Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has assured government’s stronger support for headteachers across the country, describing effective school leadership as critical to improving learning outcomes and strengthening Ghana’s education system.
She made the assurance Wednesday while officially opening the 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in Koforidua, held under the theme: “Repositioning Headteachers for Effective School Governance and Improved Learning Outcomes.”
Addressing delegates, the Vice President said basic education remained the foundation of national development, stressing that every child’s future depended on the quality of education received at the foundational level.
“If you can read this, thank a teacher,” she remarked, emphasizing the indispensable role teachers and headteachers play in shaping the nation’s future.
Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang noted that headteachers serve not only as administrators but also as instructional leaders, mentors, community mobilisers, financial managers and agents of transformation, making their role central to quality education delivery.
She said research had consistently shown that school leadership was second only to classroom teaching among school-based factors influencing learners’ academic achievement.
The Vice President reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the basic education sector through continuous professional development for headteachers, leadership training, improved school infrastructure, the provision of textbooks and teaching materials, and the expansion of digital learning initiatives.
She acknowledged that infrastructure deficits still existed in some schools but assured participants that efforts were underway to address the challenges systematically.
Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang also appealed to headteachers for patience as government worked to improve the country’s economic situation and respond to concerns raised over issues such as responsibility allowances and capitation grants.
She stressed that improving education was a shared responsibility involving government, parents, traditional authorities, religious organisations, development partners, civil society organisations and local communities.
The Vice President encouraged school management committees, parent associations and community leaders to work closely with headteachers to strengthen school governance and improve learning outcomes.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged participants to use the conference to develop practical strategies for building well-governed, inclusive and innovative schools capable of delivering quality education for every Ghanaia9mn child before officially declaring the conference open.
The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, said this in a speech delivered on behalf of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, at the 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) held in Koforidua.
The conference was held under the theme, “Repositioning Headteachers for Effective School Governance and Improved Learning Outcomes.”
Dr.Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education in a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, reiterated that government has announced plans to construct 50,000 housing units for teachers nationwide in a major intervention aimed at addressing the persistent accommodation difficulties confronting teachers and headteachers across Ghana
The Deputy Minister acknowledged that government is aware of challenges confronting the education sector extend beyond accommodation.
He mentioned infrastructure deficits, teacher shortages, uneven deployment of teachers, learner indiscipline, increasing administrative responsibilities and funding constraints as issues requiring urgent attention.
He assured Heads of Basic Schools that the Ministry of Education has already taken steps to address some of these concerns, including clearing inherited arrears of the Capitation Grant and ensuring more regular disbursement of funds to schools.
He also disclosed that discussions are underway to review the Capitation Grant to reflect current economic conditions.
On teachers’ welfare, Dr. Apaak said government has improved the regularity of Responsibility Allowance payments for headteachers and is consulting stakeholders on increasing the allowance in a fiscally sustainable manner.
He emphasised that the welfare of headteachers remains central to government’s education agenda because they serve not only as instructional leaders but also as financial managers, counsellors, community liaisons and policy implementers.
The Deputy Minister further announced that government has approved a revised basic school curriculum following an extensive review by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
Source: www.kumasimail.com
