Regional News of Monday, 9 March 2009

Source: GNA

Chief calls for a comprehensive education policy

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), March 9, GNA - A traditional ruler has appealed to the government to consider fashioning out a comprehensive educational policy that would stand the test of any future political change in the country.

Barima Ampaabeng Kyeremeh Sikafuor, Dompemhene of Dormaa Traditional Council, made the call at a parade of 3,400 school children and voluntary organisations at Dormaa-Ahenkro to mark Ghana's 52nd Independence Anniversary celebration. He noted that the current process where new governments changed aspects of Ghana's educational policies "to suit their whims and caprices" was not healthy for the nation's future.

Barima Kyeremeh Sikafour, who presided over the parade on behalf of Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, said if the trend was allowed to continue Ghana was bound to be laden with "inconsistent intellectuals". "The educational sector ought to be spared society's unbridled politicization of issues, which has over the past years sought to polarize the country", he stressed.

The chief proposed the setting up of a non-partisan body tasked with the duty of collating all the good aspects of the manifestoes of the various political parties on education into a lasting document that could not be suspended by any democratically elected government. Barima Sikafour urged stakeholders in education to take keen interest in providing basic necessities for effective teaching and learning to enable teachers and students to give off their best. He appealed to parents and guardians to minimize their expenses on funerals, weddings and parties and to redirect such wealth to the education of their children.