Ministry of Education tasked to introduce teacher mentoring programmes
The Ministry of Education (MOE) was on Tuesday tasked to introduce Teacher Mentoring Programmes (TMPs) to match up newly-trained teachers with experienced and accomplished teachers in the classrooms.
The programme dubbed: “The Tripartite Approach to solving the educational challenges,” also tasked the MOE to develop a textbook database service in the form of an electronic library (e-library).
“The textbook database services would complement and force students and pupils to use the internet as a research instrument instead of using it to engage in fraudulent activities,” Mr Tetteh Nettey Executive President of Meridian Pre-University told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
He said the textbook database should serve as a national educational information treasure, stressing government must also bring back the Regional Library concept and make it an interesting place for children to ‘hang out’ instead of them spending their time at video centres.
“Over the years, it has become clear that private initiative in education seems to be working the world around and would continue to do so. It is important therefore that government looks at empowering private schools to do more,” he said.
Mr Nettey also urged the Ghana Education Service to create a conducive environment for research and create new ways of learning the so-called difficult subjects such as Mathematics and Science using modern tools and gadgets.
“GES must use assessments that can improve achievement by including the kinds of research, scientific investigation and problem-solving strategies that our children will need to compete in a 21st century knowledge-based economy.
“The examinations our children take should support the immediate and long-term aspirations of our nation not just examination for the sake of it. If we really want our children to become the great inventors and problem-solvers of tomorrow, our schools should not oppress innovation but rather they should let it thrive”.
Mr Nettey also urged parents and guardians to acknowledge that there was no educational programme or policy that could substitute for the role of parents or guardians who were involved in a child’s education from day one.
“There is no substitute for parents who will make sure their children are in school on time, help them with their homework, and attend Parent-Teacher meetings.
“If nothing is done about these problems, we will still be talking about them in the years to come if we do not have parents who are willing to encourage their children to read or study, we would not have the future we desire for them and for ourselves.”
He said the responsibility of educating a child had to start at home, and within the communities, adding that “We have to set high standards for them and spend time with them and love them. We have to hold ourselves accountable as parents. This is the commitment we must make to our children”.
The Meridian Pre-University President had the view that the Blame Game Debate was a wrong approach to solving contemporary educational problems.
“At Meridian Pre-University, we think that distinction in examinations is something that we must not only wish for; we believe it is something we bring about by consciously and deliberately working at it. Academic success therefore is not a function of ‘a wish’ but a function of hard work.”
On the achievement of Meridian Pre-University graduates, Mr Nettey said 95 per cent of the first batch of graduates who made it to Central University had graduated with very impressive results.
Source: GNA