![Citadel Foundation For Kids [CFK]](http://www.citadelfoundationforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cropped-Screen-Shot-2016-02-09-at-7.00.43-PM.png)
GES to pay invigilators
Not surprising: the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes money to people for services already performed. Also not surprising: those with wages outstanding are unhappy. Surprising: the GES has admitted it owes money and says it is ready to pay. Invigilators had originally planned to boycott the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in response to accrued wages sitting on the GES balance sheet rather than being paid out. With the BECE scheduled for tomorrow, it was clear that the GES had to do something. And it appears to have chosen to take action, with a GES public relations officer acknowledging that payments are outstanding and stating that those who are owed money will be paid.
World Bank worried that high wages will impact education quality
The World Bank Public Sector Expenditure Review suggests that increased wages are consuming the Ghana education budget. Eunice Ackwerh, Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, claimed that the Single-Spine Salary Structure was enabling teachers to be paid but was taking too much out of the budget for schools to effectively provide services. Ackwerh recommended enhanced budget management, which would include stricter penalties for teacher absenteeism.
GES wants parents to do more for gender equality
The Girls’ Education Unit of the GES has listed parental neglect as a major challenge for female education. Catherinie Nutsugah-Mikado, Director of the Girls’ Education Unit, said that parents need to do more in educating their daughters about sexuality. Unexpected pregnancy is a major source of school drop-outs. None of this is new information. Nutsugah-Mikado, however, thinks that the major problem is not necessarily the fact that teen pregnancy is as prevalent as it is. Rather, she suggests that the response to teen pregnancy is the real issue. Certainly the government should encourage education on sexual health, but she is lobbying for is a way of looking at teen pregnancy and education as mutually exclusive. Students need to know “getting pregnant is not the end of the world,” and that they can continue with their studies in spite of it.
Also…
The Institute of Statistics, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana released data showing that 90% of university graduates are unemployed a year after completing school.
MP for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, has called on the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to do more to prevent exam leaks ahead of the BECE.
The Amansie West District Assembly has set up an endowment to provide scholarship funding for female education in the district.
Students from Cornell University are working with Voices of African Mothers, to create a self-sustaining school for Ghanaian girls.
2017 National Science and Mathematics quiz got underway in Accra this week.