The leadership of NUGS wishes to issue this communiqué to climax the triumphant end of the Union’s maiden week celebration which is anchored on the theme “ENSURING TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUALITY EDUCATION; THE ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS”.
The choice of this theme is indicative of the fact that as a Union, we have realized that not much is being done by the various stakeholders in the attainment of quality education and sought to use this milestone occasion to reinvigorate and direct our spirit into ensuring that all the relevant parties play their respective roles as expected.
We are not oblivious of the fact that there are several stakeholders in education; however, for the purpose of this communiqué, we have categorized them into three. The stakeholders herein include government and its agencies, private sector/individuals and the students. It is however very significant to make the point that these roles are very much interlinked hence the need for regular harmonization and the necessary realignment of their individual roles to achieve a better return.
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AS A STAKEHOLDER
We wish to begin by examining the role of government as a stakeholder in ensuring commitment to the attainment of quality education in the country as the theme suggests. It is our respectful submission that government remains the number one stakeholder as a far as the attainment of quality education is concerned due to the indispensable and burdensome role it is expected to play in this regard.
By the current nature of our democratic jurisprudence, a lot of power, authority and resources have been reposed in trust in the hands of the government to be able to combine them effectively in creating the requisite congenial environment in order to ensure that every facet of our national life performs creditably.
The primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the timeous release of the necessary human, monetary and capital teaching and learning resources get to every level of the educational ladder, which is basic to tertiary institutions. This must be complemented by the provision of adequate infrastructure to enhance effective education delivery at each level.
NUGS has observed that successive governments over the years have performed abysmally especially in the timely release of feeding subventions to basic and second cycle institutions. The least said about government’s commitment to issues of GETfund, the better.
Government through its ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Education, GES, Centre for Tertiary Education as well as the National Accreditation Board is expected to design and ensure the successful implementation of laudable educational policies and programmes that would cater for the needs of all concerned.
Government also plays instrumental role in determining the content of the educational curriculum or subject matter and this must be done through effective consultation with all the other relevant stakeholders for their inputs.
Government must also revise its approach in dealing with labour relative issues in the country and possibly adopt a more receptive strategy; which would entail a more constructive and human centred approach in order to prevent the preponderance of strike actions by teacher unions every now and then.
THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT
Students are obviously the ultimate brunt bearers of the various policies and programmes as well as the actions and inactions of all the stakeholders in the education enterprise. They are therefore expected to play certain fundamental roles in this regard so that they would safeguard their educational rights. They are also expected to discharge certain responsibilities in order to fully enjoy their rights.
Their fundamental roles in ensuring quality education is by taking their studies seriously and also capitalize on the conducive teaching and learning environment created within the school system in order to pass their exams as expected.
They are therefore enjoined to eschew all actions that are counterproductive to the full realization of their educational potentials like truancy, academic and examination malpractices, intellectual dishonesty, resorting to violence as a means of seeking redress to their grievances among several others.
In as much as we charge on government and the other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary teaching and learning facilities and resources are provided to schools, we also think that it behoves on the students to take proper care and maintenance of these facilities in the interest of all.
Students must also strive to adhere to high disciplinary standards and live above reproach in all their educational dealings since there is a direct relationship between discipline and academic progress.
THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
For the purpose of this communiqué, the private sector essentially comprises of private individuals, parents, NGOs and religious organizations who have set up educational institutions to complement the efforts of government in the effective delivery of education in the country. This is because government alone cannot cater for the educational needs of the citizenry hence the need for private intervention.
Parents for instance are enjoined to ensure that their wards are provided with the necessary facilities to enhance their academic progression. They are also supposed to actively participate in Parent Teacher Association (PTA) engagements and thus help in the education of their wards and the provision of the necessary experiential guidance and counselling services.
Private individuals, NGO’s and religious organizations that engage in educational enterprises such as the establishment of schools must adhere strictly to the relevant laws and regulations governing the nation’s educational milieu and ensure that they get the necessary accreditation for the courses they offer. They must endeavour to charge approved fees and ensure they conform to standards setup by the various regulating authorities.
CONCLUSION
The National Union of Ghana Students wishes to express hope that all the relevant stakeholders identified above would discharge their respective roles effectively because that is the only way as a country we can achieve the kind of quality education we are yearning for.
Thank you.
Long live the nation’s education front!
Long live NUGS!!
SIGNED:
RHODALYN ESHUN
(PRESS AND INFORMATION SECRETARY)
0246701359
PROSPER DZITSE
(PRESIDENT)
0546580044
