Mr. Caesar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, has noted that the development of education is key to self-reliance hence the importance government attaches to it.
He said President John Evans Atta Mills administration has therefore initiated various programmes and policies to improve upon educational pursuit and enhance the human resource base of the country.
Mr. Kale was addressing teachers, district and regional directors of education in Wa on Wednesday during the Regional Education Sector Annual Review forum.
He said government had increased the capitation grant by 50 per cent,providing school uniforms and free exercise books for distribution to some deprived districts as means to make education affordable and accessible to all to
enhance accelerated economic growth and development.
The Deputy Regional Minister said government also intends to establish one senior high school in each constituency, decentralise the Ghana Education Trust Fund and open and equip science resource centres throughout the country to
promote science education.
Teachers are also being motivated to give off their best and ensure discipline as key ingredients to the success of the implementation of the policies.
He assured teachers that government would enhance their conditions of service, stressing: "Government is sensitive to the plight of teachers and will do what it takes to improve the circumstance of teachers."
Mr. Kale expressed worry about the poor performance of students at the Basic Education Certificate Examinations and at the West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examinations in the region.
"The quality of education remains a major challenge and concerted efforts must be made to improve upon results obtained at these examinations, he said.
Mr. Kale said it was disheartening that many students in the region were unable to make it to the tertiary schools.
He urged the education authorities to take a critical look at the situation to reverse the situation by intensifying their monitoring and supervision roles at the basic and second cycle schools.
Mr. Kale pleaded with heads of senior high schools and directors of education to handle their subordinates with care and not to lord it over them, because such tendencies tend to kill initiatives and love for the teaching profession.