Government outlines top achievements in the Education Sector – Check details here. 

The government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo through the Ministry of Education under the Sector Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has outlined some key policies implemented at the Education Sector since they came into power on January 7, 2017. The achievements cover almost all the levels of Ghana’s education section.

In the 2020 manifesto document launched and published by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on 22nd August, 2020 towards the December general elections captures some key policy implementation promised in the 2016 manifesto in the run up to the December 2016 elections.

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Read below the achievements of the NPP government in the education sector under the leadership of Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh.

1. Curricula developed. Colleges now run 4-Year Bachelor of Education programmes. Teacher trainees will now graduate with Bachelor’s degrees, and will not need to take study leave to go back to acquire the degree.
2. The national audit of skills has been completed by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET).
3. E-Learning portal developed (www.icampusgh.com) and includes all SHS 1-3 core subjects. The website is live.
4. Teacher recruitment since 2017 is now done at regional levels. Documentation done at District and Regional levels.
5. Restore Teacher Trainees allowances.
6. Restore allowances paid to Arabic/Islamic instructors under the national volunteer service programm.
7. Restore book and research allowances for lecturers. We have not only restored it: we have increased it by 200%
8. Introduce History of Ghana as a subject for primary schools.  Included in the Curriculum which has been approved by Cabinet. Over 180 Master Trainers, 3,900 District level Trainers, and 152,000 teachers have been trained for this purpose.
9. Integrate school sports as part of school activities. Free PE kits are being provided to students under the Free SHS programme.
10. Abolish the payment of utility bills by students. Implemented. The Tertiary Education Policy abolished the payment of utility bills in tertiary Institutions.
11. Redefine basic education from Kindergarten to include SHS, covering vocational, agricultural and technical schools.
12.  The current enrollment stands at 1,199,750 students from 2017 to 2019. This is not
    limited to arts, business, and science subjects: it also covers Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET), in essence, the initiative is “Free SHS and
    TVET.” 52.1% of all these students are male and 47.9% female.
13. BECE examination fees absorbed in 2018. WASSCE examination fees absorbed in 2020.
14. The loan amount has been increased by 50% and ranges between GHc1,500 and GHc3,000.
15. Funding secured for two foundries, and sod has been cut for the commencement of a machine tool centre to be constructed in Kumasi.
16. The National Inspectorate Board has been operationalised, staffed, and provided with
    infrastructural and technical support to enable it carry out its mandate. With these resources, the National Inspectorate Board has been able to digitise its data collection system, built a secure and comprehensive database for schools’ inspection and trained a team of inspectors.
17. Manuals prepared for basic schools. 80% of SHSs have coordinators. Same is planned for all school.
18. Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) engaged. MoU drafted and under review
19. Construction of 163 Kindergartens awarded out of which 77 have been completed to date.
20. Previously, teachers who upgraded their qualifications and skills were not recognised and promoted on time. There were several years of bureaucratic delays. Due to our reforms, now:
    • the waiting period before promotion of teachers who upgrade their qualifications and skills is now halved to 2 years. Waiting period for all others is 4 Years.
    • for the first time in history, teachers are being paid a professional teachers allowance.
21. 1. TVET Qualification Framework developed.
    2. 80 institutions accredited to run CompetencyBased Training (CBT) programmes.
    3. Engaging Technical Universities to run CBTs.
    4. To support TVET education, we are building 32 state-of-the-art TVET centres, and
    5. We have introduced a Basic STEM (B-STEM) programme to provide science labs in all basic schools to enhance the teaching of STEM subjects from an early age.
22. ICT is now compulsory in all Teacher Training Colleges.
23. 1. To date 313,250 basic school students have been introduced to basic coding
    2. Coding introduced at 25 SHSs and equipment supplies in progress
24. 1. A US$1.5B loan, of which US$500M has been disbursed, has been secured on the back of GETFund to develop educational infrastructure. Massive infrastructure development across educational institutions currently ongoing
    2. We have completed the construction and commissioning of Phase I of the Somanya campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) for which a sod was hurriedly cut in December 2016 by the outgoing Mahamaled NDC Government. In addition, we have secured funding for Phase II of the campus and cut sod for construction to commence.
25. An agreement has been reached between UNOPS and the Government to construct 100,000 housing units for teachers and other education professionals.
26. Technology has been incorporated in the curriculum and technology firms have been engaged to assist in delivery. iBox education portal installed in 125 Senior High Schools.
27. Contract awarded to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity to all 722 SHSs, 46 Colleges of Education (CoEs), 16 Regional Offices, and 260 District Education Offices.
28. Research & Innovation Fund Bill gazetted. Will be laid before Parliament.
29. Has been included in the ongoing JHS and SHS Curriculum review. When completed, Arabic will be introduced as an optional subject.
30. Inclusive Education Policy adopted, and teacher training curricula covers inclusive education.
31. 22 Bilingual Schools established, 6 Colleges of Education equipped with French Labs & Resource Centres, 54 SHSs equipped with French Language Resource Centres, and Primary 4-6 French Language Curriculum developed.
32. Curriculum approved and rolled out. Discussions ongoing for distribution of tablets to JHS and SHS students.
33. Under an ongoing programme, we have expanded the network of libraries from 61 to 72 as at March 2020, and have renovated over 50% of the existing libraries. We have also rolled out a digital platform for accessing library content.
34. We abandoned the three-month pay policy we inherited for newly-recruited teachers, and have cleared the legacy arrears.
35. The period of staying on a grade before consideration for promotion for teachers who upgrade their qualifications and skills is now halved to two years.
36. We are constructing 20 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) centres across the country.
37. We have increased capitation grant by 122% from GH¢4.5 per pupil to GH¢10 per pupil for Primary Schools.
38. Government has procured 1,190 vehicles to Senior High Schools made up of 350 buses and 840 pickups.
39. Under this project:
    1. 2.3 million children in 260 Districts will benefit
    2. 70,000+ out of school children targeted to be brought back on track
    3. 76,000 teachers’ capacity training in new curriculum and teaching methods
    4. School management committees to be trained in effective school management
    5. School heads trained in instructional leadership and accountability
    6. Circuit Supervisors will become School Improvement Officers, and
    7. 10,000 schools have been selected for the first phase

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh