... read full comment
I believe part of our business as observers and social commentators is to encourage and exert some pressure on those in authority to 'do something'. You come across as someone who has simply given up on anything good coming out of this.
I made some points about where I thought the major problem with educating our primary school children lies, without downplaying the importance of logistical and infrastructure needs. If you want to add to the discussion, by all means do so and make your contribution without adopting this rather negative and unhelpful stance.
It is unfortunate that you think only of the 'good old days' when "everything we needed was there". Really? I seem to remember there being almost nothing there and our main hope was the enthusiasm with which our teachers motivated us to learn and their wisdom and vision that if we worked hard, some day we could also be in authority and be able to make things better!!! Did you attend the same type of school or do you come from a different era, generation and environment?
I never went to a 'preparatory' or 'experimental' school (and I hope you neither) but rather Anunmle school (which in Ga translates into - when the bell tolls). So, you hear the bell toll means it is time to go to school and LEARN.
Of course there are many issues which need to be tackled, some of them at the same time. If there are no text books, note books and chalk, by all means these are materials that should and must be provided by the education authorities. I believe that is a good input from you, but your overall stance is too negative, cynical and critical without offering ways in which people, including yourself could help.
What prevents you and I from buying books and chalk for our local village school? Or you do not come from a village? At least some of us are doing that and it helps!!!
Kofi 10 years ago
I like your last paragraph. I have one question: In which part of the civilized world do schools depend on the charity of citizens? Why should I spend my hard-earned money supplying textbooks to schools in my village when the ... read full comment
I like your last paragraph. I have one question: In which part of the civilized world do schools depend on the charity of citizens? Why should I spend my hard-earned money supplying textbooks to schools in my village when the government (mis)spends our money supplying computers to selected individual students when chalk is lacking in schools? My main problem with your original post however, was your seeing the First Lady's statement as "championing" education when I expected you to have a better view!
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Go ask Havard, Oxford, Cambridge and other leading institutions in the world. You will find that they rely on huge donations from individuals and their alumni.
If you take US secondary schools, you will be amazed to learn ... read full comment
Go ask Havard, Oxford, Cambridge and other leading institutions in the world. You will find that they rely on huge donations from individuals and their alumni.
If you take US secondary schools, you will be amazed to learn that many of the best schools rely on contributions from their alumni for continuing development and offering scholarships to poor and needy students. I am surprised you are not familiar with this philosophy.
Please note that just because it is not 'part of our culture' in Ghana does not mean it does not happen. hospitals such as Great Ormond Street hospital for children, world famous in the UK regularly appeals for support from individuals and groups to support its work.
There is nothing wrong with you Kofi contributing to your village school. Perhaps after this exchange you will have a different mindset and hopefully mobilise your village people to start doing just that.
It is a simply philosophy and in Ghana over many years, schools like Achimota depended on the AKORAS to help the school. Other schools have done the same, including my own school Navrongo School which alumni continue to support. The Universities in Ghana do it, and over the last 15 years, Ghanaian doctors in the diaspora have helped to refurbish and improve various wards and contributed materials and books to various medical schools in Ghana. It is certainly a good thing to learn to give and to make it a habit.
Please note that in the so-called developed countries, many schools thrive on such donations. The schools that do not seem to do very well in these countries (that you may be familiar with) are the state schools which depend largely (and sometimes solely) on government. Compare them to the Religious schools which are independent - they rely on contributions from other sources.
Many state schools have weak alumni because many of the graduates simply think like you are doing here - all they care about is moving on and not looking back to see how their Alma mater is doing!!! Please start doing something from today, and I hope others reading this piece as well.
K.K 10 years ago
how can primary education be prerequisite for eradicating of poverty? Madam primary education only is nothing but a higher education for all just like your husband Mahama had a free secondary education but blocking others for ... read full comment
how can primary education be prerequisite for eradicating of poverty? Madam primary education only is nothing but a higher education for all just like your husband Mahama had a free secondary education but blocking others for having the same; God will punish you al
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
KK, are you familiar with the Millennium Development Goals and the EIGHT key targets? I believe the inclusion of primary and early education in that list is based on some real evidence-based analysis by experts which clearly ... read full comment
KK, are you familiar with the Millennium Development Goals and the EIGHT key targets? I believe the inclusion of primary and early education in that list is based on some real evidence-based analysis by experts which clearly you are not.
Rather than expose your ignorance here, please try and see something good in the whole idea of improving primary education.
Of course, it is not the be all, and end all for reducing poverty, but is certainly an ESSENTIAL and CORE component of the process.
K.K 10 years ago
PRIMARY EDUCATION IS PART AND PROCESS
OF LAYING FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT; ii.e ERADICATING POVERTY BUT PRIMARY EDUCATION ON ITS OWN WITHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION IS NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT; MANY STREET CHILDREN IN GHANA, COMPLE ... read full comment
PRIMARY EDUCATION IS PART AND PROCESS
OF LAYING FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT; ii.e ERADICATING POVERTY BUT PRIMARY EDUCATION ON ITS OWN WITHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION IS NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT; MANY STREET CHILDREN IN GHANA, COMPLETED PRIMARY EDUCATION, JSS BUT WIGHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, THEY ARE NOT "EMPLOYABLE" IN MANY SECTORAS AS RECRUITMENT INTO CIVIL SERVICE, POLICE, ARMY, BANK CLERKS, ETC ALL REQUIRE SEC SCH CERTFITICATE. AND DON'T REFER ME TO THE MDGs.
Pelicles 10 years ago
How did Mahama woo you to marry him? The man has no idea about governing.
How did Mahama woo you to marry him? The man has no idea about governing.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Cowards die many times before their death. Why don't you reveal true identity since you seem to know so much about how to "govern"!!! All you spend your time doing on this social medium is insulting, criticising and attacking ... read full comment
Cowards die many times before their death. Why don't you reveal true identity since you seem to know so much about how to "govern"!!! All you spend your time doing on this social medium is insulting, criticising and attacking those in authority and especially the elected president of your country. How very pathetic!!!
Clearly you have nothing good to offer and I very much doubt if you have ever done anything good for anyone let alone the country.
By the way whilst marriage has nothing to do with the ability "to govern", I quite admire president Mahama's ability to govern in difficult circumstances although I (like many others) would like to see he and his government do more, and create the conditions for individuals and our nation to do better.
I will criticise his government if there is cause to do that and I have done that on this very subject today where I believe removing the subsidy for trainee teachers was not in our best interests. However just as i wouldn't condemn any of our previous presidents for their "inability to govern", in the same way I wouldn't condemn the incumbent in those terms.
You need to grow up, stop your nonsense and begin to make more balanced, objective and sound contributions. Your attitude is no different from the nation-wrecking politicians in the US (and Ghana) who think that somehow the way to play politics is to always find fault with others and to preach incompetence of the president when in fact, the problem lies with them!!! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!
Pelicles 10 years ago
It seems you have problem with anyone attacking this reckless government. If you are being fed by NDC, that is your problem but remember that there is time for everything. I will never support a party that full of Truants.
It seems you have problem with anyone attacking this reckless government. If you are being fed by NDC, that is your problem but remember that there is time for everything. I will never support a party that full of Truants.
Kofi 10 years ago
I do not think it was necessary to bring in the wife of the president for this exercise. An NGO that has nothing to do with the first lady, builds a school for a district. If anything, it is the education minister who needed ... read full comment
I do not think it was necessary to bring in the wife of the president for this exercise. An NGO that has nothing to do with the first lady, builds a school for a district. If anything, it is the education minister who needed to be there. The only good thing that may come out of the presence of the fist lady may be to tell her husband that providing computers to individual students should not be a priority again since there are more basic learning aids lacking in our schools.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Bringing in the First Lady to such a function has huge implications beyond just personal appearances. You seem completely oblivious to the potential impact that a good First Lady can do by way of ADVOCACY for causes such as e ... read full comment
Bringing in the First Lady to such a function has huge implications beyond just personal appearances. You seem completely oblivious to the potential impact that a good First Lady can do by way of ADVOCACY for causes such as education. That is precisely why the NGO (which promotes advocacy) brought her in.
Oh dear me!!! Why are you so cynical?
Why can you not for once simply reason and consider the good that others can bring to the table? Does wisdom and good only reside in people like you? If so, so far you have failed to provide any of it here. Simply give up you mischief!!!
Kofi 10 years ago
Paul, you got it right! You used the right word...a "GOOD" First Lady can do...When people like you fall for such ploys by politicians, you strengthen them!
Paul, you got it right! You used the right word...a "GOOD" First Lady can do...When people like you fall for such ploys by politicians, you strengthen them!
MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago
Madam First Lady, I beg to differ: There is no such thing as "poverty education". We have to start with a clear definition of what constitutes education; and what constitutes poverty.
If you define poverty as the extent to w ... read full comment
Madam First Lady, I beg to differ: There is no such thing as "poverty education". We have to start with a clear definition of what constitutes education; and what constitutes poverty.
If you define poverty as the extent to which an individual does without resources: financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, relationships, and not to mention,
knowledge of hidden rules, then we have to go all the way to really give our youngsters the best education - from primary to the university, including all kinds of formal and informal education.
Poverty is more than the lack of financial resources.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Don't you think the "poverty of ideas" of of knowledge is part of our problems? Does it not start with the ignorant teaching others and / or the wrong things being taught to our children? Please learn to contextualise and sto ... read full comment
Don't you think the "poverty of ideas" of of knowledge is part of our problems? Does it not start with the ignorant teaching others and / or the wrong things being taught to our children? Please learn to contextualise and stop nit-picking in this way. It is unhelpful.
MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago
" ...learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking in this way."
What do you mean by learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking? I did no such thing. Go through all your posts to this Lordina's piece:
they lack contextualiza ... read full comment
" ...learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking in this way."
What do you mean by learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking? I did no such thing. Go through all your posts to this Lordina's piece:
they lack contextualization, and they were full of nit-pickings. As if you are doing your darnest to be her Press Secretary. Good luck my friend.
MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago
Don't you think the poverty of ideas start with the whole nation? Let's zero in on how we go about educating our children - wouldn't you agree that it lacks ideas? Standardized testing passes for education - BECE & WASSCE. An ... read full comment
Don't you think the poverty of ideas start with the whole nation? Let's zero in on how we go about educating our children - wouldn't you agree that it lacks ideas? Standardized testing passes for education - BECE & WASSCE. And you wonder why we have poor teachers?
AKONFEM MAHANI 10 years ago
NONSES WHERE IS THE CARS SHE TOOKED FROM PORT,NKWASEASEM KWA,
NONSES WHERE IS THE CARS SHE TOOKED FROM PORT,NKWASEASEM KWA,
Kwawu Agbemenu 10 years ago
I would say the real key to eradicating poverty is SKILLS TRAINING (not merely primary education) & ethical upbringing. And, of course, grown-ups should set examples of hard work & honesty for the young ones to emulate!
I would say the real key to eradicating poverty is SKILLS TRAINING (not merely primary education) & ethical upbringing. And, of course, grown-ups should set examples of hard work & honesty for the young ones to emulate!
TRULY,COMPASSION IN ACTION!!!LET YOUR VATS OVERFLOW CONTINIOUSLY AND MAY THERE BE AN OPEN HEAVENS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS TO LOCATE YOU WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.BLESSINGS TO The Archbishop,First Lady and all those who made it a reality ...
read full comment
Stop building new schools and renovate the old buildings.
Madam you are truly right, but this is the case in Ghana now it is only the rich who can afford formal education. Come to my village you cannot count many scholars all due to poverty . So the issue of classrooms alone doesn't ...
read full comment
where is the quality education u promised Ghanaians
let your words work and stop druming
Is really shame as if Ghana is centre around Ga people, Voltarian and the northerns. I am not suprise they are the people who can be bought with peanuts and pesewas. Since the NDC government came into power all their so call ...
read full comment
The First Lady is right and ought to be applauded for highlighting this issue. A solid foundation to education, development and discipline begins at the primary school level. The trouble is, we need the best teachers and ment ...
read full comment
Even teachers trained in Heaven College of Education headed by Apostle Paul himself, cannot do much when basic items like chalk and attendance registers (I'm not even talking about textbooks!) which were never an issue when s ...
read full comment
I believe part of our business as observers and social commentators is to encourage and exert some pressure on those in authority to 'do something'. You come across as someone who has simply given up on anything good coming o ...
read full comment
I like your last paragraph. I have one question: In which part of the civilized world do schools depend on the charity of citizens? Why should I spend my hard-earned money supplying textbooks to schools in my village when the ...
read full comment
Go ask Havard, Oxford, Cambridge and other leading institutions in the world. You will find that they rely on huge donations from individuals and their alumni.
If you take US secondary schools, you will be amazed to learn ...
read full comment
how can primary education be prerequisite for eradicating of poverty? Madam primary education only is nothing but a higher education for all just like your husband Mahama had a free secondary education but blocking others for ...
read full comment
KK, are you familiar with the Millennium Development Goals and the EIGHT key targets? I believe the inclusion of primary and early education in that list is based on some real evidence-based analysis by experts which clearly ...
read full comment
PRIMARY EDUCATION IS PART AND PROCESS
OF LAYING FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT; ii.e ERADICATING POVERTY BUT PRIMARY EDUCATION ON ITS OWN WITHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION IS NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT; MANY STREET CHILDREN IN GHANA, COMPLE ...
read full comment
How did Mahama woo you to marry him? The man has no idea about governing.
Cowards die many times before their death. Why don't you reveal true identity since you seem to know so much about how to "govern"!!! All you spend your time doing on this social medium is insulting, criticising and attacking ...
read full comment
It seems you have problem with anyone attacking this reckless government. If you are being fed by NDC, that is your problem but remember that there is time for everything. I will never support a party that full of Truants.
I do not think it was necessary to bring in the wife of the president for this exercise. An NGO that has nothing to do with the first lady, builds a school for a district. If anything, it is the education minister who needed ...
read full comment
Bringing in the First Lady to such a function has huge implications beyond just personal appearances. You seem completely oblivious to the potential impact that a good First Lady can do by way of ADVOCACY for causes such as e ...
read full comment
Paul, you got it right! You used the right word...a "GOOD" First Lady can do...When people like you fall for such ploys by politicians, you strengthen them!
Madam First Lady, I beg to differ: There is no such thing as "poverty education". We have to start with a clear definition of what constitutes education; and what constitutes poverty.
If you define poverty as the extent to w ...
read full comment
Don't you think the "poverty of ideas" of of knowledge is part of our problems? Does it not start with the ignorant teaching others and / or the wrong things being taught to our children? Please learn to contextualise and sto ...
read full comment
" ...learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking in this way."
What do you mean by learn to contextualize and stop nit-picking? I did no such thing. Go through all your posts to this Lordina's piece:
they lack contextualiza ...
read full comment
Don't you think the poverty of ideas start with the whole nation? Let's zero in on how we go about educating our children - wouldn't you agree that it lacks ideas? Standardized testing passes for education - BECE & WASSCE. An ...
read full comment
NONSES WHERE IS THE CARS SHE TOOKED FROM PORT,NKWASEASEM KWA,
I would say the real key to eradicating poverty is SKILLS TRAINING (not merely primary education) & ethical upbringing. And, of course, grown-ups should set examples of hard work & honesty for the young ones to emulate!