Regional News of Friday, 11 January 2008

Source: GNA

Private sector commended for contribution to education

Kumasi, Jan. 11, GNA - The Ghana Education Service (GES) recognizes and appreciates the immense contribution of the private sector to quality education delivery and will continue to provide an enabling regulatory framework for its greater participation.

Mrs. Belinda Serwaa Addo, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, therefore appealed to the private sector to contribute meaningfully towards the successful implementation of the new education reform. She was speaking during a visit to Oasis Christian Academy at Ahodwo, Kumasi, on Wednesday to interact with pupils and school authorities and also inspect its infrastructure and other facilities.

Mrs.Addo said the GES gives much attention to the expansion of access through the establishment of more schools and therefore appreciated the complementary efforts of the private sector to promote systematic and reliable education delivery support, especially, at the basic level. She advised proprietors not to concentrate solely on academic knowledge acquisition but also expose the children to technical and vocational courses that were major priorities in the New Education Reform. Mrs. Addo reiterated the need for the private institutions to recruit professionally qualified teachers and also organize regular in-service training to improve their academic and professional competencies. Mrs Christiana Darko, Director of the Academy, said established in 1999, the vision of the school was to offer quality academic tuition to the pupils as well as train them on Christian principles.