Economics Online Exercise 2

Economics students of Power College are requested to click on the link button below to access their Economics Online Exercise portal.

Please make sure you click on 𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 button after you submitted your assignment to view your marks instantly.

Deadline for this assignment is Tuesday, 1st February 2022.

Thank you

Dropping semester-based system was in response to teachers’ opposition – Adutwum

The Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, says the decision to return to the trimester system for basic schools was solely to appease teachers, who had reservations about the semester system.

Explaining the rationale behind the turnaround on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dr. Adutwum said there were no substantial merits to picking either system.

The directive for basic schools, including Kindergarten, and Junior High Schools, to change the trimester-based calendar to a semester-based sparked opposition from teacher unions.

The unions were also upset that they had not been consulted, although giovernment said the reps of the unions had been engaged.

“If going a trimester is what would make them happy since we are going to attain the same goal at the same number of weeks, why not… I didn’t find it difficult at all to say that I would be on the side of the teachers who believe the trimester was better,” Dr. Adutwum said.

Aside from appeasing the teachers, the Minister also said choosing between the two systems was a matter of convenience.

“In this particular instance, there is no research that says that the semester is better than a trimester. It is just used for convenience around the world.”

“Some of these things are based on convenience. It doesn’t say that once you do a trimester, it is a silver bullet.”

Source: Citinewsroom.com

Economics Online Exercise

Economics students of Power College are requested to click on the link (Assignment) button below to access their Economics Online Exercise portal.

Please make sure you click on 𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 button after you submitted your assignment to view your marks instantly.

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: You can use any smartphone with good Internet connection for this exercise - no need to go to a café.

Deadline for this assignment is Tuesday, 25th January 2022.

Thank you

GHS, GES begin vaccination of SHS students

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), has commenced the vaccination of students in Senior High Schools.

This follows the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) expansion of age groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

Vaccination teams have been dispatched to various schools to vaccinate students.

“Students who have already been vaccinated are required to bring their vaccinations cards to school for inspection” a statement from the GHS and GES said.

The GHS has asked parents and other stakeholders to cooperate with the vaccination exercise.

So far, Ghana has administered a total of 9,499,019 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of January 19, 2022.

Out of this number, 6,951,968 have received at least one dose of the jab, with the remaining 3,229,995 being fully vaccinated.

The Ghana Health Service is also planning to announce a guide for booster doses.

Ghana is currently experiencing the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, but the proportion of severe and critical cases is relatively low.

All regions currently have active cases.  The country’s COVID-19 situation stands at 4,185 active cases and 1,364 total deaths.

Source: Citinewsroom.com

We’ll support teacher unions to stop semester system – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has backed the teacher unions’ opposition to the Ghana Education Service’s semester system for basic and secondary schools.

In a statement, the Minority called on the Service and the Ministry of Education to withdraw the new academic calendar “because it lacks professional touch for a more academic friendly and healthy one to be considered.”

It feels the semester  “is an importation which does not suit our Ghanaian educational environment.”

“As a Minority, we fully support the teacher unions in whatever democratic means they will take to stop this semester system being imposed on them,” it added.

The Minority also urged the unions to be more vocal in their opposition to the new system “so that the health of both the teachers and the children is not compromised.”

“We are of the strong conviction that the teacher unions in the country are aware of this academic calendar and have studied it and given the needed analysis. As professionals, we believe that the welfare of your members as well as the children that you teach is paramount to you.”

“The Minority, therefore, thinks strongly that you have to add your voice to this call so that the health of both the teachers and the children is not compromised.”

The unions have called on the government to engage all stakeholders in education, including civil society organizations.

The Ghana Education Service has expressed its willingness to continually engage with teacher unions on the change of the trimester-based academic calendar to a semester system for basic schools.

Find below the full statement

MINORITY KICKS AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF SEMESTER CALENDAR IN PRE-TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

For many years now, it has been the responsibility of the Ghana Education Service to fix the academic calendar for all pre-tertiary institutions-basic and secondary levels –in the country. It was done in such a way that before the academic year ended, all schools received the calendar for the next academic year for teachers and managers of schools to know their way forward .It helped teachers to plan their activities for the first term because any reshuffles or transfers are effected in the last weeks of the academic for teachers to know which classes they would be managing as well as which schools they would be transferred.

However, in the last three to five years the situation has not been normal. Since the implementation of the Free Senior High School programme, the fixing of the academic calendar has become very difficult and problematic for the managers of our school system in the country. It got out of hand when the double track was introduced. It got everybody confused in the country that no one at a point in time hardly tell when one track was in school or out of it. It brought inequalities in the senior high school system such that the tracks offered unequal numbers of weeks at school.

It is very well understood that the COVID-19 pandemic had a very adverse effect on our educational system in 2020 when all schools had to close down in March 2020 till January 2021. It brought about the loss of almost one academic year and we acknowledge the efforts government through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service made to normalise the school calendar.

However, going forward the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service are professionally getting it wrong in fixing the academic calendar for basic schools in the country.

It is interesting to note that a technical committee was set up by the Minister of Education under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Minister instead of the professionals; the Director –General himself or any of his two deputies. This committee was to propose the calendar for the approval of the Minister. This is one reason why the release of dates for the academic calendar delayed. Why should the Ministry of Education take over the responsibility of the Ghana Education Service in the preparation of a common academic calendar? Is the Ministry of Education becoming the policy making body and the implementer at the same time?

The outcome of work of this technical committee, which we describe as “professionally wrong” is the introduction of the semester type of academic calendar in our basic schools from Kindergarten to the Junior High School. It is on record that last year, the system was introduced at the Junior High School level with the explanation that it was aimed at making the students and teachers cover what was lost as contact hours in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is also now clear that our academic year begins from January and ends in December per the new academic calendar. That arrangement by itself has a lot of ramifications for the students/pupils and teachers with respect to examinations calendar of the West African Examination Council for the year.

It is expected that from Tuesday, 18th January, 2020, our children in the basic schools are to run a semester of twenty (20) weeks. We know that a normal semester runs for sixteen (16) weeks, so, why make it twenty weeks for basic schools? This means that for 2022 academic year two semesters will be run.

What is intriguing about the academic calendar is the failure of the technical committee to consider the age of the learners for whom they have developed the calendar. Hitherto, we know of three terms in the year with clear enough days and weeks for both learners and teachers to rest and prepare for the next term of between twelve (12) and fourteen (14) weeks. With this current arrangement, both learners and teachers are at a risk. The age of the learners, it is noted, is not ready to absorb anything tangible after twelve long weeks in school. There is learner fatigue and absenteeism becomes the order of the day. We do not know if the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education conducted any studies into the effects of the semester system carried out in JHS in 2021. If they did they would know that fatigue set in and attendance suffered.

Another factor that does not make the semester programme conducive for basic schools is the environment within which teaching and learning takes place. In many of our basic schools throughout the country, infrastructure is the biggest challenge. Some of schools are conducted under trees, dilapidated classrooms where ventilation is poor.

Furniture is another limitation in our schools and many learners bring kitchen stools from home. How do we expect children as young as four or six, sit in poorly ventilated classrooms and on not – to- fit furniture for twenty weeks?

It is also important to note that most of the children at the basic level travel distances to schools and parents although may want their children to remain at school for long, the financial burden will be too much for them to bear.

TEACHER UNIONS:

We are of the strong conviction that the teacher unions in the country are aware of this academic calendar and have studied it and given the needed analysis. As professionals, we believe that the welfare of your members as well as the children that you teach is paramount to you.

The Minority therefore thinks strongly that you have to add your voice to this call so that the health of both the teachers and the children is not compromised.

CONCLUSION:

The Minority wishes to call in the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to withdraw the outdoored academic calendar because it lacks professional touch for a more academic friendly and healthy one to be considered.

The Minority also withes to call on the Ghana Education Service to maintain its professional stance and not allow the Minister of Education to dictate the pace for them. This academic calendar is an importation which does not suit our Ghanaian educational environment.

As a Minority we fully support the teacher unions in whatever democratic means they will take to stop this semester system being imposed on them.

Signed.

PETER NORTSU-KOTOE

RANKING MEMBER ON EDUCATION

Source: Citinesroom.com

We’ll fiercely resist semester-based academic calendar – Education Unions

Teacher Unions in the basic education sector have kicked against the government’s change of the trimester-based academic calendar to a semester-based one.

The unions; GNAT, NAGRAT, TEWU, and CCT-GH in a joint statement said they are disappointed that for such a major decision, the government did not consult or engage them.

“We state emphatically that at no point in time were the Unions in Education consulted on such a major policy decision…Per our Collective Agreement with regard to our working conditions, major policies such as this should come for discussion and negotiation,” they said in the statement.

The unions said, among other things that, such a move will lead to a long school calendar and will have a negative effect on the health of pupils and education workers.

They consequently called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately withdraw the plan or risk having them fiercely resist it.

“We, therefore, call on the GES to immediately withdraw the policy, pending full consultations with the Unions in Education and other major stakeholders and do serve notice, that failure to do so would be resisted fiercely,” they said.

The Ghana Education Service last week announced the introduction of a semester-based academic calendar for public Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior High Schools.

Among other things, GES said, the new system will help ease pressure on teachers, decongest the various schools, and help align academic calendars.

Some stakeholders and civil society organisations have already kicked against the move, saying that it is unrealistic and will be mentally draining.

Others insisted that the government failed to consult them, but the Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Kwabena Tandoh, in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, said all stakeholders were consulted and duly agreed with the plan before its announcement.

Citi97.3 · Understanding Ghana's new educational structure with Dr K B. Tandoh

Source: Citinewsroom.com

SHS Student to undertake Internship

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has revealed that Senior High School students would be made to do Internships as part of the new common core curriculum.

The Education Minister who is also the Lawmaker for Bosomtwe Constituency said this in an exclusive interview with Thelma Tackie on GTV Breakfast Show on 13th January 2022.

According to him, this is to help Ghanaian companies learn about the talent that exists in the country and to help young people get jobs after they finish school.

“So the companies know the talents that are in the country. Invariably there’s this disconnect. Companies are complaining that they do not have the critical minds to run the company and student are crying that we don’t have jobs,” he said.

The Member of Parliament explained that, the match making to address the unemployment rate in the country is through Internships. He added that, they are bringing companies into the high school Curriculum such as Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) aid in the curriculum development.

He further stated that, the aim of bringing industry into education is for students to be trained for companies. “A number of times, companies tell me they don’t have people. The match making is so intense, It’s so critical that we match” he said.

Source: zinanews.com

RECONSTRUCTION OF FENCE AROUND POWER COLLEGE, A MEASURE TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL’S SECURITY AFFAIRS

The management of Power College has recently commenced the reconstruction and or renovation of the fence around the school premises. This project is said to complement the school’s security measures, and also to improve upon the tracking of the movements of the students of the said school.

Mr. Anthony Ametefe, the project manager reiterated that: The project is not a new one, but a complement to the already existing fence, he said the initial fence were not strong enough and so there is a need reconstruct very strong ones to support the already weakened fence. This will help reduce the level of intrusion by buglers and strangers. He added that the said project comes at a very high cost, however that benefits and advantages that are expected to be derived from it are worth implementing it.

Speaking to Mr. Gabriel Tsyewu; the General overseer of the school, he said he said: This project whiles tightening the security affairs of the school, will also help beautify and create a positive first impression to the new comers who are currently trooping into the school to gain admission. He also added that the said reconstruction project can also help control movements of the students thereby maintaining disciple, law and order in the school.

Saint Charles Amevor, the Chief Technical officer of the school state that he is very happy about managements decision and believes the reconstruction project will go a long way to benefit the school.

Government working to set new re-opening date for basic schools – Education Minister

A spokesperson for the Education Ministry says government is working to set a date for the re-opening of basic schools, across the country.

Kwesi Kwarteng speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s NewsNight on Monday refuted claims that the absence of an academic calendar can jeopardise the studies of pupils in basic schools across the country.

According to him, the Ministry of Education is working to resolve the current challenge.

“And so clearly, it’s an undeniable fact that the whole COVID regime certainly distorted our academic calendar. But of course, what the Minister for Education has done is to now set the clarity, so that the inconsistencies and of course the discrepancies when it comes to our academic calendar, that we have been witnessing, will be a thing of the past.

And so what the Minister for Education, the honourable Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has done is to set up a ministerial committee on the school calendar.

According to the Builsa South MP, children in private schools have already reported to the school, thus they would have an unfair advantage over their colleagues in public schools.

He, therefore, warned that if the situation is not resolved immediately, he will ensure that the Minority hauls the Education Minister before Parliament.

“If we’re going to have a strong and robust educational system, we have to pay a lot of attention to basic education. As we speak now, heads and teachers of public basic schools in Ghana do not know when public basic schools are going to re-open.

The original communication that many had, particularly those who were seeking transfer to new schools was that they should report before the 4th of this month, to suggest that the schools should have re-opened on the 4th, but that has not happened.

As we speak today, private basic schools across the country have reopened and yet we have no idea on exactly when public basic schools will reopen”, Dr. Apaak stated.

But reacting to these issues, Mr. Kwesi Kwarteng said, government has taken note of these developments, and that plans are afoot to address the impending challenges.

 

 

Students urge government to intervene as UTAG strike begins

University students fear they have been left in limbo as the University Teachers Association of Ghana begins a strike in demand of improved conditions of service.

The students who spoke to Citi News reporters called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, find a lasting solution to issues that have led to the strike by UTAG.

UTAG members on all tertiary campuses across the country have withdrawn teaching and other services like examinations, invigilation, marking of examination scripts, and the processing of examination results.

Although a school like KNUST is yet to begin full academic work, students fear they will bear the brunt of the action if the matter is not addressed as early as possible.

They are thus urging relevant stakeholders to help bring finality to the issue.

“It is not going to help us, especially we, the final year students. The academic calendar is already packed for us,” one of the students said to Citi News.

First-year students of the University for Development Studies, at the Tamale campus, have been left in a limbo as a result of the ongoing strike by the University Teacher’s Association of Ghana.

A visit to the UDS campus saw first-year students registering for their courses, while continuing students were seen loitering with no serious teaching and learning going on.

Interacting with Citi News, some students expressed concern about the negative impact of the strike on academics and called on the government to address the concerns of the lecturers.

“With a strike, how do lectures go on? Today being Monday, at least there should have been lectures ongoing on campus but here is the case they are on strike,” one student complained.

“So I will plead with the government to grant them their needs,” the student added.

At the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, lecture halls were closed or deserted amid the strike.

A visit to the campus showed some students loitering around the campus, whilst others could be seen under trees chatting.

First-year students, however, are yet to report to school

Some continuing students who spoke to Citi News say they are not affected much as they have some study materials at hand.

Source: Citinewsroom.com

Public sector workers get 7% salary increment

Public sector workers will this year receive a seven percent salary increment.

This is three per cent more than what they received last year.

Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, made the announcement at the 6th Quadrennial National Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Kumasi.

Government last year increased salaries of public sector employees by four percent. Persons affected by the decision were unsatisfied.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers was no exception.

The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations explained that the negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the economy influenced the decision.

“In the peak of the pandemic, we were able to safeguard the work of every public sector worker in Ghana including teachers, for which members of GNAT were included”, he said.

He added, “We had to also negotiate with the leadership of organized labour and in the process, we had to agree that we also had to be modest in our request on the national kitty and that is how we ended at the 4 per cent.

“We had agreed that coming to this year, the four percent will no longer exist and that we are going to give workers a seven percent”.

He however did not reveal when the increase will take effect.

Meanwhile, some teachers at the conference insist that the increase is still not enough.

Source: Myjoyomline.com