Some changes by GES ahead of school reopening
Education

Some changes by GES ahead of school reopening

There has been some little change ahead of the school reopening for the Basic and Senior High Schools for January 2023. The changes was done by the Ghana Education Service (GES) Following the release of the academic calendar, the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced a new re-opening date for basic and senior high schools for the 2022/2023 academic year, which is as follows. Second Cycle SchoolsSHS 3: Tuesday, 10th January, 2023 SHS 2: Tuesday, 10th January, 2023 SHS 1: Till further Notice Basic Schools Tuesday, 10th January, 2023 The only changes in the reopening dates is that of the Senior High Schools. They were first to report on 9th January, 2023. However, 9th January happens to  be a public holiday. For this reason, the reopening date has been shifted to the next day for both day students and borders. The full calendar for the 2023 Academic year for pre-tertiary public schools will be made available at the various media platforms, MoE/GES websites, and other social media handles. For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Dr.Eric Nkansah is finally confirmed as GES Director
Education

Dr.Eric Nkansah is finally confirmed as GES Director

Dr. Eric Nkansah, who had been serving as the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) acting Director General, has been appointed to the position officially. All official communications and memoranda are to be addressed as such, according to a letter sent to all GES regional directors on January 4 and signed by the GES’s director of human resources, Angela Frimpomaa Nkansah. “Congratulations to Dr. Nkansah, Director-General, Ghana Education Service” the letter noted. He was the Technical Advisor/Director in charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education before his appointment.His appointment became effective on October 19, 2022, after the President terminated Prof. Kwasi Opoku-secondment Amankwa’s agreement and requested that he return to his prior position at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Many teacher unions objected to Dr. Eric Nkansah’s appointment on the grounds that he is not a teacher and urged the government to revoke it.At one point, the unions threatened to go on strike if the government didn’t revoke Dr. Nkansah’s appointment. Over the past 13 years, Dr. Eric Nkansah has devotedly worked as a banker, professor, researcher, and financial consultant. He was a Senior Lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University’s Department of Banking Technology and Finance. He joined the university in 2012 and has since made a substantial contribution to its growth (in the areas of teaching, research, program creation, etc.). He worked as the Sales Manager at the Krofrom Branch of Barclays Bank of Ghana (now Absa) for more than five years before attending the university.

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Important information for Directors and staff of GES
Education

Important information for Directors and staff of GES

Management has extended the issuance of Assurance letters to Friday 11th November 2022. This is to give room for prospective staff who could not meet the initial deadline to go through the process smoothly. Read below: Source: Apexnewsgh.com/ Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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UER-: See a 32-year-old public kindergarten school block, now a death trap in Isaac Adongo’s community
Education

UER-: See a 32-year-old public kindergarten school block, now a death trap in Isaac Adongo’s community

A kindergarten school constructed in 1990 known as 31st December KG located at Tindonsbiligo in Bolgatanga Central a community where Isaac Adongo, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central came from, has become a death trap for both pupils and teachers using the facility. Apexnewsgh.com report The information gathered by Apexnewsgh.com from the School Headmistress says, the Assemblyman of the Tindonsobligo electoral area and the people of Tindonsobligo especially parents are aware of the predicaments. During the heat of the rainy season, our investigation reveals that all the school roofs were licking from the top to the classrooms and the office of the Headmistress received the highest share of the regrettable disaster because most of the official materials and some documents were destroyed by the rains. However, it is no more news that as soon as it starts raining, both school pupils and their teachers have nowhere to hide. Meanwhile, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted the Assemblyman in charge of the electoral area Thomas Apaala, he acknowledge knowing about the school’s predicaments.He said, at the initial stage he was thinking of changing the zinc but when the Assembly engineer came he said the school needs to be renovated, and there is nothing they could do again. “I will get a carpenter to see if we can take those bad ones away if the cost will be beyond my control”. The Assemblyman promised“Since the inception of the school, there has not been any renovation”. Narrating his encounter with Mr. Isaac Adongo the Bolga Central MP, the Assemblyman said “I met the MP to see what we can do. So, we went to the Assembly and brought one engineer to do an estimate and it was even then I got to know that the issue wasn’t necessarily about changing zinc, but the engineer said the school needs total renovation. So, when we send the estimate and sent to the Assembly, the MP was to use part of his common Fund to do the renovation but I think the Common Fund these days is not coming as expected and on the Assembly budget of the year, it was loaded, and they could not capture it as part of the project”. Meanwhile, our several calls and messages to Mr. Isaac Adongo as a way of following up on the issue, have not been answered or responded to. The Headmistress and teachers at the school say they fear for their lives. They are appealing to Mr. Adongo and other well meaning Ghanaians to come to their aid before things get out of hand. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For Publication, please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: Apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Dr. Eric Nkansah, participated in the 29th Conference of Directors of Education (CoDE) annual conference
Education

Dr. Eric Nkansah, participated in the 29th Conference of Directors of Education (CoDE) annual conference

The AG. Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah, participated in the 29th Conference of Directors of Education (CoDE) annual conference held in Accra. This year’s conference was held under the theme, “Sustainability of Free Pre-Tertiary Education in Ghana: the Surest Step to Human Resource Development.” In his address, Dr. Nkansah commended all Directors of Education for their commitment to duty and assured the MMDDEs of his continuous support to the pursuit of their mandates as implementors of educational policies at the pre-tertiary level in their various Metro/Municipal and Districts. The Director-General assured them of his commitment to working with all stakeholders to create an enabling environment needed to improve learning outcomes at the Pre-Tertiary level. Present at the conference were the Hon Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, GES Council Chairman, Mr. Micheal.Nsowah, Dep DG Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh and others. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Ghanains hard on sacked Director General of Education for using GES Official page a day after been sacked
Education

Ghanains hard on sacked Director General of Education for using GES Official page a day after been sacked

Some citizens are questioning why Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa must continue using the official platform for Ghana Education Service (GES) to send appreciation message to the public a day after his position was terminated by President Akufo-Addo with immediate effect. Apexnewsgh.com report Some of the messages in the comment box who couldn’t pretend being happy or hide his feelings said: “Masa, wasn’t your termination of secondment with immediate effect? Why are you still using GES official page? He asked “You’re way above the retirement age going back to KNUST means nothing. The old shouldn’t be interested in offices in the name of re-engagement.Thanks for your service” Below is Mr. Amankwa’s full appreciation message Good morning Directors and Staff of GES , I believe most of you have sighted/read the letter from HE the President terminating my Secondment from KNUST to GES and asking me to go back to KNUST. Some of you may also be waking up to the news this morning. I have and continue to receive your calls and numerous messages. I have not been able to pick your calls or reply to your messages due largely to the shear volumes. What gladdens my heart is that the messages are not dirges but goodwills and prayers and very soothing and reassuring messages. I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone of you for your dedication and the extremely good work relationship that existed between us. I highly appreciate your unfathomable love to me. We worked as a team and together we’ve changed the face of not only pretertiary education but also GES. You supported me in many ways to enhance my resumé to bring it to a distinguishing first class, world class CV. And I am highly grateful to you all. I leave you with a verse from my favourite and guiding hymn: MBH 602 by Anna Laetitia Waring: Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me,And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee. MAY YOU ALL STAY BLESSED. 🙏🙏🙏 Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Just In: Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa appointment terminated
Education

Just In: Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa appointment terminated

Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), appointment has been terminated. According to a letter issued from the Office of the President on Monday, October 17, 2022, “The Ministry of Education has informed this Office that the exigencies that required your skills and expertise as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service do not exist any longer”, the letter said. The letter further said, having been appointed in April 2017, specific reference was however made about Prof. Opoku-Amankwa’s secondment in January 2021 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The contract was extended again in June 2021 but this extension according to the letter was in “contravention of the Human Resource Policy Frame and manual of the Public Services Commission as it purports to extend your secondment beyond the 3-year maximum limit.” Prof. Opoku-Amankwa has been instructed to return to the KNUST. “The President thanks you for your service to the nation and wishes you the very best in your future endeavours”, the letter from the Presidency signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, concluded. Copied in the letter are the Vice President, Chief of Staff, The Minister of Education, Board Chairperson, Ghana Education Service, the Vice Chancellor at KNUST and the Registrar of the same institution. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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BECE: 19,999 candidates participating in the Upper East
Education

BECE: 19,999 candidates participating in the Upper East

In the Upper East Region, candidates numbering Nineteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine (19,999) are taking part in the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as its officially kick start today Monday October 17, 2022 According to the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service Nathaniel N-yaaba, out of the 19,999 students participating in the examination, a total of 10,000 are girls whiles the boys are numbering 9,999. Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu also visited the Bolgatanga Technical Institution (BOTECH) to offer his encouraging words to participating candidates. He asked them to feel free and write their exams and avoid any fear or intimidation whiles writing your exam. He encourages As a regional team, the Minister visited the students together with the MCE for Bolgatanga, Municipal Education Director, the Regional Chief Inspector of Schools, The Exam Officer, the Basic School Coordinator and the GES Regional PRO. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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Prof. David Millar presents draft concept paper for PBL in NAVASCO as part of his Birthday Anniversary
Education, Opinion

Prof. David Millar presents draft concept paper for PBL in NAVASCO as part of his Birthday Anniversary

As part of his birthday Anniversary, President of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies Professor David Millar who also doubled as an old student of Navrongo Senior High School have put up a ‘draft concept paper’ for what he called a Novel Approach to Teaching and Learning in Secondary Institutions in Ghana Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in Navrongo Senior High School (NAVASCO). According to Professor Millar, “The records show that University for Development Studies, Tamale was first to introduce PBL in her Medical Programs in Ghana, and University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, was first to do likewise in a Social Science Programs. The same records show that PBL is alien to Secondary Institutions”. “The public have bemoaned the education standards in the country and the general perception is that they are following along with the fact that they are not relevant for purpose. A clarion call from stakeholders but especially from the Education Minister during his recent visit to the UN Submit (September 2022) added to the need for proactive strategies to salvage Ghana’s Education”. He said: “In sharing with these concerns the Old Students Association of Navrongo Senior High School (NABIA), is attempting at heeding the call by all a sundry to come out with innovations to help salve her Alma Mata”. Meanwhile, as part of his birthday anniversary, Profession David Millar presented the concept paper to the school management and staff of her Alma Mata NAVSACO. Apexnewsgh.com can confidently report that the management of the school was extremely excited when the draft concept paper was presented to them by astute Professor Millar, as they immediately requested for urgent implementation of the concept. Kindly read the full concept below PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL) IN NAVRONGO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (NASVASCO)(DRAFT CONCEPT PAPER) PUT TOGETHER BY PROF. DAVID MILLAR OCTOBER, 2022 PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL) INTRODUCED IN NASVASCO: A NOVEL APPROACH TO SECONDARY TEACHING AND LEARNING IN GHANA 1.0 Prelude Problem-Based Learning (PBL) at the Second Cycle Institutions Level is not new in the Advanced Countries but it is relative new in Africa; and in Ghana not known to be practice anywhere at the Secondary Levels. This approach to teaching and learning is very prominent at various Medical Schools the world over. The records show that University for Development Studies, Tamale was first to introduce PBL in her Medical Programs in Ghana, and University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, was first to do likewise in a Social Science Programs. The same records show that PBL is alien to Secondary Institutions. Recent events in the Education Programs in Ghana has given rise to a need for major reforms towards emphasis on TVET and Hands-on Education for various educational offerings. The public have bemoaned the education standards in the country and the general perception is that they are following along with the fact that they are not relevant for purpose. A clarion call from stakeholders but especially from the Education Minister during his recent visit to the UN Submit (September, 2022) added to the need for proactive strategies to salvage Ghana’s Education. In sharing with these concerns the Old Students Association of Navrongo Senior High School (NABIA), is attempting at heeding the call by all a sundry to come out with innovations to help salve her Alma Mata. Hence, the Old Students Association, with her own voluntary contributions, mobilized from Old Students Local and International have offered to launch the PBL program at NAVASCO, in collaboration with GES, the School Authorities, PTAs, and the Student Body. This will be organised first as an ICT-Science Club for PBL (starting with Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as pioneer courses). The experiences from this experiment, if impactful, will then be expanded to other programs of learning. 2.0 What is Problem-Based Learning (PBL)?(This is sub-chapter is extensively from literature)The term “Problem-Based Learning” (PBL) was originally developed by Barrows and Tamblyn (1980) for Medical Education. It is based on the Constructivist Theory of Learning.PBL is a pedagogical strategy that uses open ended / ill-structured problems that mirror real-world problems. The authenticity of the problems helps students to transfer their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom, preparing them for the workplace and life in a rapidly changing world. The open ended nature of problems gives students the flexibility to approach it from different angles, to take different thematic sidelines according to their personal interests. This gives them control of the learning process, capturing their interest and motivating them to learn.Lewis et al. (1998) emphasises that the act of posing problems is integral to the process of solving problems. Finding or posing problems is a creative endeavour that can occur prior to, during, or after the act of problem solving. By keeping the problem definition open, the students can “frame and reframe” their perspective on a problem so they reach “goal clarity”. Educational psychologists have discovered that solving a problem is a back-and-forth (recursive) process, not a linear one (Pea, 1985). In this way the student takes ownership of the problem thus enhancing their engagement and responsibility for the learning process. Suggested principles of PBL (Slavery and Duffy, 1995)• Anchor all learning activities to a larger task or problem.• Support the learner in developing ownership for the overall problem or task.• Design an authentic task.• Design the task and the learning environment to reflect the complexity of the environment they should be able to function in at the end of learning.• Give the learner ownership of the process used to develop a solution.• Design the learning environment to support and challenge the learner’s thinking.• Encourage testing ideas against alternative views and alternative contexts.• Provide opportunity and support for reflection on both the content learned and the learning process.• Gudzial et al. (1997) consider the two most important aspects of Problem-Based Learning to be the authentic real world problems and students reflection on their experiences. • The teacher’s role changes from the provider of content to the facilitator of the learning process. Teachers present students with authentic problems and provide an

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Johnson Ayine proposes an industrial attachment method for students under FSHS level during vacation across country.
Education, Politics

Johnson Ayine proposes an industrial attachment method for students under FSHS level during vacation across country.

Johnson Ayine proposes an industrial attachment method for students under FSHS level during vacation across the country. Johnson Ayine a Regional Communication Team member for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has proposed to the government to adopt an industrial attachment method for students under the Senior High Schools level during their vacation across the country.Mr. Ayine made the proposal when discussing the government flagship programme Free Senior High School (FSHS) Policy on ApexnewsGh.Com flagship Programme dubbed ‘SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST REGION’ on Monday, September 26, 2022. According to Mr. Ayine, “as a country, we have not been able to adopt the STERM policy and am happy this current Education Minister is adopting it”. “When we made this our educational reforms and move from middle school to Senior High Schools, those days we were learning technical skills, technical drawing, there were practical tools and equipment that was furnished every senior high school. So, from form 1, you will go theoretical and practical. The Agric students were doing the practicals because they were on some school farm. Making his suggestion, Mr. Ayine said: “This double track we are complaining about students staying at home for a very long time and what have you, we now have an emerging revolution of artisanship.He said: “When you get to some hinterlands and they have light, there is a wilder there, they have carpenters there, they have mason there, and can we do some industrial attachment to these Senior High School students? So that when they are on long vacation we know that students A and B are going to learn welding which can lead them to become wilder. So, if we are able to start the industrial attachment to that level because we have not been able to feed all the Senior High Schools with the necessary equipment and tools. We can do these simple attachments so that when the school gets home, he cannot find an excuse that he or she is traveling to Kumasi”. He stressed “So, let me make this proposal to the government for us to see how we can implement it”. Mr. Ayine proposed Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com

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