Kwabena Owusu Nketiah, the Obuasi East district director of education has commended the Ministry of Education’s community of excellence program.
Speaking at a visit of officials from the Ministry of Education to the district, Mr Owusu Nketiah emphasized the importance of stakeholders in the academic development of school children, hence the CEP.
The Communities of Excellence Programme is a Ministry of Education initiative which aims to enhance the resources available at school and community level focused on foundational literacy, increase community and parental engagement in basic education and ensure that teachers are delivering the curriculum as intended.
It is the Ministry’s belief that addressing these issues at a community level is the most sustainable way to ensure that our national development goals are achieved.
The Obuasi East education director said the program is being piloted in 40 districts across the country including the Obuasi East District. He said the visit was to give opportunity for officials of the program including donors to have first hand information on how the project has been implemented and the level of community involvement.
The team from the Ministry of Education together with the donors visited Pomposo and Kwabenakwa communities in the Obuasi East district. Mr Kwabena Owusu Nketiah stated that the goal of the project is to ensure that 90% of children by primary four will be able to read emphasizing the importance of reading and solving mathematical questions from KG to primary 4.
” The foundation of education is at this level. If a child can write from 0-9 it means the child can write any figure and if he is able to write alphabets it means the child can write any alphabet in English. This stage is critical “, he said.
On the community visits so far, he praised the chiefs and parents for demonstrating positive attitude towards the project. He said for children to have a successful academic career, the role of stakeholders cannot be underestimated.
Matthew Borgor acting Ashanti Regional director of the Complementary education agency said the reason for the CEP was as a result of the feedback four (4) years ago after the Ministry of Education conducted a test for districts across the country and it emerged that 5 districts which included the Obuasi East district should headline the piloting of the project.
He re-emphasized the need for the communities to get iinvolved in the education of children hence the program.
He said ” As part of the program we will train parents on how to read and write to help their children on their home works”.
Nana Amoakoaa lll Queenmother of Sebinso- Kwabenakwa said she was elated about the prospects of the program saying that they are fully committed to the program.
She appealed to the Assembly to provide additional classrooms at the Kwabenakwa school to accommodate the ever growing student population. She again called for community library to complement the community excellence program.