Partner government for quality education - Minister tells churches
The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on churches to continue to partner government to achieve the goal of quality education for all to make the country a better place for this and future generations.
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"Government appreciates the role of churches in shaping the lives of us all, especially those of our young people. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has an enviable record in this area," she said.
Addressing the climax of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Victory Presbyterian Church School at Frafraha, near Adenta, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said part of the partnership agreement was to ask churches to partner with government in the maintenance of schools.
The anniversary activities included a donation to a foster home, inter-schools sports competition, cooking contest among fathers and their children in the school, a quiz contest and a mock parliament.
Holistic education
Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang said the world must think of education in holistic terms, seeing education as a chain, with each link as strong as the other, and added that it must also be sensitive to the variety of needs of learners.
"It must link the mind, the heart, the hand in ways that will aid the larger community as well as the individual. Incidentally, such is the vision the Basil Mission, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, did seek to establish," she said.
She assured that government was determined to follow through on all actions needed to ensure that children benefited from quality education, including the progressively free senior high school education which was an indication of government's resolve in that regard.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang reminded parents that their role could never be replaced by teachers and urged them to always appreciate and commend their children for good work done, and gently but effectively guide them to the right path.
A word for the pupils
She advised the pupils to spend their time wisely, adding that it was good for them to make friends, “But make a good selection of the respectful ones, the hard-working ones, those who want to succeed.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang advised them to avoid bad influence and not to rush to become parents, stressing, “Babies are not toys that you can discard at whim.
“Allow your bodies to grow before you grow others inside you. Bring good certificates home, not children you are in no position to take care of,” she told the schoolchildren.
Academic achievements
The Director of the school, Rev. Florence A.B. Simpson, in a report, said from a humble beginning with 23 pupils in 1995, the school now boasts a population of 1,408 pupils.
On academic achievement, she said, ever since the school started presenting candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 1998, "we have in each year scored 100 per cent passes in the final certificate examination."
She also said, "Other relevant academic achievements include Best Student Awards in the Adentan Municipality from 2009 to 2013, and we were also honoured with the Best Private School Award in 2009 and 2014.
"The school also received a Presidential Award in 2012 and the Best Student Award at the Garden Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in 2013," she recalled.
The Headmistress of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) Legon, Lady Queen Asiedu Akrofi, who chaired the function, reminded parents of their responsibility to take good care of their children by investing in their education.
Awards
Pupils and members of staff, who distinguished themselves academically, and in co-curricular activities, were honoured for their hard work and dedication to service.
Ms Adwoa Asamoabea Debrah and Ms Vanessa Mawena Obro were honoured by the school for scoring nine ones in the 2015 BECE.
Mr Johnson Brimpong and Ms Francisca Kitcher won the Best Teacher awards for the JHS and Primary departments respectively, while Ms Lydia Effah Nyarko and John Atsu won the Best Teacher at the pre-school and Best Worker respectively. Mr Daniel Adams was adjudged the Best Teacher in Ghanaian Language.