Sunyani(BAR), May 6, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister has called on authorities of Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) at Fiapre near Sunyani to train more teachers to meet the shortfall in the education sector. He suggested that a faculty could be established to upgrade about 46 per cent of non-professional teachers in the sector. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo made the call when a delegation from CUCG led by Professor James Hawkins Ephraim, Vice Chancellor paid a courtesy call on him at Sunyani.

He said available statistics at the Brong Ahafo Regional Directorate of Education indicated that during the 2007/2008 academic year, teachers from kindergarten to Junior High School(JHS) was 17,418 out of which 9,481 were trained and 7,937 were untrained. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo expressed concern about graduates sponsored by Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service who refused to return to the classroom to teach and appealed to graduate teachers to stay and contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the Region. Professor Ephraim appealed to the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (BARCC) to utilise available human resources, capacities, innovations, opportunities and experiences at the university to develop the Region. "Authorities at the university are prepared to collaborate and offer the needed support and advice especially in education to help teachers upgrade their knowledge and capabilities," he said. 06 May 09