The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions have been tasked by the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, to enhance educational outcomes or risk having their institutions shut down.
Dr Adutwum announced this when he addressed members of the Conference of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kumasi on Saturday and Sunday.
He explained that a school should develop intervention programs if its pass rate consistently ranges between zero and ten percent.
This he said, will ensure that the majority of their students find opportunities for further studies rather than becoming a liability to their parents and society due to their inability to pass their exams.
He claimed that closing the schools would help the country avoid the significant financial losses that the government suffers as a result of the schools’ continued operation.
In situations where schools are shut down, the impacted students are transferred to other nearby schools so they can continue their education, according to Dr. Adutwum.
The purpose of the annual meeting with CHASS was to update them on the state of education in the nation, discuss recent developments in the field, and address any concerns they may have.
The meeting, which was in two batches, saw all SHS heads attending on Saturday while Principals of TVET institutions across the country also attended on Sunday.
He praised the leaders for their contributions to the transformation of education in the nation and promised to keep providing the necessary funding. He also exhorted them to put in a lot of effort to ensure that they got the desired outcomes.
Don’t be a barrier
Dr Adutwum also cautioned the heads to desist from preventing first-year students from enrolling due to the fact that some items on their prospectus had not been procured.
He indicated that “there is no way any student should be turned away from school because the parents have not been able to procure some items on the school’s prospectus, at least, let them come to the school and the rest could be procured with some time.”
The Education Minister lamented the addition of many other unapproved items on the school’s prospectus which in the long run led to the bloating of the prospectus for first-year students.
He cautioned the leaders against taking any actions that might deter students from attending school or restrict their access to it.
Dr. Adutwum urged the heads to make it their mission to create a conducive environment for students to learn and to avoid interfering with their studies.
The principals were reminded by Ms. Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of the TVET sector, to make sure that students were prepared for the workforce and to let the schools pass through them rather than the students passing through the school.
In order to support their efforts to provide the best training for their students, she also urged the Principals to spend time developing their skills by reading pertinent courses and books.
The National Education Leadership Institute (NELI), the Free Senior High School Secretariat, the Funds and Procurement Management Unit (FPMU), and the Ghana TVET Service all made presentations. The Ghana Education Service (GES) also made one.
Source: Myjoyonline
