Nduom says governments must prioritize education if-Nduom

Winneba, July 21, GNA - If Ghana is to reach the development level of Singapore, then present and future governments must prioritize and invest more in education from the pre-school to the university level.

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential candidate of the People's Convention Party (CCP) in the 2008 general election, said this at the 17th Annual Dialogue on Postgraduate Education in Ghana at Winneba.

It was organised by members of Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) under the theme 93Enhancing Research Education for National Development: The Need for a National Policy and funding for Postgraduate Education."

Speaking on the topic 93National Policy on Postgraduate Education and the role of government in facilitating postgraduate education", Dr Nduom said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that her people are properly educated to the post-graduate level.

The National President of University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr Samuel Kwesi Aseidu-Addo, spoke on the topic 93Research funding and impact on thesis writing on national development" and said research was an important tool in the development of any country.

He said products from the tertiary institutions were expected to be engaged in creating, directing and managing the process of change and growth. Mr Sam Gaba, Administrator of GETFund who spoke on the topic Sourcing Funds for Postgraduate Education, the role of the GETFund Secretariat," said the Scholarship Secretariat had to be re-structured and transformed into a National Scholarships Commission.

He said it must be equipped with adequate, regular and reliable funding source, a clear and robust mandate for the administration of all public scholarships.

Mr Fuseini Lansah, Registrar of Scholarship Secretariat, said in a speech read for him that a bursary of 230.00 Ghana cedis was paid annually across board to eligible postgraduate students during the second year of their programmes.

He said thesis grants were paid on graduate scale, adding that the rate is low considering the high cost of educational materials.

Mr Restor Togormey, GRASAG President of the University of Ghana Legon, said the high cost of education was making it a preserve for the rich since most children from the poor homes are unable to afford it.