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Sobering end to 2016 for the North
Headmasters in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions are threatening to not reopen for the second term of the 206-2017 academic year. The headmasters’ actions are in response to the government’s continued unwillingness to pay feeding grants. The Ghana Education Service (GES) is now three semesters back in terms of payments, and the food suppliers are saying enough is enough, effectively forcing the regional schools to secure funding or become insolvent. Naturally, parents in the region are furiously encouraging the GES to pay up. Though, the government regularly complains about the disappointing performance results that come from the North, they don’t seem too interested in helping get things on track.
Police say no to protest
In previous weeks, we’ve often heard from the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) as it complains, rightfully it appears, over government inaction when it comes to teacher trainee feeding allowance payments. Last week, TTAG very publicly stated it would picket the GES and Ministry of Education (MoE) on December 28th. But on Wednesday morning when TTAG members showed up to picket, armed policemen quickly notified the protesters that due to a lack of official notification, the protest was illegal. Meantime the MoE issued a press release dated December 28th, alleging that the MoE had made a payment of GHC 50.5 million and placing the blame on the principals of the COEs. Whom to blame is beside the point. What matters is that teacher trainees are compensated in line with their contracts, and TTAG has made it quite clear that they have no intentions of going quietly on this.
Also…
A thorough review of education-related stories and events that took place in 2016.
A nutritionist makes the case for an improved School Feeding Program.
Article on a health and education initiative to renovate the Wurupong Health Center.
Article on The Centre for Social Mobilization and Sustainable Development (CENSODEV), an NGO that seeks to help train young entrepreneurs.
President Mahama honored Nigerian Professor Chukwuka Okonjo for his contributions to education development in Ghana.
Circling back on a story from a couple months back… The GES has reinstated a headmaster who was previously dismissed on allegations that he charged unapproved fees.