Sekondi, Feb. 18, -GNA-Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, on Saturday announced that the Government would introduce a new education bill in Parliament this year. He was speaking at the 60th anniversary and Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Saint Mary's Boys' Secondary School under the theme: "Saint Mary's Boys' in Perspective-60 Years of Quality Education" at Apowa near Takoradi.

Papa Ankomah said one of the major focuses of the bill would be the decentralization of education management at the district level. He said Government would deepen community involvement in educational management in line with efforts to improve upon team-building and collaborative work.

Papa Ankomah said the essence of this is to get community members involved in the management of education such as School Management Committees (SMCs) to become more accountable to the people. He said the Government has also planned to introduce a new policy on the funding of tertiary education this year.
Papa Ankomah hoped, this would resolve the controversy, which, over the years had characterised the financing of tertiary education in the country.
He said over the past few years, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed with grave concern and disappointment increasing cases of indiscipline in some schools.
Papa Ankomah said these acts manifest themselves in drug abuse, sale of narcotic drugs on campuses, stealing and destruction of school property, sexual abuse and harassment, occultism and examination malpractices, among others.
He said also in the present times, students are found to falsify results and certificates to enable them to gain admissions into tertiary institutions.
Papa Ankomah said these acts contravene the concept of quality that the system is supposed to provide noting that, "Any society whose succeeding generations are affected by this canker has no future". He told students that, "This time you have the legitimate right to be in school, do make use of the time and available material and human resource to make the best out of yourselves".
Papa Ankomah said the GETFund has since its inception provided 1.8 trillion cedis for the rehabilitation or construction of libraries, dormitories, laboratories, provision of computers and books for libraries.
He said government would continue to make huge investments in education at all levels and would continue to rely on the support of all religious bodies and organisations to meet its social responsibilities to the people.
Mrs Margaret Lemarie, Headmistress of the school, said the school lacked adequate accommodation for the growing student population and the staff.
She called on the Old Students Association to assist to either expand the school's assembly hall or construct a new one. Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, launched the anniversary magazine.
Among those at the function were Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Reverend Professor Addow Obeng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and Most reverend John Martin Darko, Catholic Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese. 18 Feb. 08