Former President John Dramani Mahama has told the Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum not to close down nonperforming schools.
He says the schools should rather be supported with teaching and learning materials to improve on their performance.
Addressing branch executives of NDC earlier on Sunday, March 19, at Adudwama in the Ahafo Ano South East Constituency Mr Mahama who is campaigning to be elected flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said “The Education Minister says nonperforming schools are going to be closed down, is schools aren’t performing, you need to ask yourself why they are not doing so. probably they do not have teachers or even books or other teaching and learning materials.
“If the education Minister can’t support the schools to perform by providing what they need, then he should resign for another person to take over. Under NDC we provided the nonperforming schools with books and teaching and learning materials to improve on their performance.”
Dr Osei Adutwum in announcing the move called on the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions to improve the performances or stand the risk of having their institutions closed down.
He said programmes should be put together for schools with a consistent zero to ten per cent pass rate to ensure that the majority of their students will find opportunities for further studies adding that closing the schools down would help save the nation the huge financial losses being incurred by the government.
Dr. Adutwum made the call over the weekend when he addressed the members of the Conference of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kumasi on Saturday and Sunday.