Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education, has said that the government is ready to enroll the next batch of Free SHS beneficiaries.
According to Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, all eligible BECE 2021 graduates would be placed in public Senior High or Technical and Vocational schools throughout the nation.
Last Thursday, Rev. Ntim Fordjour stated this during the 59th annual national Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region.
Around 730 heads of Senior High and Technical institutions, as well as other stakeholders in the education sector, especially the pre-tertiary level, attended the annual conference, which had the theme: ‘Discipline in our schools and child rights; the fate of the school head,’ to brainstorm on gains made so far, discuss best practices, challenges, and how to improve the sector for the good of the nation.
Readiness
The Deputy Minister stated the various steps in place to absorb more students at the senior high school level, as well as efforts to assure the completion of projects to generate extra room to accommodate new pupils.
Again, he said that the government was ensuring that the necessary resources were made available before schools reopened to ensure that admissions were seamless.
Commendation
Rev. Ntim Fordjour thanked members of CHASS for their responsibilities and devotion to the growth of education in their various schools and the country throughout the years.
“I wish to sincerely express our appreciation to CHASS for their diligent service and cherished partnership with the Ministry in promoting improved education outcomes, particularly in senior high schools. It is heart-warming to note that the implementation of the government’s flagship Free SHS policy has become a success story, largely due to the consistent and diligent support of Heads of Assisted Schools”.
“We do appreciate your honest feedback at various stages in the implementation process. We take your feedback in good faith, and we want to assure you that with the fervent engagement between the Ministry of Education and CHASS, any challenge that you will bring to our attention will be timeously addressed”Rev. Ntim Fordjour said.
New initiatives
Rev. Ntim Fordjour hinted at the government’s plans to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of development, mentioning the establishment and introduction of an Open University in the country, as well as the adoption of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in schools beginning next academic year.
He said that, to demonstrate the increased importance of this goal, 11 STEM centers are being built around the nation at different levels of completion, and those schools would use the smart school model as used in Singapore and other industrialized countries.
Appreciation by CHASS
Alhaj Yakub A. B Abubakar, President of CHASS, praised the government for its dedication and contributions to the development of education in the nation via the provision of infrastructure and logistics such as classroom blocks and dormitories, furniture, vehicles, and other equipment.
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SOURCE: graphic.com.gh
