Education Minister Appears Before Regional House Of Chiefs

The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has taken his turn before the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs.

His appearance comes after the Ashanti Regional Minister’s appearance on November 15, 2023, in fulfilment of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s declaration last year.

The sector Minister on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, honoured an invitation by the House during their second general meeting of the year chaired by the Monarch.

He addressed the House on Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy and its impact on the region, model junior high schools under construction, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) schools, WASSCE results under FSHS, National Standardised Test (NST), Community of Excellence, National Education Leadership Institute, Teacher Licensure Examination, the Academic Calendar and others.

FSHS
In his address, he said the free SHS and TVET policy has afforded many people to further their education.

He said this is seen in the increase in enrolment since 2017 from 830,000 to 1.4 million. The increase also results from the government’s decision to erode the cut-off point for enrolment.

Double Track
He said the government adopted the double track system to resolve the influx of enrolment above the capacity of educational infrastructure.

He said he adopted that from California and suggested that as a solution to the large number of candidates that graduated from junior high schools.

According to him, California used the double track system which was called year-round education during their educational reformation.

Currently, he noted that 40% of schools in the country still run the double-track system.

Affiliation Policy
He also told the House about the affiliation policy instituted for low-ranked and new second-cycle institutions. By this, he explained that low-ranking schools will earn the prestige and popularity needed to build the interest and confidence of parents in such schools.

It will also advance these schools in academic activities.

Model Junior High Schools
He also elaborated on some new schools being established across the country. In the Ashanti Region, he said the construction of some of these schools with varied uniforms is ongoing in Juabeng, Abenase and Bantama.

According to him, one at Bosomtwe has been completed with the government’s flagship “One Constituency, One Million Dollar” fund.

STEM
As part of efforts to develop studies in STEM, he said UMAT and other educational institutions have entered into a government agreement to offer a year course in engineering for non-science students in exchange for government grants. These courses will be a benchmark for furthering into STEM courses in any university across the country.

Additionally, he said newly equipped science laboratories have been established in schools like Kumasi Girls’, Kumasi High, Kumasi Anglican and Afia Kobi.

Meanwhile, he said construction is ongoing in other schools.

On the other hand, he said Dabaa STEM in the Dabaa in Atwima Nwabiagya North will soon open for the first phase with 200 students while an Arts school at Kwadaso is ongoing.

NST
The Minister stated that the National Standardised Test (NST) was introduced to test students in Basic 4 and defy the 11-year national test drought the country endured in basic schools.

Results of the tests going forward will be documented and presented according to traditional areas to the members of the House, he promised.

Community of Excellence
This is aimed at ensuring 90% of students in class 4 perfect in reading, he explained.

“The object is to kick out Learning Poverty.”

NELI
The National Education Leadership Institute (NELI) will train SHS departmental head teachers into headmasters. The Institute has received the nod of Cabinet and the requisite funds.