Ministry of Education to develop comprehensive policy on distance learning

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said Ministry of Education, Science and Sports would soon set up a committee to develop a comprehensive policy on distance learning for the country. He said Government's determination to expand tertiary education and make it accessible to all Ghanaians was manifested in the President's Special Initiative on Open University and Distance Learning. "I have taken a keen interest in this programme because the nation’s wealth depends on skilled and developed human resources. It is in line with this objective that Government has negotiated a joint cooperation with the largest Open University in the world.” President Kufuor announced this in an address read on his behalf by Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways at the 11th Congregation of University of Education (UEW) at Winneba. A total of 2,559 students were awarded with certificates, Diplomas and Masters Degrees. President Kufuor said Government had through GETFUND constructed; renovated and expanded infrastructure and some facilities at UEW to meet the increasing number of students admitted to the university. He said Government would not relent in its efforts to ensure challenges of the university were addressed to facilitate teaching, learning and research. President Kufuor noted that with the increasing number of student intake and ageing lecturers, it had become necessary to train young lecturers through Government Scholarships to continue developing the skills of future leaders for the country. "We would continue to build the capacity of this university by supporting young and talented staff and students to pursue higher degree required to augment the staff strength". President Kufuor however, urged authorities of UEW to manage the Distance Learning programme for teachers in such a manner as not to interfere with teaching during the periods when they ought to be teaching in the classroom. He said Government was making efforts to provide an attractive package for university lecturers and staff and urged them to ensure peace prevailed on campus. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of UEW said 2,281 students passed the Bachelor of Education through its regular programmes and 234 received Diplomas and Certificates. He said 29 students including eight women had first class in the various disciplines, while 162 women and 258 men obtained Second Class Upper. Professor Anamuah-Mensah said UEW recognized the intrinsic role that the nation's teachers played in the development process and was therefore, committed to ensure that the best practices were obtained in their recruitment and training. Mr Jude Kofi Bucknor, Chairman of the University Council, said the quality of teachers determined a country's future success because teachers represented society's investment in the youth. He urged the graduates to translate the training and exposure they had received into meaningful and substantial contribution to educate the youth.GNA