Category: Education

Parents of students affected by the fire incident at Labone Senior High School have arrived at the school to pick up their wards.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, affected three girls’ dormitories and destroyed the belongings of about 100 students.

Some affected students were seen picking through scattered belongings, assessing their losses.

Meanwhile, fire officers are on-site, conducting investigations into the cause of the blaze.

A final-year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Daniel Tuffour, has been remanded by the court for the second time over his alleged involvement in the death of his girlfriend, Joana Deladem Yabani.

Yabani’s lifeless body was discovered on the KNUST campus on February 27, 2025. CCTV footage reportedly captured a man, believed to be Tuffour, strangling her to death following an altercation.

Tuffour was arrested hours after the incident and first appeared in court, where he was remanded.

At his second court appearance, the prosecutor informed the court that the case docket had been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for advice.

The prosecution, therefore, requested that the suspect remain in custody, a request the court granted.

The case has been adjourned to April 1, 2025, by which time the Attorney General’s advice is expected to be ready.

The newly appointed National Coordinator for the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Hajia Fati Forgor has taken office with a promise to build on the gains made by her predecessor, Hajia Safia Mohammed.

Hajia Forgor will be working with her two deputy national coordinators, Madam Felicia Mekpoi Bortey and Madam Faustina Lamptey, both Regional Women Organisers for the Greater Accra and Central Regions, respectively.

They were warmly received on Monday, March 10, 2025, by Hajia Safia Mohammed and all the management and staff of the GSFP national secretariat.

A powerful rainstorm that lasted for 30 minutes on Wednesday, March 12, wreaked havoc at the Northern School of Business (NOBISCO) in Tamale, severely damaging the girls’ dormitory and leaving over 1,000 students displaced.

The storm, which was accompanied by strong winds and minimal rainfall, ripped off parts of the dormitory roof, leaving students exposed to the elements. Many lost their personal belongings to the rain, worsening the already dire situation. With the dormitories already struggling with overcrowding, the destruction has forced students to relocate to unaffected rooms, further worsening congestion. Channel One TV understand that students were left with no choice but to sleep in the dormitory corridors and even in open spaces on the compound. Several affected students, speaking to Channel One TV, described the terrifying moment the storm struck, saying they had little time to salvage their belongings.

“The rain started around 4:40 pm, and it was more of windstorm and less rain, so we heard our roof blew off and some parts of the ceiling collapsed and our dormitories got flooded,” Mohammed Adisah Mantenso, Assistant Girls’ Prefect, shared in an interview. Another student, Alhassan Rabiatu Badaria, recounts the incident, disclosing that their books, uniforms and belongings were destroyed by the rain, with some of them having to go to class wearing improper clothing. “Our books are all wet and our uniforms blown away, so today some of us are not able to copy notes in class”

The headmaster of NOBISCO, Mr. Alhassan Issah Dokurugu, revealed that the school is managing the situation temporarily while waiting for a lasting solution. “We have moved the boys from one of the dormitories to join their males at the other side, while we move the affected girls to their dormitory temporarily,” he said. He further likened the current congestion at the school to an “ant-hill,” stating that every available space in the dormitories and classrooms is occupied due to the high student population and inadequate infrastructure.

He is urgently appealing to government agencies, philanthropists, and organizations to intervene and help restore the damaged dormitory.

Beyond the dormitories, the school is also grappling with congestion problems in the classrooms. Channel One TV visited one of the packed classrooms and spoke to students about their struggles in coping with the situation. Abdallah Ibtisan Namzooya, who was seen using a single-occupant table with another student, noted the difficulties in dealing with the situation.

“She writes with her right hand, and I write with my left, and because the table is small, we are always at each other’s throats,” she tells channel one news.

With the increasing student population at NOBISCO and limited infrastructure, school authorities are calling on the government, the Ministry of Education, NGOs, and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid.

The 1975 year group of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, Legon (Ɔdadeɛ), has officially launched its 50th anniversary celebration.

The year-long activities, set to run from February to November, include a health walk and screening, a family fun day with games, an anniversary thanksgiving service, and the launch of an endowment fund to support their alma mater.

As part of the celebration, the group will embark on a pilgrimage to Krobo Odumase, the school’s former location, plant Baobab trees on the Legon campus, and visit ailing colleagues.

The highlight of the anniversary will feature a Health Walk and Screening on Friday, October 31, followed by a Family Fun Day with games on Saturday, November 1. The festivities will conclude with a Thanksgiving Service and the launch of the Endowment Fund on Sunday, November 2.

Group President Alex Yayra Fiagome emphasized the historical significance of their cohort, noting they were the third batch of students to be admitted to the Legon campus after the school relocated from Odumase-Krobo in 1968.

Out of the 155 students who graduated in 1975, 94 are confirmed to be alive, 29 have passed on, and 22 remain untraceable.

Describing their experience at Presec, Mr. Fiagome fondly recalled the campus as “new and pristine, with well-manicured lawns and paved walkways that created a welcoming and calming effect.” He added that beyond the aesthetics, students were molded by the rigorous Presbyterian discipline instilled in them.

Encouraging his colleagues to actively participate in the anniversary celebrations, Mr. Fiagome stressed the importance of rekindling bonds and cherishing shared memories.

“Our twilight years call for stronger bonds and fellowship. Let the memories and smiles shared during this anniversary year remain with us for as long as we live,” he said.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) is opposing the appointment of former Koforidua Technical University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Smile Gavua Dzisi, as Deputy Director-General for Management Services at the Ghana Education Service.

NAGRAT argues that despite her credentials, she is not suited for the role.

Speaking to Citi News, NAGRAT’s National President, Angel Carbonu, called on the government to reverse the decision

“The person who was removed from that position was a professional teacher who rose to the rank of a regional director and was appointed as director of management services. The Ghana Education Service is not an extension of a political office.

“It is a professional institution. It is within the Public Services and we will not tolerate the appointment of somebody who is not a practitioner within the service space.

“We are calling on the government to withdraw the appointment immediately. She is a professor. She operates very well in the university or the technical universities, but certainly not in the Ghana Education Service.”

The Municipal Director of Education for Ablekuma North, Ebenezer Perry Ofori, says authorities are still awaiting a report from the police on the cause of the fire that damaged the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, 2024, destroyed key facilities, including the school’s library, science laboratory, and examination centre. Ballot boxes for the Ablekuma North Parliamentary election were also being stored at the school at the time of the incident.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Ofori assured that despite some congestion, academic activities had resumed.

“We are okay; all students have been accommodated. However, due to the loss of some classrooms, there is a bit of congestion. But it’s still better than before, so we are managing for now,” he said.

He added that authorities had taken steps to obtain the fire report.

“We called a meeting, and the police advised the Municipal Assembly to write formally to the police and fire service for the report. As of now, the report is not ready, which means no action can be taken on the burnt block. We are still waiting for it to determine the next steps but teaching and learning are ongoing.”

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced major reforms to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, including the scrapping of the double-track system and the expansion of the policy to cover private schools.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the policy expansion aims to accommodate more students in secondary education.

“We have decided to expand the intake of Free SHS to private schools in Ghana,” he stated. “This means that when the computerised placement system is used, 150,000 students will be placed in private senior high schools, in addition to those in public schools.”

The government plans to phase out the double-track system within the next two to three years, with significant investment in infrastructure to support the transition.

“Our goal is to end the double-track system, and this will require substantial infrastructure investment,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.

He also revealed plans to extend Free SHS benefits beyond secondary education to include tertiary students.

“We want to ensure that every student in tertiary education benefits from the same support provided at the secondary level,” he added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to accessible education.

Meanwhile, Mr. Iddrisu has commissioned an audit into the controversial Senior High School (SHS) Wi-Fi contract, with findings expected to be made public within two to three weeks.

“I have requested that the audit findings be publicly disclosed within the next two to three weeks,” he stated.

He emphasized the government’s priority in improving internet access for students and hinted at considering local companies such as Starlink for the rollout of broadband infrastructure.

“What is important is that students have reliable internet connectivity. If a Ghanaian partner, such as Starlink, can help achieve this, we are open to such collaborations,” he noted.

The Minister confirmed that there are no plans to renew the previous Wi-Fi contract, as the process will undergo a full IT audit before being publicly advertised.

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has expressed concerns over the government’s decision to allocate funds for teacher trainee allowances in the 2025 budget.

He suggested that the support should have been structured as a loan rather than a grant.

“I thought it should be a loan so they can pay it back. Converting it into a grant is just spending money,” he said in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem.

He noted that while he was not entirely opposed to the nursing trainee allowance, he was not in favor of extending the same to teacher trainees.

“Maybe the nurses’ allowance is okay, but for teachers, I think it’s just spending money unnecessarily. The NDC may have considered that teachers need support, and if they can afford to give them, that’s fine. But for me, I believe they should be given loans instead of grants,” he argued.

Mr. Cudjoe also suggested that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was using the allowances as a political tool but acknowledged that the party had taken a different approach compared to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“The NDC is spreading the love and has been different this time, unlike the NPP. But beyond politics, I think maybe things are tough, so they want to give teachers some relief,” he added.

His comments come after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced a GHS683 million allocation for teacher and nursing trainee allowances in the 2025 budget.

“We have allocated GHS203 million for the payment of teacher trainee allowances and another GHS480 million for nursing trainee allowances,” Dr. Forson stated while presenting the budget in Parliament.

The allocation aims to provide financial support to aspiring educators and healthcare workers, ensuring they complete their training without financial hardship.

However, Mr. Cudjoe cautioned that while supporting trainees is important, the government must be mindful of how resources are allocated.

“We also need to be careful. Some of these beneficiaries may not even serve the country after their training. It’s a social democratic policy, and the NDC can choose to do these freebies, but we need to think long-term,” he remarked.