The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu has urged Municipal and District Directors of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and teachers to adopt the “can do attitude” to improve the quality of education in the Region.
He said even though the region had similar working conditions with other regions in the country, its examination results were poor as compared to sister-regions, and therefore, called on managers of the GES to eschew all forms of excuses and deliver on their mandate.
The Minister made the call when he joined the Bolgatanga Municipal and Bolgatanga East Directorates of the GES to mark ‘My First Day at School.’
“Our region is not in isolation, the pay is the same, everything else is the same, we went to the same Training Colleges, and all have the same degrees. It therefore means there is something in this region we are not doing right which could account for the poor performance of students,” he said.
Hon. Yakubu said the methodology adopted by some teachers could discourage some pupils from attending school, adding that the attitude of some teachers who engaged pupils on their farms should be stopped.
He admonished parents and guardians to take up the responsibilities of their wards seriously as education was key to the future of their children, and the development of the nation.
He cited instances where some children went to school on empty stomachs, some abandoned school to help their mothers to sell in markets, while some engaged in illegal mining activities for quick money.
Soft drinks and biscuits were distributed to the Kindergarten and Primary Schools the Minister and his entourage visited.