Faithkope Ultra-Modern KG Block Has Been Inaugurated

An ultra modern Kindergarten block for the pupils of Faithkope DA Primary School has been inaugurated for use by the school. This building is one of the eighteen schools under trees of which sod cut ceremony was performed on 4 July 2021 by the VALCO Trust Fund towards the elimination of five thousand identified schools under trees throughout the country.

In a speech read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister, Energy Ministry, Hon. William Ewureku Aidoo, at the inauguration ceremony, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy, reiterated the Ministry’s desire through its agencies to help raise the needed funds for VALCO Trust Fund for the constructions of these schools identified as either under trees or in a deplorable condition.
“It’s unconscionable for our kids to be taught under trees after 64 years of independence as a country”. “It’s a story we would cherish contribute to erase from our narrative when discussing educational issues in Ghana”

The Ag. Chief Executive Officer of the VALCO Trust Fund, Mr. Kelvin Yeboah, in his his remarks emphasized that his outfit is determined to fulfill the promise of eliminating all schools under trees in the country. Mr. Yeboah said the projects are scheduled as the first eighteen sets being constructed across all the sixteen regions are in various stages of completion and that all would be ready for inauguration latest 31 October 2021.
The Acting VALCO Trust Fund appealed to GETFUND to make annual special budget for the maintenance of schools across the country in order to sustain the lifespan of these buildings.

He hinted that additional thirty two contracts would be awarded in October 2021 for expected completion in January 2022.

“We are determined to complete unprecedented number of School buildings in a record time in the history of the Education infrastructure in the country”, Mr. Yeboah assured.

The Director General of the Ghana Education, Prof Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, in an address, read on his behalf by the Greater Accra Regional of Education, Madam Monica Ankrah, commended the Energy Ministry and the VALCO Trust Fund for this thoughtful initiative to eliminate over five thousand schools under trees under the care of the Ghana Education Service. He assured that monitoring and supervision regimes will be strengthened to ensure proper utilization of the project that aims at improving quality education at that early stage level of formal education.

Background
The CEO of VALCO Trust Fund, on 1 June 2021 at a press conference launched at an ambitious project of eliminating over five thousand KG, Primary and Junior High Schools christened as “schools under trees” through out the country. The estimated cost of the project was in the region of 3.5 billion Ghana Cedis.
This project is expected to last for a period of five years.
On 4 July 2021 at Karaga, ceremonial sod cutting ceremony was performed to commence the first phase of construction of eighteen school buildings selected across the 16 regions.
In attendance were;

1. Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council, Nene Agudey Obitchere III
2. Paramount Queenmother of Ada Traditional Area, Naana Kabukuor Dagojo Dumaaley I
3. The Ada East District Chief Executive, Madam Sara Dugbatey Pobee
4. The Ada East District Director of Education, Mr. Moses Tetteh Pornortey

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GES DG Urges Heads of Senior High Schools In The Five(5) Northern Regions To Improve 2021 WASSCE

The Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, has urged heads of SHSs in the 5 Northern regions to improve upon the performance chalked by the maiden 2020 WASSCE candidates by at least ten percent in all subjects.

The stunning results of the 2020 maiden free SHS candidates had generated positive discourse in the academic and social sphere as Ghanaians assess the impact of the policy of the free secondary education.

The Director General in a meeting with stakeholders in Tamale encouraged heads to continue with their excellent works amidst all the challenges on the grounds.

“I admire your courage and tenacity to bring up our future leaders in the best of standards required of the 21st century students”, Prof Opoku-Amankwa commended.

The Director General assured teachers that plans are far advanced for government to settle teacher intervention allowances. He encouraged heads and staff not to be demotivated by the delay in the release of these allowances as they will be paid duly. “These allowances are genuine promises by government as part of efforts in motivating staff in ensuring sustained academic pursuits in the government flagship educational policy of FSHS”, the Director General assured.

Prof Opoku-Amankwa also took the opportunity to respond to some of the pressing issues of staff of the GES including upgrading and responsibility allowance. He indicated that a total of 14,997 staff have been upgraded as of 31st July this year.

He also said 41,066 staff of GES currently receive responsibility allowance. He indicated that the list of staff who have been upgraded as well as those receiving responsibility allowance have been sent out to the Regional Directors and have been asked to display them. He therefore urged staff of GES who qualify for either upgrading or responsibility allowance to check their respective regions and subsequently alert his/her office of any challenges thereof. He continued to explain that management froze upgrades for sometime now as many of these staff went for further studies in various programmes without obtaining the necessary approvals from the Service.

Be rest assured that all these staff involved have been cleared to be upgraded to the appropriate ranks in the Service. “These works began last month and the rest would be added in the month of August 2021”, Prof Opoku-Amankwa emphasized.

The Director General urged the heads to deliver to meet the demands of the performance contracts they signed recently by improving upon their performance by at least ten(10) percent in the impending 2021 WASSCE.

“You have to realize these targets in honesty and sincerity as GES will not condone or protect a teacher or head caught in any examination malpractices”, Prof Opoku-Amankwa counseled.

The DG’s meeting with the Heads of SHS in the five Northern Regions is part of GES/MoE efforts to admonish heads of SHS to put in their final efforts to support the final years as they begin their WASSCE practicals from next week. He indicated that the Hon. Minister and his Deputies as well as the two Deputy Director Generals of the GES, are meeting heads in the other regions.