Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh
The Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called on parents and guardians to continue to render their utmost support to their children as they study at home.
This was contained in a letter addressed to parents and guardians.
The Minister in the letter congratulated them for doing exceptionally well, so far, and encouraged them to continue to make the safety and well-being of themselves and their families a top priority.
“Following school closures and various restrictions in the country to curtail the spread of the virus, my team and I empathize with how overwhelming it may be for you at home and I believe you have a deeper sense of appreciation of the enormous task that rests with schools and teachers,” he said.
Short term interventions
He stated that following the developments regarding COVID-19, various measures have been put in place to ensure that children continue to learn while at home.
To that end, Dr Prempeh stated that the ministry has introduced a number of platforms to assist children in learning.
He indicated that online resources available for SHS students on iCampus Ghana could be accessed at www.icampusgh.com using their BECE Index Number plus the last two digits of the year they wrote their BECE as their username. For example, SHS 3 students should add 17 to the end of their BECE index number, whereas for SHS 2 students, 18 should be added, and for SHS 1 students, 19 should be added after their BECE Index number.
The Minister stated that, additionally, the Ghana Learning TV is now available on free-to-air TV as well as on DStv channel 315, GOtv channel 150 and StarTimes channel 312, adding that the ministry is currently producing learning content for radio broadcast, soon to be available across the country.
Using time wisely
Outlining a number of steps that could come in handy in managing children’s time and maximising study time, Dr Opoku Prempeh mentioned drawing a simple timetable or schedule with breaks for rest, play or meals; giving the kids simple tasks and assessing them orally and correcting them appropriately; encouraging the children to take on new healthy hobbies; incorporating physical education/exercise into their day-to-day activities to cope with staying indoors for long periods; creating a safe environment for children to learn and thrive and avoid overburdening them with chores; and finally strengthening the relationship with their children’s schoolteachers and administrators to receive ongoing support with learning at home.
Dr Prempeh assured that the Ministry for Education would continue to do its best in delivering quality education to all children across the country.
“As we navigate through these challenging times, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of this strong community that supports each other to accomplish great things. It is the power of this community that will propel us through this to better times,” the Minister added.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Minister wished all parents and guardians good health and safety, whilst thanking them for their continued support and partnership in educating the next generation of this country.
