Takoradi (W/R) May 3, GNA- Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, on Thursday said the new educational reforms formed part of the Education Strategic Plan (EPS) being implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.

He said the plan was in fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals and as a long-term measure in support of the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

This was contained in an address read for the Minister by Mrs Olivia Opoku Adomah, Regional Economic Planning Officer, at the opening of a two-day first Regional Education Sector Annual Review (ESAR) Meeting in Takoradi.

Mr. Amoah said the reforms would place emphasis on "Universal Basic Completion and Universal Primary Completion.

He said " government would assume full responsibility for the first year of the structured system of apprenticeship for Junior High School leavers who cannot access Senior High School education." Mr Amoah said these arrangements would far exceed the standards required under various international conventions on peoples' rights, to which Ghana has subscribed".

He said the policy of decentralization of education was still being implemented and the meeting formed part of measures being undertaken towards the achievement of this objective.

Mrs. Rebecca Efiba Dadzie, the Regional Director of Education, said the Regional review meeting was to serve as a participatory forum for stakeholders to access educational performance in the region to consolidate achievements and draw up strategies to meet challenges. According to her, other objectives of the meeting were to strengthen capacity for education management at both regional and district levels and to track the planning of education, monitoring and evaluation of educational activities at the district level for those lagging behind in policy implementation to be assisted.

Mr. Joseph Quansah, educationists, called for efforts to raise educational standards in the region He said the region is predominantly rural and education performance is not the best.