Hot!
Parents use sticks and stones to teach children alongside radio tutorials
Following the closure of schools in the country amid COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of children especially those in rural communities have little or no opportunity of distance learning due to lack of internet access in their homes.
But there has been a turning point as stakeholders in education have moved to rectify the situation with the introduction of the Ghana Radio Learning Programme.
Parents, after the launch of the programme, were asked to continue to support their children to carry out lesson instructions they are given on the radio.
At Kunguri in the Tolon District in the Northern Region of Ghana, some parents seem to be adhering to that call, by using stones, coloured bottle tops, and sticks to help their children carry out some of the instructions.
Madam Alimatu Mahama, a mother of four said, they usually gather around the radio with the children every Sunday evening to discuss and learn together.
“If it is mathematics lesson, I ensure I get stones as counting material and for colours, I use various colours of plastic bottle tops,” she said.
She stated that, the distance radio learning initiative was a progressive move and has kept her wards busy with homework.
Mr Yakubu Nabdow, the Circuit Supervisor at Kunguri in the Tolon district also said that, well-meaning organisations had come onboard to support the Ghana Learning Radio Programme introduced by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, USAID, UNICEF, among other development partners.
He said that, in rural areas, households had no access or devices such as laptops, indicating that high-tech learning materials were not readily available to many children compare with their counterparts in the urban areas.
“Radio is a cheap and accessible medium of information, therefore, using the channel to broadcast lessons will make an impact especially in rural communities where there is no internet accessibility,” he said.
Mr. James Awuni, Deputy Country Director of Lively Minds, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Tamale, agreed that the closure of schools should not impede smooth teaching and learning.
He said that parents and teachers should continue to be innovative, as more inclusive and accessible models were developed to help bridge the lesson gap created as schools were still on recess.
The interactive lessons are reaching over thousands of children in the Northern Region, and other parts of the country and are being broadcast in local dialects.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Hot!
ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
