![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)
Ghana Telecom University College President puts onus on educators
Professor Osei Darkwa, the President of Ghana Telecom University College, encouraged private universities to do more to ensure that the graduates they produce are fit to move the economy forward. Darkwa lamented that despite government efforts to create a more welcoming environment for college graduates, little impact had been realized so far. As such, Darkwa encouraged private universities to make a concerted effort to graduate students with employable skills. On a more optimistic note, Darkwa reasoned that if the government is supportive, in terms of necessary education infrastructure and policy, and if students and universities work towards filling economic needs, there is no reason the current unemployment situation in Ghana could not be drastically improved.
Teachers forced to get creative with computer training
Residents of the Assin South District are unamused, and rightfully so after a teacher in their district was forced to use a stone instead of a mouse during computer training due to the lack of access to a computer. While unfortunate, this is just the latest in a long line of examples of schools being undersupplied. As the importance of technology in the classroom—and therefore the cost of adequately preparing students for the future—grows, these types of stories could become more common.
Parents pleased with this year’s BECE
Alexander Yaw Danso, the President of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, was pleased with the way the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ghana Education Service (GES), and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for ensuring there were no leaks during this summer’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). “Apart from Bunkpurugu or so where some 200 candidates did not write their first two papers due to a change in their examination centers… I think this is one of the best years as far as reports of leakages during BECE are concerned,” he said.
GETFund budget clarity
The Ghanaian Parliament has approved a formula to govern the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for 2017. In aggregate GETFund will have GH¢7.9 million. More specifically, 32% will go to tertiary education, 31% is earmarked for secondary education, and 28% will be reserved for basic education. The roughly 9% outstanding will be divvied up between the MOE, emergency projects and monitoring.
Also…
University of Education, Winneba (UEW) closes… and then reopens three days later. Tensions are rising over the general disregard of the compulsory retirement age among GES officials. Girls’ Education Network (GEN) launched to enable systematic coordination and monitoring of current and future efforts for female education in Ghana. Opinion piece calling for a more methodical approach to the education system. Opinion piece on returning mission schools to religious bodies in Ghana. The Ghana Technical University College (GTUC) has teamed up with Coventry University of the United Kingdom to organize the first annual “International Conference on Education, Technology and Entrepreneurship (ICETE) 2017” in Accra. MTN Ghana, during its annual 21 day Y’ello Care Program, donated over 200 books to the Kwashiman Cluster of Schools in Accra. Sefwiman Rural Bank in the Western Region donated GH¢9,000-worth of education materials to the Bibiana-Anwhiaso-Bekwai Directorate of Education.