General News of Friday, 18 January 2002

Source: .

Kufuor inaugurate Educational Reforms Review Committee

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday said the Educational Reforms Programme was being reviewed to put the country in a position that would empower it to be part of the mainstream technological advancement in the world.

In the past, Ghana could boast of high class professionals compared to their counterparts in any field globally but now, even graduates from the tertiary institutions were professionals of a lower calibre, the President said, adding "our educational system has fallen into questionable circumstances".

Inaugurating a 28-member Educational Reforms Review Committee at the Castle, Osu, President Kufuor noted that to plan for the future of any country, education should be the tool, adding that Ghana should not fall short of this.

To enable Ghana to bridge the gap between it and the advanced countries, he stressed the need to research into the educational system, come out with problems

Associated with it and correct them based on facts and figures.

Among issues to be discussed by the Committee, which is expected to present its proposals to the government within four months were, funding of education in the country, quality and funding for expansion of education in the rural areas.

The committee comprised mostly of prominent educationists, who have been heads of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions as well as most of the institutions involved in education.

President Kufuor urged the Committee to come out with practical proposals for all levels of education from the pre-school to the tertiary to put the country's education on a level where its graduates could compete with anyone anywhere on the globe.

"You are working for the future of the country, do not spare any ideas or efforts but undertake your assignment clinically and make practical proposals so that their implementation could stand the test of time," he added.

Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Principal of the University College of Education, Winneba (UCEW) and Chairman of the Committee, said educationists in the country were aware that for any educational system to be relevant and meaningful it should reflect the changes taking place in the society and the world.