Zuweira Baba Mohammad,the best female contestant at the  2017 National Science and Maths Quiz has made a tremendous performance at the 2017 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The Tamale Senior High School graduate exhibited an enviable performance during the 2017 National Science and Maths Quiz competition.

Though her school couldn’t make it to the finals of the competition, she was adjured Best Female Contestant of the competition.

Zuweira’s academic Laurels was not exhibited only during the National Science and Maths Quiz,but has also manifested in her WASSCE results recently released by the West African Examination Council.

Zuweira had six As in subjects such as Core Mathematics,English Language, Integrated Science,Physics, Chemistry and Elective Mathematics.

She also scored two B3s in Social Studies and Biology.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The Ghana Education Service has admitted that the Guidance and Counselling Services in the public basic and Secondary Schools is not very effective.

Speaking to the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service, Rev.Jonathan Bettey make such reference when he was been asked about the effectiveness of the Guidance and Counselling services at the public pre-tertiary education level.

Rev.Jonathan admitted that the Guidance and Counselling Services in the Schools were Effective but not ‘Very Effective’.

This he contributed to the non availability of more professionals to handle the services in the schools as well as the non availability of the Service on the Schools timetable.

According to Rev.Jonathan, the Ghana Education Service has made every provision to make sure that Guidance and Counselling Services are rendered in all Public Schools in the Country.

He explained the structure of the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ghana Education Service, which comprises the Director in Charge of the Guidance and Counselling Unit at the headquarters,Regional Coordinators, District Coordinators as well as In-School Coordinators.

He further admitted that the in-school Coordinators were having other assignments which made it sometimes difficult for the to execute their duties effectively, but was quick to state that such teachers who studied Guidance and Counselling in their various institutions and were given the task to handle the activity in the Schools were made to teach less than the required 24 periods in other to get adequate time for the service.

He also said that the Ghana Education Service do organize periodic Counselling services and In Service trainings for smteachers in charge of the Guidance and Counselling Services in their respective Schools.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The Controller and Accountants General’s Department has suspended the processing and Payment of Salary Arrears to all government workers until further notice.

This information was contained in a Memo written to the Deputy Accountant General and copied to the Head of Payroll of the Controller and Accountant Generals Department,dated June 30,2017.

The Memo further explains the reason for the suspension,citing a Payroll Cleaning Exercise.

Meanwhile, members of the Civil and Local Government Workers Association of Ghana were excluded from the suspension.

Source:EducationGhana.net

The La Municipal branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI), known as JCI Accra Royale, over the weekend hosted a Reading Contest for the pupils of the South La Primary School.

The contest, dubbed the ‘JCI Reading Contest’ is an initiative of the group’s Brighten Your Corner Community Project and is themed ‘A Reader Today, A Leader Tomorrow!’

Thirty-six pupils, drawn from lower and upper primary; representing various classes and the school’s three sections. Each pair of contestants fought to make their section the most popular among the classes in their stream.

Speaking to citifmonline.com about the quiz competition, the Executive Vice President of JCI Accra Royale, Daniel Nii Ayaa Annan, disclosed that his organisation “started the project in 2014 where we refurbished the library of South La Primary School and we gave them books as well as part of the renovation in 2015.  We continued by initiating the first Reading Contest in 2016 and we’re still continuing in 2017 by doing the Reading Contest again.”

“The basis of this contest is buried in a quote from Mark Twain which says ‘the man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.’ Many of the world’s wealthiest people attribute their success to their reading habit. This power that reading places in one’s hands is the reason JCI Accra Royale has chosen to promote not just reading in the lives of the young, but also provide quality educational needs for efficient and effective learning in schools and among students,” he added.

All participating 36 pupils received certificates and books relevant to their various classes, whiles each of the six winning pairs, representing a primary level each, walked home with more books and JCI branded souvenirs in addition.

12 laptops were donated to the school by JCI Accra Royale in collaboration with JCI London; one to each of the six winning pairs, one to the headmistress, one to the school librarian and the remaining four to the school for properly allocation.

The Headmistress of the school, Mary Amasah, who received the remaining laptops on the school’s behalf, was beside herself with joy and expressed gratitude to the group on behalf of the entire management and student body.

The mission of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) globally is to provide development opportunities to young people and communities to create positive change in our society.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

The two nurses who went viral for broadcasting on Facebook Live have been sacked.

Trudy Ewurama Marcel and her colleague nurse Ramatu both workers of Royal MMR Hospital shocked Ghanaians with their conduct.

They chose to do Facebook Live while at work and responded to comments at the expense of patients awaiting to seek healthcare.

When Adom FM broke the news Thursday, authorities at the hospital were stunned and assured the two nurses would be sanctioned.

After thorough investigations, Medical Director of Royal MMR Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Donkor confirmed to Adom News Friday that the two have been fired.

He indicated that, Trudy and Ramatu who were employed as health assistants are aware their conduct is against hospital rules.

Dr. Donkor said the hospital feels very embarrassed by the conduct of the two thus they had no choice than to part ways with them.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has instituted investigations into the matter, saying the conduct of the two posed a threat to the integrity of the Nursing profession.

Public Relations Officer of the association, Douglas Adu Fokuo though their conduct is unpardonable, they are worried about the psychological well-being of two nurses.

Play attached audio for more

I watch children aspire for greatness, a

nd I feel glad when they share with parents, friends and teachers their aspirations. Many of such voiced aspirations receive a couple of “wow” and “that’s great”; the question is what next?

The most essential thing needed but often overlooked is guidance (Career planning).How enlightened are they about their aspired careers, capabilities, requisite programmes( since we do not just become, but study to become) and how to pursue such programmes.

Career is a lifelong profession an individual engages in to earn a living.

Career planning is understanding and evaluating your strength, interest, aspiration, other influences and making a choice.

As a parent, you want only the very best for your son or daughter and career guidance is of utmost importance.

Career guidance gives the child a clear picture of what his/her goal should be.

It gives the child career options that could suit him/her. Hence, can start preparing for that option from the beginning.

It will give the child ample amount of time for the right kind of preparation.

Many are aspiring for the same career that you want. How is it possible that you can easily beat the competition.

The best way to seek guidance that is objective as well as strategic and to beat this competition and avoid confusion is to consult Nawac’s career guide for Beginners. A simplified manual on 100 professions with requisite programmes at the second cycle institution, Tertiary and professional institutions for the various professions.

Work may change, but an individuals interests remain for a lifetime.
Career is for a lifetime, choose it right.

Written by: Christian N.J
(Christiannj75@gmail/0547297308)

Source:EducationGhana.net

The 4th Edition of the New School Year Teachers Conference is set to take place from the 11th to 12th August 2017.

The annual Conference is organized by Sam Rhema House,organizers of the Infamous Teacherpreneurs Conference.

The theme for this year’s edition is ” Raising a Thoroughbred 21st Century Learner.

Teachers from the Pre-Tertiary Educations,Educationists,Heads of Educational Institutions and other Stakeholders are expected to take part in this year’s conference.

It is a conference for innovation, and creativity that will equip teachers and other educators with modern/21st pedagogical practices.

Modules include those on modern education, 21st century teaching practices,  improving child mental health, image improvement, dyxlesia, etc.

The Rate is Gh100 including (Certificate, Launch, and conference Materials)

The Conference will take place at the GNAT Hall in Accra from 8am to 3:00pm.

Submission of Papers

The orgaziners are receiving papers on the *theme* to be published.

Send your paper in word format to samrhemahouse@gmail.com
Be at #NESTEC2017. Reserve your seat. Register today. Call/WhatsApp 0244574131, 0278553887

www.samrhemahouse.com

www.educationcastle.org

Accra, 0244574131

Source:EducationGhana.net

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has held a send-off and long service ceremony for 73 workers who retired this year to recognise and acknowledge their long and meritorious services to the University.

They were made up of teaching and non teaching staff comprising 27 junior and 31 senior staff, and 15 senior members.

The retirees, one of whom was honoured posthumously, had served the UCC for periods ranging between 15 and 41 years and were awarded based on their length of service.

Their awards ranged from table top and double cabin refrigerators, television sets, washing machines, living room furniture and citation plaques.

Staff in active service who are perceived to have rendered quality services over the past period, were also honoured with plaques, certificates and a cash of GH¢3,000 each.

The longest serving staff, Mr Alfred Nti, who had served for 41 years, was full of praise of the University authorities for recognising his contribution to the success story.

Other notable long servers were Professor Haruna Yakubu, an Associate Professor with the Department of Physics who had served for 31 years, and Prof. Victor Yankah, also an Associate Professor with the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, serving for 29 years.

Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, expressed profound gratitude to the retirees and the other staff for their years of service and efforts to help make the University’s vision a reality.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that they were being awarded for their persistent devotion to duty and determination and urged the staff to emulate their examples to enhance the development of the University.

He said the University would continue to strengthen its relationship with the retirees and constantly engage them to tap their experiences in the development of the institution.

Prof. Ghartey Ampiah advised all the retirees to be health conscious at this period of their lives and to spend quality time with their families.

Prof. Yankah, on behalf of the retirees, expressed appreciation to the University for giving them the opportunity to serve and honouring their efforts.

–
Source: GNA

LUCAS College has held its maiden Press Conference to announce its presence in Ghana’s educational sector. Accredited in December 2016, LUCAS College made it their prime mission to bridge the gap between Academia and Industry and equip students for success in the professional world.

Some of the guests present were Human Resource Partner IBM, Andy Mensah, Deputy Director of Operations of the Tourism Society of Ghana Emmanuel Frimpong, Director, Chamber of Commerce and Industry for France–Ghana (CCI) Delphine Adenot -Owusu and Lawyer/ Immediate Past Principal, National Banking College KwasiBuabeng.

They supported LUCAS mission and stated how critical it was for universities and the private sector to collaborate. By working together, they could train graduates to beready for the professional world.

Also President of LUCAS, Toufic Tasso said the  focus is on the challenge of unemployment that students face after graduation.

He  stated that, “From day one, we work to bridge the gap by providing an education that links students with experts in the field. These experts help create curricula, host workshops and play a key role in helping our students get internships and work experience.”

Additionally Dr. Hillar Addo highlighted other beneficial aspects of LUCAS by stating that the LUCAS will offer “A bilingual education that helps them work across the region,an intensive training in personal development and technology, access to the international partner colleges allowing them to earn international degrees out of Accra and to study and work abroad”.

Andy Mensah and Emmanuel Frimpong both backed the importance placed by LUCAS on practical training and skills development.

–

Credit: LUCAS College

Twenty Ghanaian students from Universities across the country have been granted prestigious scholarships under the Erasmus+ programme for the year 2017.

They will pursue courses at both Master and Doctoral level in European Universities.

The scholarships are expected to help the twenty students acquire high level skills, knowledge and varied experience that will help them to contribute in future years to Ghana’s sustainable development.

Since 2004 ,245 students and staff from Ghana have benefited from Erasmus+ scholarships, centrally funded by the EU budget.

Erasmus is only one source of funding for scholarships to Europe. When scholarships from both the European Union and its 28 Member States are taken into account, it is estimated that a total of around one thousand Ghanaian students gain scholarships to European Universities each year.

The European Union expects to see an increase in the number of scholarship beneficiaries in future years by working alongside the academic community and by raising awareness of the programme among students. Ambassadors from the EU and its Member States recently gave a talk at the University of Ghana on the many scholarship opportunities open to Ghanaian students.

Among the courses the twenty new Erasmus students will pursue are a Doctorate programme in Legal Psychology, Masters in Economics of Globalisation and European Integration, International Masters in Marine Biological Resources, Masters in Journalism, Media and Globalisation in ten different European Union member states.

The students are not the only beneficiaries of the Erasmus + Programme The Erasmus+ programme will also contribute to the improvement of the quality of higher education through enhanced international cooperation between Universities in Europe and in Africa and the harmonization of programmes and procedures.

The European Union and the Member States will host the new Erasmus students on Friday 28 July 2017 for an orientation meeting with alumni of the Erasmus+ programme in Ghana. This will help them to make a smooth transition from Ghana to their host countries and universities in Europe.

–
By: citifmonline.com

The Techiman Circuit Court presided over by His Honor Abraham Graham has sentenced a 20 year old student of Tuobodom SHS in the Techiman North District for defiling a 15 year old girl of the same school.

According to court proceedings,the girl got pregnant and the parents got noticed of the situation and ask her who was responsible for the pregnancy.

It was then that the girl openly mentioned the name of the boy to the parents.

The pregnacy was at its sixth month and the parents called for the arrest of the boy.

The girl succesfully delivered a baby boy before the case was called by the court.

The boy pleaded guilty of the offence and was given 15 years imprisonment by His Honor Alexander Graham.

Source:EducationGhana.net

Peace Delaly Nicoue, the youngest person to sit the Baccalaureate exam in Benin this year, has passed with top grades.

The shy 11-year-old told BBC Afrique he was “happy and relieved” to achieve 17 out of 20 in Maths because he plans to study economics at university.

While most students sit the Baccalaureate exams at the age of 18, Peace was given special permission by the government to take the assessment seven years early.

His schoolteacher father, Parfait Afoutou Nicoue, says Peace showed early signs of promise:

“When he was four years old he could write in perfect French and English without making mistakes.”

Peace’s next goal is to continue his studies in an English-speaking country.

BBC

Former Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Sampson Ahi says government may intentionally fail students who have written this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), to ensure that its budget for running the Free Senior High School policy is not over spent.

The Minister of Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh outlining the plan for the much trumpeted flagship programme that will be rolled out in September 2017 at a media encounter last week, emphasized that only students who pass their BECE will enjoy the Free SHS policy.

He disclosed that the Free SHS programme which will also cover agricultural, vocational and technical institutions at the high school level programme will cost over Gh¢400 million per academic year, and can be enjoyed by only Ghanaians.

He emphasized that the Akufo Addo government is fully funding the entire programme which means “there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer lab fees, no examination fees, no utility fees; there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, and day students will get a meal at school for free.

But speaking to Agoo TV and Kasapa FM, Hon. Sampson Ahi who’s Member of Parliament for Bodi in the Western Region said he has strong conviction that the Akufo Addo led-government may deviously make the marking scheme very high in order to ensure that not more than the students budgeted for will pass the exams.

“The govenment has made in clear that it’s only sudents who pass the BECE who will get admission into the various SHS to enable them enjoy the Free SHS programme. If the results come and a student fails, he/she doesn’t get to enjoy the programme, so government may deliberately fail the students so that if 300 students have been budgeted for, only 300 will pass. If 300 is budgeted and 450 pass the exams, government will not have funds to cater for the additional 150 who pass. The NPP government must be cautioned not to do any such devious act which will negatively impact on the education of our young students who are our future leaders.”

“The NPP in opposition told us that when the come to power, the BECE will not be the basis for a Junior High School student to get admission into the Senior High School, so why have they made a u-turn and are now telling us that when a sudent doesn’t pass the BECE he/she can’t enjoy Free SHS education.

SAVE-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has presented 50 mobile devices to the Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to assist in tracking basic school teacher absenteeism.

The android devices, which were purchased at the cost of GHc30,000.00, forms part of the implementation of the “Improving Learning Outcomes through ICT and Evidence Base Approach,” a project funded by Making All Voices Count.

Mr Moses Batong, the SAVE-Ghana Programmes Manager, who presented the devices, said the project was being implemented across 88 schools in the Upper West Region.

He noted that the presentation of the 50 devices added up to the 25 presented earlier to the Directorate.
He said they would complement the desktop computers already installed at the various schools and that through a software, teachers could login when they report at school and logout when leaving.

Mr Batong said the Regional Director could then monitor the attendance of teachers in the various schools at the comfort of her office, thereby, improving supervision.

Mr Yaro Kumbiley, the Deputy Director of Human Resource Management Division of the Regional Education Directorate, who received the mobile devices on behalf of the Regional Director of Education, thanked SAVE-Ghana for the support.

He said the innovation of monitoring would go a long way to check teacher absenteeism, which was one of the major contributors to poor education in the Region.

–

Source: GNA

The Ghana National Association of Teachers(GNAT) has lauded the government’s decision not to cater for students who are repeated because of non-performance in the government’s much touted Free SHS policy.

According to GNAT,  the move will rather spur the children to be more studious vis a vis the programme.

Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, during a press conference on Thursday indicated that the Free SHS policy won’t cover repeated students in their extra year of study under the Free Senior High School education policy.

“We said you can carry your free SHS for three years because that is the duration of your study. So if you go to the first year, we will pay. You repeat your first year in year two we will pay. When you get to the second year in year three we will pay. But for year four we won’t [pay their fees].”

Eventhough GNAT has commended the initiative, General Secretary, David Ofori Acheampong said the government should ensure, a fair distribution of materials so that students from deprived areas are not disadvantaged.

“For me if the rule is that you did not meet the grade, you lose the scholarship, I don’t have a problem with that, that will serve as a motivation for a lot more of our students to get more serious; It’s important to look at that as well.

“Number 2, it is equally important that if that is going to be the case then we must press evenly and equitably, resources that are needed to give all the students a level playing field, because you cannot talk about availability of text books in Accra as against the absence of those text books in other areas. So we are going to monitor at the inception of the programme in September, we do a lot of the monitoring to find out if all the resources available to the schools in the urban centres are the same as against that in the rural areas.”

The issue that has gotten the whole country talking over the week has been a live video of two nurses Trudy Ewurama Marcel and her colleague nurse Ramatu both workers of Royal MMR Hospital which went viral on social media.

The two nurses were dismissed indefinitely by the owners of the hospital over misconduct while on duty.

A day after both colleague nurses were expelled,Trudy took to Social Media to explain her side of the story.

According to Trudy,the videos were streamed way back in April and she is astonished as to how it only got noticed on Friday ,July 28 which had eventually led to her dismissal.

Though she couldn’t indicate whether the video was streamed while on duty,their outfit may speak otherwise.

“A Video Made Around April After Work, Surprisingly Gets Notice Just Yesterday!” She indicated.

Trudy though perturbed about the whole incidence,still got hope within herself for a brighter future.

“Even If I Lose Everything, I Still Have Life“ Trudy said.

Source:EducationGhana.net

President Nana Akufo-Addo has charged the governing council of the University of Education, Winneba, to immediately come up with measures that will ensure that all disputes and matters pending in court are dealt with.

Despite the contentions with recent court rulings of interest to the school, President Akufo-Addo said the law was to be respected and viewed as a path to the resolution of the recent conflict enveloping the school.

“I am aware of recent happenings at UEW. Disturbing, as it were, it is noteworthy that it appears finality is being brought to beware on the matter. The current challenges in my view can be best surmounted if all stakeholders act within the confines of the law and respect the rule of law.”

“Court decisions are not always pleasant but they are in principle, the surest way to resolve disputes. Let us not through our utterance, actions and inactions undermine the authority of our courts. I am by this urging the newly constituted governing council to do all within its power to see to an amicable settlement of all matters pending before the High Court.”

“In the same vein, the chairperson of the governing council must urgently ensure that the council puts into place measures to seal all loopholes of waste and abuse of public funds,” the President said.

Members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the University of Education, Winneba, are divided over the recent strike declared by their president, triggered by a court ruling which directed the Vice Chancellor to step aside temporarily.

The troubles at the university trace back to May 23, when the mandate of the schools Governing Council was challenged.

One Supi Kwayera, in a lawsuit, held that the university council’s mandate had expired in November 2013, but the Education Ministry failed to constitute a new Governing Council for the university and rather allowed the defunct Governing Council to continue work.

Mr. Kwayera insisted that this was unlawful, hence his legal action against the University of Education, Winneba.

Before the substantive claims were looked into, the University, through its counsel, applied to the court to dismiss the suit on the three counts, but the application was dismissed

The University’s branch of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) as a respondent subsequently applied to join the application.

The High Court in Winneba on July 14, 2017, then ordered the Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Mawutor Avokeh, to step aside until the case brought against him was determined.

Credit: Citifmonline.com

A student who just graduated from the University of Ghana with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Ghanaian Language Studies (Akan Linguistics – Media Discourse). In short, she holds a PhD in Twi.

She’s currently the head of the Akan-Nzema Department of the College of Languages Education, Ajumako Campus of the University of Education Winneba.

She loves to research into Ethnography of Communication and media discourse (Political and Socio-cultural discourse). Media discourse refers to interactions that take place through a broadcast platform, whether spoken or written, in which the discourse is oriented to a non-present reader, listener or viewer.

Apart from this, Dr Anima, who is herself a media practitioner, loves to explore media linguistics as well.

According to her, Media linguistics is basically the study of media speech. For instance,

There are things that are known to be taboos but are mentioned anyhow on radio by some of these Twi presenters on both TV and radio.

She teaches Phonetics of Akan, Language use in Media, Translation, Interpretation, Akan Written Literature, Oral Literature of Akan and Ethnography of Speaking.

Dr Anima had her secondary education at the St Roses Secondary School, Akwatia in the Eastern Region between 1991 and 1993. She advanced to the University of Ghana where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Theatre Arts (Theatre for Extension Communication) in 1995.

For her Master’s Degree, she pursued a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) in Ghanaian Language Studies and finally crowned it with a doctorate degree.

Dr Anima hails from Atwima-Ofoase in the Ashanti Region. Apparently, Dr Anima is surrounded by academicians in her own home. She is married to Dr Charles B. Wiafe-Akenten who is also a lecturer at the Physiology Department of the University of Ghana.

Their first child, Dr Michael Wiafe-Kwagyan, is also a young lecturer with the Plant Science Department of the University of Ghana; while her three daughters – Nana Adwoa, Awo Asantewaa and Ohenemaa Wiafewaa – are leaving no stone unturned to take after their parents.

OMGvoice

Basic Education in Ghana has reached a level where skills and critical thinking have become a matter of public concern, exiting from the usual ‘chew and pour’ style of Education in Ghana.

During the 2017 National Science and Maths Quiz Science Technology fair held in Accra,Pupils of the Manhean Anglican Junior High School at Tema in the Greater Accra Region have developed a fish Drying Machine known as the Anchovies Dryer.

The Anchovies Dryer is a simple, hygienic and more efficient means of drying fish.

Watch Pictures Below:

Source:EducationGhana.net

Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah has announced government plans to soon scrap the 25 per cent corporate tax paid by private universities in the country.

According to him, the widely held perception that private universities are expensive is due to what he calls nuisance taxes that were slapped on such institutions by the erstwhile John Mahama-led administration in 2013.

He said the tax stifles further investment in education and makes it difficult for private universities to avoid fee increases.

Professor Yankah made the remarks at the ninth congregation of the Garden City University College (GCUC) in Kumasi where a total of 759 graduands from different faculties were presented with certificates.

“Government is working towards the removal of the 25 per cent corporate tax slapped on private universities which is a rather strange tax law that dramatically appeared in 2013 from nowhere making Ghana the first country ever known to tax private universities,” Prof Yankah stated.

“That tax deters private universities from investing any surpluses in growth expansion and innovation. It stifles further investment in education and makes it difficult for private universities to avoid fee increases. Indeed, the perception that private universities are expensive is partly due to nuisance tax as well as expensive accreditation processes whose outcomes are then passed on to students. Remove these impediments in the way of the private sector is what President Nana Akufo-Addo is saying and tuition fees will go down,” he added.

Professor Yankah also announced that processes are underway to review accreditation and policies for universities and to remove other impediments where private universities are frustrated by affiliated public universities during mentoring.

President of the Garden City University College, Dr Wilhelmina J. Donkoh on her part said the scrapping of the 25 per cent corporate tax will reduce tuition cost at private universities.

She expressed delight over the reconstruction of the Kenyasi-Antoa road which affected academic activities of the school.

Source:ClassFMonline.com