CURRICULUM FOR MATHS, SCIENCE PROGRAMMES READY (PAGE 11)

Story: Samuel Duodu, Wenchi

THE Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, has disclosed that the curriculum for 15 teacher training colleges selected for the special Mathematics and Science programmes has been finalised and that it has been printed and distributed to the selected colleges.
The selection of the colleges was aimed at training Mathematics and Science teachers with the view to strengthening the teaching of those subjects in basic schools, he noted.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, who was speaking at the 45th Founders Day celebration of the Wenchi Senior High School (SHS) at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend, emphasised that approval had already been given for the establishment of special Mathematics and Science departments in 15 designated training colleges.
The theme for the event was, “Prospects and Challenges of the New Educational Reform after 50 years of Ghana’s Independence”. 
He said modern laboratories had also been built in all the 15 selected colleges and mentioned five of the participating colleges as the Foso Training College in the Central Region, the Akatsi and Hohoe Training colleges in the Volta Region and the St Joseph’s Training College at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region, saying that they had been fully furnished for use.
He said to ensure the success of the programme in the teaching of the new Science and Mathematics curriculum, all Science and Mathematics tutors of the participating colleges had received training for it to be rolled out.
Mr Bannerman–Mensah, a former Headmaster of the Wenchi SHS until his appointment as the Deputy Director-General of the GES, observed that teacher motivation was another important area that would enhance the quality delivery of education in the country.
He mentioned the institution of the Best Teacher Awards Scheme at the national, regional, district and school levels for excellence in teaching as part of programmes by the GES to motivate teachers, more especially to accept postings to deprived areas.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah mentioned other schemes being considered as accelerated promotion, support through distance education for teachers offering subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, French and Technical Education, provision of accommodation in hard-to-reach areas, as well as vehicles and motorbikes.
He urged students to study hard, obey school rules and regulations and avoid all forms of cheating in examinations.
Mr John K. Donkor, the Headmaster of the school, commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the government for the provision of a new girls’ dormitory, a six-unit classroom block, a computer laboratory, as well as a farmhouse which was under construction.
He, however, expressed concern about the slow pace of government — sponsored projects for the school, saying those structures were needed urgently to facilitate smooth academic work and appealed for the payment of the contractors to ensure the early completion of those projects.
Mr Donkor said government’s maintenance grant also took a long time to be released, while the amount paid was also inadequate to maintain the structures and furniture in the school. He, therefore, appealed to the government to increase it.