Regional News of Saturday, 1 September 2007

Source: GNA

Few science and mathematics teachers allocated to Upper West Schools

Wa, Aug. 31, GNA - Senior Secondary Schools in Upper West Region are at disadvantage following the allocation of a few science and mathematics teachers to man the 18 schools in the region. The region has been allocated one physics teacher, biology, four, chemistry one, mathematics seven, laboratory technician one, a number the schools authorities said was inadequate to enhance effective teaching and learning

Mr. James W. Abu, Deputy Director of Education at the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) made this known at the closing session of a one-week capacity building workshop organised for science and mathematics teachers in senior secondary schools in the region at Wa.

He said all the schools had requested for physics, chemistry, mathematics and laboratory technician teachers each to ensure effective academic performance of the students but were disappointed when the posting was done.

He lamented that the 14 science and mathematics teachers posted to the region could not serve their purpose and appealed the GES to post more science and mathematics to the region.

Mr. Abu appealed to authorities of some senior secondary schools that have equipped science laboratories to share them with those that have no laboratory facilities to use for their practical work. He appealed to science and mathematics teachers to apply to become examiners of the West Africa Examination Council to enable them to handle their students well on how to answer questions. Mrs. Scholastica Gyiele, Wa Municipal Director of Education urged the teachers to make simpler the teaching of science and mathematics to encourage more of their students to develop interest in the subjects. Mr. Joseph Kofi Maliwiihi, Course Prefect said most teachers in the region were not having adequate knowledge on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and called on the government to give its fullest attention to education. He called for regular in-service training for teachers to keep them abreast with modern day trends to enable them to handle their subjects effectively and efficiently.