Teachers in Ajumako outline expectations from new Education Minister

By Prince Acquah

Ajumako (C/R), Jan 23, GNA – Some basic school teachers in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District of the Central Region have welcomed the appointment and subsequent approval of

Mr Haruna Iddrisu as the Education Minister with a high expectation that he would transform the sector.

Mr Iddrisu was sworn into office alongside five other ministers by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, January 22.

The teachers acknowledged some changes in the sector, especially the introduction of an improved curriculum, championed by the outgone administration but indicated that majority of their problems remained unresolved.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), they pointed to the lack of adequate teaching and learning materials and the poor infrastructure as some critical challenges in the district and therefore called for a swift action by the new Minister.

Madam Paulina Duodoo, a science teacher with the Owane Presbyterian Basic School, shared the difficulty in teaching her subject without adequate materials, especially for practicals.

“Just recently, we went for an American-based science practical on chemistry in the kitchen. I got to realise that because they brought a lot of materials to the workshop, the lesson was very simple and easy to understand for both teachers and learners.

“When we go to the classroom without any practical materials, it is difficult for us to impart knowledge to the children,” she lamented.

Mr Ebenezer Ocran of the Enyanmaim Islamic Basic School, also corroborated the lack of teaching and learning materials in the district, indicating that the new curriculum came without sufficient materials.

“Textbooks started coming but the information in some of them was very scanty and some were above the knowledge level of the kids,” he observed.

He further appealed to the minister to reconsider raising the remuneration of teachers to motivate them to discharge their duty of raising the next generation of nation builders.

Mr Eric Kwesi Owusu, a teacher with the Baabinso D/A Basic School, pleaded with the new sector minister to build on the good works of his predecessor and introduce more life changing policies to transform basic education.

“The outgone minister brought a new curriculum better than the previous one which seeks to make learners critical thinkers and collaborate with one another. I am confident that he will make it even better,” he said.

Another teacher, Mr Isaac Paris of the Enyan Denkyira D/A A Basic school, entreated Mr Iddrisu to intensify the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes at the basic level.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu is a lawyer, businessman and leader with vast experience in Ghana’s Parliament, holding roles from Deputy Ranking Member to Majority and Minority Leader in various parliaments under the Fourth Republic.

He once served as the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations and Minister for Communications.

The newly appointed Education Minister holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Ghana and a Barrister-at-Law and has been a Member of the Ghana Bar Association since 2022.

GNA