The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on government to pay critical attention to the development of Basic Education in the country.
As a student advocacy organization, NUGS strongly believes that a proper foundation for the country’s education system should be vigorously pursued.
At a press briefing at the University of Ghana City Campus in Accra on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the union urged government to settle the infrastructural deficit that bedevils many basic schools in the country.
‘‘Due to how pertinent we are in relation to Basic School development, The Union together with other NGOs presented a petition to Parliamentary Select Committee on Education on the implementation of the “Education Spike Campaign” aimed at promoting investment in Public Basic Education to improve upon the quality, as commercialization adversely impacts on its access, equity and standards in the pre-tertiary education.’’
‘‘We would like to draw the government’s attention to the many underdeveloped basic schools in the country in terms of infrastructure and teaching and learning materials particularly the provision of textbooks to the basic schools for the new curriculum which has been in full practice for almost 2 years now. The Ministry of Finance together with the education ministry should allocate budget to address this challenging concerns at the basic level,’’ Mr. Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye, NUGS President said.
The Union also called on government to pay the outstanding arrears of Teacher Trainees in the Public Colleges of Education across the country.
‘‘Again, we would be very pleased to hear the Government pay the long overdue outstanding six months arrears of Teacher Trainees’ across the 46 Public Colleges Of Education in the country. This is to help alleviate the hardships on Trainees particularly those undertaking their Teaching Practices (Out- Program Segment),’’ NUGS President added.
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is the largest student advocacy organization and represents the interest of students across the country. The union added its voice to the 2022 budget after studying portions of the budget that relate to Ghanaian students and the youth in general.
Story by Maxwell Woyram Tsigbe