Regional News of Wednesday, 6 July 2005

Source: GNA

Poor students performance in the English language a bother to GES

Nkawie (Ash), July 6, GNA - A GES official has said the inability of some brilliant senior secondary school students to gain admission into tertiary institutions as a result of poor performance in the English Language is a serious bother to the Ghana Education Service. Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Director of Education, said the English Language has become a major problem subject to many students and the situation must be urgently reversed. He was opening a three-day non-residential workshop for 228 lower primary school teachers in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District at Nkawie on Tuesday.

It was aimed at showing the participants the proper use of the harmonised materials in the teaching of mathematics, English Language, Science and Environmental Studies. It also formed part of the directorate's intensive training programmes to sharpen the professional skills of the teachers to improve teaching and learning.

''The English Language is the national medium of communication and should, therefore, be properly taught in schools to enable the students to express themselves well in the other subjects especially during examinations.''

The Director told the participants to encourage their students to communicate freely and regularly in the English Language and also use practical demonstrations to teach science subject.