News
Parents urged to complement the efforts of teachers
Kanda Estate Basic School overall winners lift their trophy
The Ayawaso East Municipal Education Director, Mrs. Madam Adisa Tassa urged parents and guardians to complement the effort of teachers at promoting reading culture in children.
She said there was the need for every stakeholder involved in the upbringing of learners to instill the love for reading in them to enhance the creativity of children.
Speaking at the first ever Municipal reading festival for children in Basic 1 to 3 in Ghanaian and English Language, she said the act of instilling the culture of reading to children should not only be left to teachers and primary caregivers adding that there was the need for parents to also create a learning environment in their homes to promote parental reading and reading to children.
The programme which was an initiative by the Ghana Education Service was in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development(USAID)partnership for education: Learning and Ghana Library Authority (GLA) and was under the theme “Learn to Read, Read to Learn”.
Participating teams included Flagstaff House Basic, St. Kizito Roman Catholic Basic, Kanda Estate Basic and Alwaleed Comprehensive Basic.
Mrs. Tassa said the directorate firmly believes that the essence of reading and learning to read cannot be over-emphasized as this is a requisite skill which is developed overtime.
She said children who are good readers tend to achieve better across the curriculum adding that reading promotes achievement in all subjects not just English.
Children, she said who do not learn to read in the early grades struggle to develop more advance skills which are often absorbed through reading. She said teaching children to read at a young age is the cornerstone of improving educational outcomes.
In a guest speakers address, the Acting Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Library Authority(GLA), Mr. Edward Addo-Yobo said studies conducted on early grade level reading of children in Ghana indicate that the majority of learners at primary level perform poorly in reading.
He assigned some factors that accounted for poor reading as inadequate training of teachers in developing literacy among learners, insufficient reading materials, time on task for reading among others.
He cited some reading promotion activities as reading clinics, story hour, spelling B, reading challenge, personality read and others.
According to him, reading helps to prevent children indulging in anti- social activities and exposes them to other cultures.
The mandate of the GLA, he said was to establish, equip, manage and maintain public libraries in the country adding that the vision was to connect Ghanaians to learning resources.
On her part, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso East, Hon. Hajia Salma Sani Mohammed Adams Kuta said reading enriches and expands our vocabulary and develops the skill of concentration whilst providing us with pure enjoyment and sheer pleasure.
The MCE urged teachers and parents to support children in their reading capabilities whilst further admonishing parents to invest in books for children to read and expose them to libraries.
She said the assembly would continue to support the directorate with the necessary logistics so as to be able to achieve its noble goals and objectives.
The Guest of honour, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East,Nima, Hon. Nasser Toure Mahama expressed commendation to the organizers for the initiative saying it would form a firm foundation for children and broaden the horizon of our children as they ascend the academic ladder.
For their awards, Kanda Estate emerged overall winners and they received a trophy while all the four schools received certificate of participation. The winners will represent the municipality at the regional reading festival.
By Francis Cofie
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has accepted an apology from the Minority leader in Parliament following allegations of corruption in the recruitment process of the security services.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he indicated that the accusations were painful because they portrayed his actions in a way that suggested criminal wrongdoing.
“It is painful to be wrongly accused or for your actions to be misconstrued and labelled differently from your intention, especially when it is linked with criminality and serious wrongdoing,” he stated.
Mr Mubarak noted that although he was deeply hurt and worried by the allegations, he had decided to accept the apology wholeheartedly.
According to him, the issue should guide members of the House and public officials to focus on ensuring that the right things are done without attempting to destroy one another.
He assured the Minority that the Interior Ministry and the various security service commanders remain committed to transparency and accountability in their work.
The Minister added that the ministry would be ready to address any concerns raised by the Minority or other members of Parliament regarding recruitment into the security services.
He further appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to consider expunging from the parliamentary records the false comments.
Mr Mubarak expressed appreciation to the Speaker for handling the matter and emphasised the need for cooperation among members of Parliament to ensure fairness and proper oversight.
By: Jacob Aggrey
THE Gospel Advocates (TGA), a non-denominational evangelistic Christian organisation last Saturday donated a number of educational logistics to the Dodi Asantekrom Basic School in the Eastern region of Ghana.
The gesture was to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation made up of professionals committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to students in senior high schools, particularly in rural communities.
TGA also seeks to inspire students towards attaining academic excellence and guiding them towards optimising the various learning opportunities and academic programmes available at the tertiary level.
Among the items donated were 100 desks, 10 cupboards, 10 desktop computers, two laptops, 10 teachers’ tables and chairs and others.
The group also held its annual outreach programme that had a significant impact in the community through initiatives such as feeding 500 children with hot meals and assorted drinks, providing free medical screening and drugs for 500 adults and youth and conducting health education and sensitisation for both children and adults.
TGA also took upon itself to restock the community clinic with essential medicines and distributed food items, plastic bowls, cups and clothing to members of the community.
The initiative, according to officials of the group, was supported by ORSAM Limited, Doctors Save Lives Foundation, Johnson Tord Foundation, El-Shaddai Mothercare, Exceed Alliance Limited, GB Foods Ghana Limited, Qualiplast Limited, Phyto-Riker (Gihoc) Pharmaceuticals Limited, Cosa Bright Ghana, Kabs Pharmacy, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Pill Bay Pharmacy and Bamah 3.7.7.
“We are deeply grateful for their immense support and partnership in bringing hope, relief, and practical assistance to the people of Dodi Asantekrom,” the officials said.
In a statement, the President and Chairman of The Gospel Advocates, Mr. Selom Kpikpitse, said the donation to Dodi Asantekrom forms part of TGA’s broader mission to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ among students and youth in rural communities through teachings, music and arts.
He explained that the meals provided to over 500 pupils were in line with the organization’s annual “Feed the Kidz Project,” which demonstrates Christ’s love.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmaster, Mr. Otumfour Newton, expressed gratitude to TGA and its sponsors, saying that “the items would significantly enhance teaching and learning while improving the overall welfare and development of the pupils.”
Mr. Newton also commended the team for the free medical screenings for adults and youth in the community, and other community engagements.
Medical supplies were also donated to the Dodi Asantekrom CHPS compound and received on behalf of the facility by Mr. Amefu, a Physician Assistant.
By Spectator Reporter
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