Majority, Minority clash over development of education
Whilst the Minority has criticised the government’s financial policy on education as fallen short of their expectation, the Majority has brushed aside their claim and insisted that it sets out a clear-cut policy for the development of the sector.
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The Member for Diffiama-Bussie-Issa, and the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Mr. Mathias Asoma Puozaa, said the financial statement had addressed adequately some of the shortfalls in the sector.
But when Professor Dominic Kwaku Fobih, Member for Assin South, took his turn, he lashed at the government for the huge disparity in the gross enrolment rate between basic and senior high school levels.
Prof. Fobih described the addition of 10 new colleges of education to the existing ones as a waste of resources instead of expanding the existing ones in the face of the current economic challenges.
He further described the government’s attitude as ‘’yentie obiaa’’ (to wit we would not listen to any counselling) and said the huge numbers of students waiting to be absorbed into tertiary educational level should be a source of worry.
He wondered why the rush to build more colleges of education when the GETFund had not been able to make all statutory releases.
A deputy Minister of Education and Member for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, countered the claim and said the educational sector had been given some respite with the allocation of about GH¢6.7 billion.
He said whilst monitoring and supervision had improved quality of education, other social interventions such as free uniforms and exercise books, as well as exemptions on imported materials for the local printing of textbooks, were evidence of the government’s commitment to improve education.
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Mr Ablakwa said the refurbishment of 100 science resource centres, the re-branding of vocational and technical training institutes and the recruitment of professional teachers were some of the measures to improve the sector and called on all to give the budget the necessary support to push the government’s agenda.
However, Mr Yaw Owusu-Boateng, the member for Asene-Akroso-Manso did not see his way clear about the government’s intention on the sector and argued that the current high cost of living education has not been made affordable to the people as claimed by the government and called on the government to do more in that direction.
The Minister for Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang asked member to be minded by the fact that Ghanaian teachers are capable and that there are a crop of good teachers and lecturers in the sector.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said whilst there is a normal progression to offer free education, the government has also shown interest in vocational and technical training institutions and providing the necessary facilities.
She said in order to improve the quality of education government has pursued rigorously the policy of distance and open learning to enable teachers to improve their skills.
The Minister said government is aware of the challenges at the basic level and is making efforts to address the challenges.
The member for Atwima-Nwabiagya North, Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio said lack of staff and resources for the Lands Commission has given room for the numerous land litigation in the country.
Alhaji Seidu Amadu, the member for Yapei-Kusawgu called for the effective management of the country’s forests to safe guard wildlife.Mr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the member for Bantama expressed regret that the government has not done enough to protect the forest resources such as plantations and described the encroachment on about 172 hectares of Achimota School lands by a private estate developer as worrying and called for the intervention of the House to stem the tide.
For his part, Mr, Kobena Mensah Woyome, the member for South Tongu described the government’s decision to rehabilitate the 11 youth leadership training institutions for the youth desirous of acquiring self-employable skills as a bold attempt to solve some of the unemployment challenges facing the youth.
Ms Grace Addo, the member for Manso Nkwanta said the budget did not assured enough protection for women and the vulnerable in the face of collapsing businesses and the inability of parents to pay their wards school fees.
Ms. Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the member for Pusiga and the Chairperson for the Committee on Women, Gender and Social Protection said enough is being done by the government to protect women and the vulnerable through several interventions such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty and that the Committees had been monitoring the programme to ensure its success.