Management issues affecting education in V/R - Ablakwa

Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education on Friday blamed the poor academic performance of pupils in the Volta region on “serious management issues.”

He said findings and analysis by the Ministry showed that the inability of directors and managers to supervise and carry out managerial issues accounted for the fallen standard of education in the region.

Mr Okudjeto, who was commissioning the Ketu North Education Directorate at Dzodze, said the “serious management issues” brought about absenteeism, drunkenness and other bad practices, which were militating against the performance of school pupils while managers were merely “arm chair directors.”

He said, it was unacceptable for the region to place last in the last Basic Education Certificate Examination and charged the stakeholders to sit up. The complex, valued at GH¢ 507,557.88, is part of a 19.67 million dollars education facility from USAID in support of 150 education projects in 38 deprived communities in the country.

Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Education is providing “matching funds” of about 33 per cent. Mr Okudjeto said though the provision of the building was important, management of education was more important, saying, “yes, this building is nice, it is beautiful but don’t be arm chair directors.”

He said it was worrying that a good number of teachers in schools were doing businesses such as the sales of rechargeable cards, selling of pastries in schools and driving taxis in town, a case of serving two masters. “You can’t serve two masters. Either you sell credit cards or be a teacher, you can’t do the two,” Mr Okudjeto cautioned.

He said often, managers complained of poor offices and working space and hoped the provision of the facility would improve standards in the district. Mr Okudjeto charged chiefs and opinion leaders to show interest in education, especially in their communities and ensure that teachers and managers delivered their best.

He said “if supervision is poor, management is poor, report them to us and we will take action.” Ms Yvonne Oberhollenzer, from USAID office, Accra, said her outfit remained committed to partnering Ghana in education to ensure that every child got the opportunity to succeed.

Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Volta Regional Minister commended USAID for the support and hoped that the facility would improve academic performance in the district. He urged the stakeholders to cultivate a maintenance culture to preserve the life span of the complex.

Mr Kofi Lawson, Ketu North District Chief Executive said since 2008, the district had executed 56 education projects out of 115development projects. Madam Mabel Esegbe, Acting Ketu North District Education Director assured that the complex would be put to good use to improve academic performance in the area.