Regional News of Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Source: Daniel Kaku

'We can't compete globally if we don't get our educational system right' - Armah Buah

Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah in a group picture with some teachers from his constituency Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah in a group picture with some teachers from his constituency

Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah has stated that Ghana may not be able to compete favourably with other nations globally if the country's educational system is not well structured and positioned right.

According to the MP, the education sector was the pivot around which development of nations revolved and therefore, Ghana must get it right or risk losing everything and remaining underdeveloped.

The former Minister for Energy made this known on Monday 11th February 2019 when he addressed hundreds of students in his Constituency.

The students who have been placed on government's double track system and were currently on vacation have been going through free vacation classes organized by the lawmaker.

In plain words, he told the students the sugnificance of education to nation building, noting that it remained an opportunity Ghana could not miss to position itself for present generation and for posterity.

"Our education is very important. As a country, if we don't get it right, we cannot compete with the rest of the world", he pointed out.

According to the former Minister of Energy in the erstwhile government of President John Dramani Mahama, the signicance of education made it fundamental in everything.

He said the introduction of free Senior High School (SHS) education by the current government, was therefore inline with the fundamental principles of the development pillars Ghana was yearning to erect though he disagreed with the rush and poor implementation of the policy.

He said the previous government had considered rolling out the required infrastructure to properly position the country in readiness for the implementation of the policy to facilitate development and national growth.

On development of education in his constituency, the Member of Parliament said he will remain the anchor person facilitating the programmes badly required to position both Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools in Ellembelle.

He said his annual assessment mock examination programme, being used to adequately prepare final year Junior High School students in the constituency to face Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will continue to run concurrently with the free vacation classes been organized for SHS students on double track programme.

He however warned beneficiary students to apply the knowledge acquired during the vacation period when they eventually confronts the examination to prove to stakeholders in the education sector that the vacation classes was necessary.

This, he said was the only reason to guarantee that the programme was making significant impact and therefore ought to be sustained.
"You are carrying the burden to prove that indeed the vacation classes was making impact", he charged the students.

According to Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, parents, teachers, education officials, local government officials in Ellembelle, were all placing premium on the education of children in the constituency because, it was necessary and fundamental to the development of the locality "You are so important", he stressed.

For the students, he said they were currently at the cross road, facing the dilema of making important choices in their lives time " The window of opportunity is a very short one, this is called the period of decision making".

He added "This is the time to make a choice of your own . I am only challenging you to make the right choice. You can do any big thing you put your mind into, but you must stay on the path of discipline", he concluded.