“John Mahama dismisses closure of underperforming schools as senseless

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, in a recent announcement, has warned the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Principals of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions to improve the educational outcomes of their institutions. If they fail to do so, they may face the risk of closure.

According to Dr. Adutwum, any school with a consistent pass rate of zero to ten percent must take urgent steps to implement intervention programmes. These programmes should aim to ensure that the majority of students can pass their exams and find opportunities for further studies. Otherwise, these students may become a liability to their parents and society due to their inability to pass their exams.

During his speech to branch executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Adudwama, located in the Ahafo Ano South East Constituency of the Ashanti region, the NDC flagbearer hopeful expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent remarks made by the education minister. He demanded that the minister resign if he is unable to effectively manage the educational system.

The education minister had previously stated that underperforming schools would be shut down. This statement drew the ire of the NDC flagbearer hopeful, who argued that such a move would not address the root causes of poor academic performance. Instead, he suggested that the government should investigate why a school is underperforming and provide assistance to rectify the issues. This could include ensuring that the school has enough qualified teachers, access to learning resources such as books, and adequate facilities to enhance the learning experience.

John Mahama went on to point out that the previous administration had assisted underperforming schools by providing teaching and learning resources, which had helped to improve their academic outcomes. He emphasized that the government should prioritize investing in the education sector to provide quality education for all students. If the education minister cannot effectively manage the sector and support schools in need, he should step down from his position, allowing someone else to take charge.