FOUR days into the industrial action embarked on by junior doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the hospital authorities have released GH¢400,000 to cover the fuel allowances of the doctors.
The Public Relations Officer of KATH, Mr Kwame Frimpong, told Daily Graphic in an interview that the amount was lodged in the accounts of the doctors yesterday to encourage them to resume duty.
It is, however, not known when the strike will be over.
The non-payment of the allowances and other arrears were cited as reasons for the strike that began last Friday, leaving hundreds of patients stranded. The most severely affected by the junior doctors’ action was the Out-patients Department (OPD), where crowds continued to gather in need of medical care.
The striking doctors cited accumulated fuel allowances and non revision of their salaries since 2006 as their main grievances for embarking on the action.
The release of the amount followed a directive by the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa–Adjah Yankey, to the Chief Executive of KATH for all accumulated fuel allowances for the heath workers which accommulated from 2006 to date to be paid in full.
The minister, who paid a surprise visit to KATH last Saturday to interact with the management and junior doctors on the strike, stressed that the management of KATH and all other hospitals in the country that owed health workers any outstanding fuel allowances should arrange to pay within a week.
Earlier at a media briefing last Saturday, the Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Nsiah Asare, told journalists and the Health Minister that the full payment of the accumulated fuel allowances would affect cash flow and other operational activities at the hospital. “Nevertheless, management will abide by the directives, fully,” he assured.
He also gave the assurance that the hospital would strive to enhance continuous services to their numerous clients.
When the Daily Graphic visited the hospital around 12 noon yesterday to find out whether or not the junior doctors were at post, it was realised that workers at the Records Department had issued instructions to the patients who were there to return home due to the strike action by the junior doctors.
The Records Department had rather given out dates to the patients on when they should return to the hospital to verify whether the doctors would be at post or not.
When contacted on the payment of the fuel allowances, Dr Sarfo Kantanka, who is the Regional Chairman of the Junior Doctors Association, said notwithstanding the prompt payment of the fuel allowances, they would not be enticed to resume work.
He said their industrial action was not based on the accumulated fuel allowances alone.
“The issue of non-revision of our salary negotiated was a major factor, and until we hear something positive, we will continue to lay down our tools,” he stressed.
He pointed out that until something productive came out from the salary negotiations, he would not be able to convene a meeting to impress on his colleagues to resume duty.
In another development, junior doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital are to be paid arrears of fuel allowances due them for the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of this year.
This follows a meeting between the leadership of the Junior Doctors Association and the Management of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital held yesterday under the aegis of the Health Minister.
The new development was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the Acting Chief Administrator of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr B. D. R. T. Annan, and the Chairman of the Junior Doctors Association, Dr Ernest Yorke.
The statement said the cheques in respects of the payment of the allowances due the doctors for periods stated above were to be issued by close of day yesterday (May 4, 2009).
“Arrears for June - December, 2006, and Jan-Dec, 2007, will be paid by Thursday, June 4, 2009,” the statement added.
It said, subsequently, the payment of fuel allowances would be effected at the end of each quarter.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
KATH TO RELEASE ALLOWANCES...To junior doctors, others (PAGE 3)
THE management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has pledged to release GH¢250,000 to cover 18 months of accumulated fuel allowances to health workers, including junior doctors at the hospital, who are currently on strike.
The payment, to be made to all health workers entitled to fuel allowance, will commence by next Friday.
The accumulated fuel allowance for the health workers covers the last two months of 2006, the whole of 2007, the last quarter of 2008 and January to April this year.
Junior doctors at KATH started an industrial action on May 1, 2009, citing the non-revision of their salaries since 2006 and accumulated fuel allowances as their main grievances.
The release of the money follows a directive by the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa –Adjah Yankey, to the Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Nsiah Asare, to pay in full all accumulated fuel allowances for the heath workers from 2006 to date.
The minister’s directive asked the management of KATH and all other hospitals in the country who owe health workers any outstanding fuel allowances to arrange to pay within a week or face sanctions.
Dr Nsiah Asare told journalists and the Health Minister during a media briefing at KATH last Saturday, that the full payment of the accumulated fuel allowances would affect cash flow and other operational activities at the hospital. He added that nevertheless, management would comply fully with the directive.
He gave the assurance that the hospital would strive to render continuous service to its numerous clients.
Following the strike by the junior doctors, the Health Minister paid a surprise visit to KATH on Saturday to interact with the hospital authorities and the leadership of the junior doctors in an effort to get them to call off the strike and resume duty.
He assured them of collaboration between the ministry, hospital management and other agencies to find a lasting solution to the problems of the doctors.
Dr Nsiah Asare pointed out that before the doctors embarked on the strike, the hospital had already paid the fuel allowances for the first three quarters of 2008 and arrangement had already been made to pay the remaining quarter this week.
He said the hospital had also paid 10 months of the allowances for 2006, indicating that his administration was on course to paying the outstanding fuel allowances by the end of June 2009.
He, therefore, wondered why the junior doctors cited the outstanding fuel allowances as part of their reasons for embarking on the strike.
Dr Nsiah said the hospital stopped the payment of fuel allowances at the onset of the payment of the Health Sector Salary (HSS) but later restored payment after negotiations between the Ministry of Health, the Agencies and the Ghana Medical Association GMA).
“That explains the reason for the outstanding arrears for the second half of 2006 and 2007,” he stressed.
Dr Yankey gave the assurance that the non-revision of salaries since 2006 and the accumulated fuel allowances, issues which led to the industrial action by the junior doctors, would receive prompt attention by the government.
“Any head who refuses to comply with this directive would be sanctioned accordingly. Those who have no money and have difficulties in the payment should immediately negotiate on how to pay to enhance smooth operations at the health facilities,” he stressed.
Dr Yankey said his ministry was addressing the problem of stalled salary negotiations for health workers, pointing out that the Single Spine Salary Structure for the health workers which was proposed by the previous government had not been implemented.
He explained that some distortions had been detected in the proposed salary structure and so the government would consult with the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) within the next few days to address the anomalies before its implementation.
Dr Yankey expressed concern about the industrial action of the junior doctors, and said they did not serve notice of their intention to embark on such action.
He said although the government inherited the salary problems of the health workers, it had been in constant touch with the leadership of the GMA to find how best to address the problem as soon as practicable.
Later, at a meeting with the junior doctors, their leaders agreed to call off their industrial action and resume work today after a general meeting of members yesterday.
The payment, to be made to all health workers entitled to fuel allowance, will commence by next Friday.
The accumulated fuel allowance for the health workers covers the last two months of 2006, the whole of 2007, the last quarter of 2008 and January to April this year.
Junior doctors at KATH started an industrial action on May 1, 2009, citing the non-revision of their salaries since 2006 and accumulated fuel allowances as their main grievances.
The release of the money follows a directive by the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa –Adjah Yankey, to the Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Nsiah Asare, to pay in full all accumulated fuel allowances for the heath workers from 2006 to date.
The minister’s directive asked the management of KATH and all other hospitals in the country who owe health workers any outstanding fuel allowances to arrange to pay within a week or face sanctions.
Dr Nsiah Asare told journalists and the Health Minister during a media briefing at KATH last Saturday, that the full payment of the accumulated fuel allowances would affect cash flow and other operational activities at the hospital. He added that nevertheless, management would comply fully with the directive.
He gave the assurance that the hospital would strive to render continuous service to its numerous clients.
Following the strike by the junior doctors, the Health Minister paid a surprise visit to KATH on Saturday to interact with the hospital authorities and the leadership of the junior doctors in an effort to get them to call off the strike and resume duty.
He assured them of collaboration between the ministry, hospital management and other agencies to find a lasting solution to the problems of the doctors.
Dr Nsiah Asare pointed out that before the doctors embarked on the strike, the hospital had already paid the fuel allowances for the first three quarters of 2008 and arrangement had already been made to pay the remaining quarter this week.
He said the hospital had also paid 10 months of the allowances for 2006, indicating that his administration was on course to paying the outstanding fuel allowances by the end of June 2009.
He, therefore, wondered why the junior doctors cited the outstanding fuel allowances as part of their reasons for embarking on the strike.
Dr Nsiah said the hospital stopped the payment of fuel allowances at the onset of the payment of the Health Sector Salary (HSS) but later restored payment after negotiations between the Ministry of Health, the Agencies and the Ghana Medical Association GMA).
“That explains the reason for the outstanding arrears for the second half of 2006 and 2007,” he stressed.
Dr Yankey gave the assurance that the non-revision of salaries since 2006 and the accumulated fuel allowances, issues which led to the industrial action by the junior doctors, would receive prompt attention by the government.
“Any head who refuses to comply with this directive would be sanctioned accordingly. Those who have no money and have difficulties in the payment should immediately negotiate on how to pay to enhance smooth operations at the health facilities,” he stressed.
Dr Yankey said his ministry was addressing the problem of stalled salary negotiations for health workers, pointing out that the Single Spine Salary Structure for the health workers which was proposed by the previous government had not been implemented.
He explained that some distortions had been detected in the proposed salary structure and so the government would consult with the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) within the next few days to address the anomalies before its implementation.
Dr Yankey expressed concern about the industrial action of the junior doctors, and said they did not serve notice of their intention to embark on such action.
He said although the government inherited the salary problems of the health workers, it had been in constant touch with the leadership of the GMA to find how best to address the problem as soon as practicable.
Later, at a meeting with the junior doctors, their leaders agreed to call off their industrial action and resume work today after a general meeting of members yesterday.
4 GANG BANG PREGNANT WOMAN (MIRROR, PAGE 28)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A 25-year-old man in Kumasi had the shock of his life when four robbers, including three teenagers armed to the teeth, grabbed his pregnant wife and sexually abused her in turns before robbing the couple of their brand new cell phone and some cash.
The robbers, including a 16-year-old, forced the man to watch the act with the two-month old pregnant woman, threatening to dismember him with their sharpened machetes if he indulged in any foul play.
The 16-year-old boy, who was identified as Kwaku Sarfo, was later arrested together with his accomplices by the police. The others were Kwadwo Atta, 18, Abdul Razak, 27, and Kofi Nyarko, 18.
They were remanded in prison custody by a Kumasi High Court to reappear on May 18, 2009 for the continuation of the case.
Briefing the court, presided over by Justice R. C. Azumah, the State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the pregnant woman resides at the Race Course area at Bantama while her husband stays at Asokwa in Kumasi.
He said around 9 p.m. on April 20, 2009 the husband visited his wife and as he was about to leave, the four robbers allegedly surrounded them and started brandishing their machetes, threatening to kill the man if he made any move.
He said they then ordered the woman to undress and when she hesitated, they forcibly undressed her, pinned her down and sexually abused her in turns.
He said anytime one of them was raping the woman and she was writhing in pain, the three others took guard to keep the husband at a distance, but made sure that he watched the action.
Mr Otoo-Boison said having satisfied themselves, they robbed the couple of their phone and some money before bolting.
He said the couple later reported the incident to the police and after investigations the robbers were arrested.
A 25-year-old man in Kumasi had the shock of his life when four robbers, including three teenagers armed to the teeth, grabbed his pregnant wife and sexually abused her in turns before robbing the couple of their brand new cell phone and some cash.
The robbers, including a 16-year-old, forced the man to watch the act with the two-month old pregnant woman, threatening to dismember him with their sharpened machetes if he indulged in any foul play.
The 16-year-old boy, who was identified as Kwaku Sarfo, was later arrested together with his accomplices by the police. The others were Kwadwo Atta, 18, Abdul Razak, 27, and Kofi Nyarko, 18.
They were remanded in prison custody by a Kumasi High Court to reappear on May 18, 2009 for the continuation of the case.
Briefing the court, presided over by Justice R. C. Azumah, the State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said the pregnant woman resides at the Race Course area at Bantama while her husband stays at Asokwa in Kumasi.
He said around 9 p.m. on April 20, 2009 the husband visited his wife and as he was about to leave, the four robbers allegedly surrounded them and started brandishing their machetes, threatening to kill the man if he made any move.
He said they then ordered the woman to undress and when she hesitated, they forcibly undressed her, pinned her down and sexually abused her in turns.
He said anytime one of them was raping the woman and she was writhing in pain, the three others took guard to keep the husband at a distance, but made sure that he watched the action.
Mr Otoo-Boison said having satisfied themselves, they robbed the couple of their phone and some money before bolting.
He said the couple later reported the incident to the police and after investigations the robbers were arrested.
3 ARMED ROBBERS JAILED 135 YEARS (PAGE 4)
Three armed robbers have been sentenced to a total of 135 years’ imprisonment in hard labour for raping two ladies in Kumasi in two separate incidents before robbing them of their items, including a Toyota saloon car, at gunpoint.
The convicts, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape and raping, as well as robbing the ladies in separate areas, were convicted on their own pleas.
The Kumasi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice R.C. Azumah, convicted 25-year-old Daniel Domfe to 27 years imprisonment in hard labour for taking part in one of the robberies and rape cases, while his accomplices, Daniel Dumanu, alias Kwabena Ntikumah, and Edward Arthur, who were actively involved in both cases, were convicted to serve 54 years’ imprisonment each in hard labour when they appeared before the court on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
The fourth and fifth accomplices, Kojo Amonu and Akwasi Boahen, who pleaded not guilty to the offences, were remanded in prison custody to reappear before the court at a later date.
The Ashanti Regional State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, who prosecuted, told the court that around 9.30 p.m. on October 2, 2008, the first complainant, who works at a restaurant in Kumasi, boarded a taxi at Ahodwo, with Domfe at the wheels.
He said the taxi, which had three other occupants, diverted from the route the lady was going to a different direction and after driving for some time to an unknown destination, the driver stopped the taxi and he and his accomplices raped the lady in turns at gunpoint.
Mr Otoo-Boison said not satisfied with their action, and despite the trauma they had put the lady in, they forcibly took away her handbag containing items estimated at GH¢37, a mobile phone valued at GH¢95 and some unspecified amount of money and left her to her fate.
He said the lady made a complaint to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the convicts.
He said in the second incident, the convicts, including Akwasi Boahen and three others now at large, gang-raped a nurse in Kumasi after they had forcibly seized her car at gunpoint.
Explaining how the incident took place, Mr Otoo-Boison said around 7.30 p.m. on March 20, 2009 after the nurse had closed from work and was driving towards home on the Boadi-Apeadu road, the convicts, who were in a taxi, succeeded in crossing her Toyota Corona saloon car, forcing the nurse to stop.
He said at gunpoint, the convicts and their accomplices took over the car and took the nurse to an unknown place where they raped her in turns.
He said they also took away the car, valued at GH¢6,500, as well as three Nokia mobile phones estimated at GH¢400 and GH¢80 cash before bolting.
Mr Otoo-Boison said police investigations led to the arrest of the convicts and during investigations it came to light that they were the same gang who had raped a lady in turns in October last year.
They were subsequently charged with the offence.
The convicts, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape and raping, as well as robbing the ladies in separate areas, were convicted on their own pleas.
The Kumasi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice R.C. Azumah, convicted 25-year-old Daniel Domfe to 27 years imprisonment in hard labour for taking part in one of the robberies and rape cases, while his accomplices, Daniel Dumanu, alias Kwabena Ntikumah, and Edward Arthur, who were actively involved in both cases, were convicted to serve 54 years’ imprisonment each in hard labour when they appeared before the court on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
The fourth and fifth accomplices, Kojo Amonu and Akwasi Boahen, who pleaded not guilty to the offences, were remanded in prison custody to reappear before the court at a later date.
The Ashanti Regional State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, who prosecuted, told the court that around 9.30 p.m. on October 2, 2008, the first complainant, who works at a restaurant in Kumasi, boarded a taxi at Ahodwo, with Domfe at the wheels.
He said the taxi, which had three other occupants, diverted from the route the lady was going to a different direction and after driving for some time to an unknown destination, the driver stopped the taxi and he and his accomplices raped the lady in turns at gunpoint.
Mr Otoo-Boison said not satisfied with their action, and despite the trauma they had put the lady in, they forcibly took away her handbag containing items estimated at GH¢37, a mobile phone valued at GH¢95 and some unspecified amount of money and left her to her fate.
He said the lady made a complaint to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the convicts.
He said in the second incident, the convicts, including Akwasi Boahen and three others now at large, gang-raped a nurse in Kumasi after they had forcibly seized her car at gunpoint.
Explaining how the incident took place, Mr Otoo-Boison said around 7.30 p.m. on March 20, 2009 after the nurse had closed from work and was driving towards home on the Boadi-Apeadu road, the convicts, who were in a taxi, succeeded in crossing her Toyota Corona saloon car, forcing the nurse to stop.
He said at gunpoint, the convicts and their accomplices took over the car and took the nurse to an unknown place where they raped her in turns.
He said they also took away the car, valued at GH¢6,500, as well as three Nokia mobile phones estimated at GH¢400 and GH¢80 cash before bolting.
Mr Otoo-Boison said police investigations led to the arrest of the convicts and during investigations it came to light that they were the same gang who had raped a lady in turns in October last year.
They were subsequently charged with the offence.
Friday, May 1, 2009
OFFINSO UNION IN USA ASSISTS SHS (PAGE 22)
MEMBERS of Washington DC-based Offinso Union have donated four computers and accessories to the Dwamena Akenten Senior High School (SHS) at Offinso to enhance the teaching and learning of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) programmes.
They also presented quantities of used clothes to the Offinso Children’s Home when some of their executive members visited the inmates.
A member of the union, Mr Kwame Baah, who made the presentation, said the computers would enable the students to be abreast of the changing trends of technology.
He gave the assurance that the union members would continue to mobilise resources to support educational development in the Offinso District.
Mr Baah stated that the members were also planning to establish a community library complex equipped with computers and accessories to encourage the youth in the area to acquire skills on ICT programmes.
He expressed the preparedness of the union in supporting healthcare delivery and improved sanitation in the district to enhance productivity and income generation.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Kwadwo Oduro Frimpong, who received the items on behalf of the two institutions, commended members of the union for their commitment to educational development in the district.
He said with such support the youth would be adequately motivated to focus on their academic programmes to enable them to develop their potential.
Mr Frimpong called for more of such support from the private sector to facilitate educational development in the area.
They also presented quantities of used clothes to the Offinso Children’s Home when some of their executive members visited the inmates.
A member of the union, Mr Kwame Baah, who made the presentation, said the computers would enable the students to be abreast of the changing trends of technology.
He gave the assurance that the union members would continue to mobilise resources to support educational development in the Offinso District.
Mr Baah stated that the members were also planning to establish a community library complex equipped with computers and accessories to encourage the youth in the area to acquire skills on ICT programmes.
He expressed the preparedness of the union in supporting healthcare delivery and improved sanitation in the district to enhance productivity and income generation.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Kwadwo Oduro Frimpong, who received the items on behalf of the two institutions, commended members of the union for their commitment to educational development in the district.
He said with such support the youth would be adequately motivated to focus on their academic programmes to enable them to develop their potential.
Mr Frimpong called for more of such support from the private sector to facilitate educational development in the area.
STUDENT ENROLMENT IN KUMASI GROWS ..But infrastructure still inadequate (page 11)
PRUDENT policies initiated by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ashanti Region over the years have enhanced admissions at all levels of educational institutions in the region.
According to the GES, “gross enrolment in the region rose from 56.9 per cent, 83.4 per cent and 79.9 per cent at the kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS) respectively in 2004 to 86.2, 105.9 and 91.6 in 2007”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr J. K. Onyinah, who announced this during the regional education sector annual review programme in Kumasi, noted that the increased enrolment of students in the region had not matched the educational infrastructure to enhance academic work.
He expressed concern about the lack of qualified teachers in such critical areas as Science, Mathematics and English.
The sector is thus addressing the problem by granting study leave with pay in those subject areas, and conscious efforts are being made to recruit more graduates in Science, Mathematics and English to augment the qualified teachers, he stated.
On the enrolment of teachers, as against educational infrastructure, he explained that “the increased enrolment has resulted in large class sizes, and even the provision of additional classrooms has not been able to match the rate of increases in enrolment”.
Explaining further, Mr Onyinah said “some public schools in Kumasi and over 70 per cent in Obuasi run the shift system, and in some cases, classes are held under trees”.
Giving statistics to support his claim, Mr Onyinah said between 2007 and 2008, the region had a total of 3,036 private and public schools at the kindergarten level, with their total enrolment being 260,046, but all the kindergarten schools in the region had only 1,526 classrooms, which were in good condition to facilitate effective academic programmes.
He said at the primary level, total enrolment in the region for both private and public schools between 2007 and 2008 stood at 686,293, but in terms of classrooms which were in good conditions, and at the primary levels, only 6,441 were made available.
With a total enrolment of 261,208 students at the JHS level in the region for both private and public schools, only 2,617 classrooms were provided, creating congestions in some schools and making teaching and learning rather difficult, he noted.
Enrolment in the Ashanti Region in senior high schools (SHSs) during the same period was 83,203 for both public and private schools, he stated, adding that the total classrooms for the purpose of academic was only 1,137.
He also expressed concern about facilities at SHSs in the region and appealed for more dormitories to be constructed to create a healthy environment that would enhance efficient academic work.
“There are many ongoing projects, which when completed, would ease congestion. District Assemblies should focus on the construction of more classrooms and other ancillary facilities at the basic level,” he advised.
On the output of academic programmes in terms of examinations in the region, Mr Onyinah said for the past five years, an average of 69 per cent of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualify for entry into SHSs compared to the national average of 69 per cent.
The Director said for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 43 per cent qualified to enter tertiary institutions compared to the national average of 36 per cent.
In 2008, he said the overall best student and the first runner-up came from St Louis Senior High School in Kumasi.
Mr Onyinah said GES was striving to improve the conditions of service for teachers as a way of “improving teacher retention”.
He touched on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and said the programme was improving very fast, but there was the need to support JHS and SHS levels in the areas of computers.
According to the GES, “gross enrolment in the region rose from 56.9 per cent, 83.4 per cent and 79.9 per cent at the kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS) respectively in 2004 to 86.2, 105.9 and 91.6 in 2007”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr J. K. Onyinah, who announced this during the regional education sector annual review programme in Kumasi, noted that the increased enrolment of students in the region had not matched the educational infrastructure to enhance academic work.
He expressed concern about the lack of qualified teachers in such critical areas as Science, Mathematics and English.
The sector is thus addressing the problem by granting study leave with pay in those subject areas, and conscious efforts are being made to recruit more graduates in Science, Mathematics and English to augment the qualified teachers, he stated.
On the enrolment of teachers, as against educational infrastructure, he explained that “the increased enrolment has resulted in large class sizes, and even the provision of additional classrooms has not been able to match the rate of increases in enrolment”.
Explaining further, Mr Onyinah said “some public schools in Kumasi and over 70 per cent in Obuasi run the shift system, and in some cases, classes are held under trees”.
Giving statistics to support his claim, Mr Onyinah said between 2007 and 2008, the region had a total of 3,036 private and public schools at the kindergarten level, with their total enrolment being 260,046, but all the kindergarten schools in the region had only 1,526 classrooms, which were in good condition to facilitate effective academic programmes.
He said at the primary level, total enrolment in the region for both private and public schools between 2007 and 2008 stood at 686,293, but in terms of classrooms which were in good conditions, and at the primary levels, only 6,441 were made available.
With a total enrolment of 261,208 students at the JHS level in the region for both private and public schools, only 2,617 classrooms were provided, creating congestions in some schools and making teaching and learning rather difficult, he noted.
Enrolment in the Ashanti Region in senior high schools (SHSs) during the same period was 83,203 for both public and private schools, he stated, adding that the total classrooms for the purpose of academic was only 1,137.
He also expressed concern about facilities at SHSs in the region and appealed for more dormitories to be constructed to create a healthy environment that would enhance efficient academic work.
“There are many ongoing projects, which when completed, would ease congestion. District Assemblies should focus on the construction of more classrooms and other ancillary facilities at the basic level,” he advised.
On the output of academic programmes in terms of examinations in the region, Mr Onyinah said for the past five years, an average of 69 per cent of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualify for entry into SHSs compared to the national average of 69 per cent.
The Director said for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 43 per cent qualified to enter tertiary institutions compared to the national average of 36 per cent.
In 2008, he said the overall best student and the first runner-up came from St Louis Senior High School in Kumasi.
Mr Onyinah said GES was striving to improve the conditions of service for teachers as a way of “improving teacher retention”.
He touched on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and said the programme was improving very fast, but there was the need to support JHS and SHS levels in the areas of computers.
SRT
PRUDENT policies initiated by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ashanti Region over the years have enhanced admissions at all levels of educational institutions in the region.
According to the GES, “gross enrolment in the region rose from 56.9 per cent, 83.4 per cent and 79.9 per cent at the kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS) respectively in 2004 to 86.2, 105.9 and 91.6 in 2007”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr J. K. Onyinah, who announced this during the regional education sector annual review programme in Kumasi, noted that the increased enrolment of students in the region had not matched the educational infrastructure to enhance academic work.
He expressed concern about the lack of qualified teachers in such critical areas as Science, Mathematics and English.
The sector is thus addressing the problem by granting study leave with pay in those subject areas, and conscious efforts are being made to recruit more graduates in Science, Mathematics and English to augment the qualified teachers, he stated.
On the enrolment of teachers, as against educational infrastructure, he explained that “the increased enrolment has resulted in large class sizes, and even the provision of additional classrooms has not been able to match the rate of increases in enrolment”.
Explaining further, Mr Onyinah said “some public schools in Kumasi and over 70 per cent in Obuasi run the shift system, and in some cases, classes are held under trees”.
Giving statistics to support his claim, Mr Onyinah said between 2007 and 2008, the region had a total of 3,036 private and public schools at the kindergarten level, with their total enrolment being 260,046, but all the kindergarten schools in the region had only 1,526 classrooms, which were in good condition to facilitate effective academic programmes.
He said at the primary level, total enrolment in the region for both private and public schools between 2007 and 2008 stood at 686,293, but in terms of classrooms which were in good conditions, and at the primary levels, only 6,441 were made available.
With a total enrolment of 261,208 students at the JHS level in the region for both private and public schools, only 2,617 classrooms were provided, creating congestions in some schools and making teaching and learning rather difficult, he noted.
Enrolment in the Ashanti Region in senior high schools (SHSs) during the same period was 83,203 for both public and private schools, he stated, adding that the total classrooms for the purpose of academic was only 1,137.
He also expressed concern about facilities at SHSs in the region and appealed for more dormitories to be constructed to create a healthy environment that would enhance efficient academic work.
“There are many ongoing projects, which when completed, would ease congestion. District Assemblies should focus on the construction of more classrooms and other ancillary facilities at the basic level,” he advised.
On the output of academic programmes in terms of examinations in the region, Mr Onyinah said for the past five years, an average of 69 per cent of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualify for entry into SHSs compared to the national average of 69 per cent.
The Director said for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 43 per cent qualified to enter tertiary institutions compared to the national average of 36 per cent.
In 2008, he said the overall best student and the first runner-up came from St Louis Senior High School in Kumasi.
Mr Onyinah said GES was striving to improve the conditions of service for teachers as a way of “improving teacher retention”.
He touched on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and said the programme was improving very fast, but there was the need to support JHS and SHS levels in the areas of computers.
According to the GES, “gross enrolment in the region rose from 56.9 per cent, 83.4 per cent and 79.9 per cent at the kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS) respectively in 2004 to 86.2, 105.9 and 91.6 in 2007”.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr J. K. Onyinah, who announced this during the regional education sector annual review programme in Kumasi, noted that the increased enrolment of students in the region had not matched the educational infrastructure to enhance academic work.
He expressed concern about the lack of qualified teachers in such critical areas as Science, Mathematics and English.
The sector is thus addressing the problem by granting study leave with pay in those subject areas, and conscious efforts are being made to recruit more graduates in Science, Mathematics and English to augment the qualified teachers, he stated.
On the enrolment of teachers, as against educational infrastructure, he explained that “the increased enrolment has resulted in large class sizes, and even the provision of additional classrooms has not been able to match the rate of increases in enrolment”.
Explaining further, Mr Onyinah said “some public schools in Kumasi and over 70 per cent in Obuasi run the shift system, and in some cases, classes are held under trees”.
Giving statistics to support his claim, Mr Onyinah said between 2007 and 2008, the region had a total of 3,036 private and public schools at the kindergarten level, with their total enrolment being 260,046, but all the kindergarten schools in the region had only 1,526 classrooms, which were in good condition to facilitate effective academic programmes.
He said at the primary level, total enrolment in the region for both private and public schools between 2007 and 2008 stood at 686,293, but in terms of classrooms which were in good conditions, and at the primary levels, only 6,441 were made available.
With a total enrolment of 261,208 students at the JHS level in the region for both private and public schools, only 2,617 classrooms were provided, creating congestions in some schools and making teaching and learning rather difficult, he noted.
Enrolment in the Ashanti Region in senior high schools (SHSs) during the same period was 83,203 for both public and private schools, he stated, adding that the total classrooms for the purpose of academic was only 1,137.
He also expressed concern about facilities at SHSs in the region and appealed for more dormitories to be constructed to create a healthy environment that would enhance efficient academic work.
“There are many ongoing projects, which when completed, would ease congestion. District Assemblies should focus on the construction of more classrooms and other ancillary facilities at the basic level,” he advised.
On the output of academic programmes in terms of examinations in the region, Mr Onyinah said for the past five years, an average of 69 per cent of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualify for entry into SHSs compared to the national average of 69 per cent.
The Director said for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 43 per cent qualified to enter tertiary institutions compared to the national average of 36 per cent.
In 2008, he said the overall best student and the first runner-up came from St Louis Senior High School in Kumasi.
Mr Onyinah said GES was striving to improve the conditions of service for teachers as a way of “improving teacher retention”.
He touched on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and said the programme was improving very fast, but there was the need to support JHS and SHS levels in the areas of computers.
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