Educational reform will address child development

Published in the Dail Graphic on 2/03/2010, pg 11

Story: Matilda Attram

THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has assured Ghanaians that the new educational reform policy will address issues regarding the development of children’s potentials to ensure equity in resource allocation.
He said the policy, which was already in operation had produced results of some relevant interventions in the educational sector which was expected to tackle the problem of poverty in the country.
“The child is central in my government and in the development of the human resource agenda. Since government is the main player in giving national policy direction, it will play a leading role in charting the path for integrating, maintaining and developing our children and their potential for the benefit of society”, he stated.
President Mills gave the assurance in a speech read on his behalf by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, at the 2009 president’s end-of-year party organised for some selected schools in the Ga-West Municipal Assembly.
It had the theme: ‘Children and the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at Twenty’.
The celebration, which took place in all other regions of the country, was to enable children interact with stakeholders and policy makers.
It was also aimed at giving children the opportunity to dialogue with their leaders on issues concerning their welfare.
The President observed that Ghana was the first country to ratify the UNCRC 1990 and said the concept for the development of children in the country had since improved.
“The government, through organisations that deal with children’s affairs like the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), is vigorously pursuing programmes that empower women and which ensures protection, survival, participation and development of children”, he said.
He urged children to take their lessons seriously to enable them become responsible leaders in future.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Department of Children, MOWAC, Mr Peter Akyea, indicated that MOWAC, in collaboration with other organisations such as the social welfare, health and educational agencies in the country and beyond were making efforts to implement various policies and programmes to ensure the survival, development, protection and participation of children in national development.
He pledged on behalf of the department, to upgrade existing children’s parks in the region to encourage activities that would contribute to the quality development of children.
The Ga-West Municipal Director of Education, Mr Badu Asiedu, called on parents to motivate and support their children in education to help them become responsible adults in future.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga-West Municipal Assembly, Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tackie, also pledged the assembly’s support and assistance to the Municipal Education Directorate to effectively ensure the improvement of teaching and learning in the municipality.
He advised the children to be obedient, respectful and disciplined in their activities.
Participating schools included Amasaman Primary and Junior High School (JHS), Ashaiman M/A Primary and JHS, Opah Primary and JHS, Kuntunse Primary and JHS, Mayera Presby Primary and Mayera M/A JHS.