Tamale, Oct. 22, GNA - Mr Sam Nasamu Asabigi, the Deputy Northern Region Minister, has called for a paradigm shift in the nation's educational system in view of the numerous challenges it is facing. "The overwhelming challenges of education left in the wake of numerous educational reforms in this country calls for holistic tackling of issues instead of piecemeal approach", he said.

Mr. Asabigi was speaking at an education forum organised by the Regional Directorate of Education and Integrated Social Development Centre, for chiefs and directors of education in Tamale on Friday The forum was to create a platform for education directors and the members of the Regional House of Chiefs to share experiences. Supported by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), it seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of chiefs in school's supervision and improve contact hours between teachers and pupils in rural schools. The deliberation also aimed at making recommendation as to how chiefs could be involved in effective school supervision to enhance quality education in the region.

The Deputy Minister said for the nation to achieve quality education for all by 2015 as well as making education free for all, there was the need to apportion responsibilities to education stakeholders as to what task each agency should perform. "There should be an institution mandated to tackle challenges in the kindergarten, basic level, senior high as well as issues to be tackled," he said.

Mr Asabigi urged community leaders, civil society organizations and stakeholders in education to put ideas together on how to improve on education in northern Ghana.

Mr Ibrahim Tanko, a representative from the Ghana Education Service said education could be improved if there was a strategic engagement between traditional leaders and the GES at all levels. 22 Oct 10