NDC Blows More Cash On Tea

Alex Tetteh Enyo - Education Minister THE RULING National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s subtle penchant for blowing cash on tea at official gatherings continues unabated as the government has again spent GH¢21,600 or ¢216 million on refreshments and lunch at two-day educational forum recently organized by the Ministry of Education. The amount forms part of the GH¢53,667 or ¢536.67 million that was spent on the organization of the forum, covering expenses on conference auditorium, lunch/refreshment, honorarium to various committee members, stationery, consultancy for preparation, moderation, documentation and reporting. Minister for Education, Alex Tettey-Enyo, disclosed the figures whilst answering a question from Robert Sarfo-Mensah, MP for Asunafo North, in Parliament yesterday on the outcome of the National Education Forum organized a few months ago by the Ministry of Education to deliberate on the length of the Senior High School education in the country and how much it cost the nation to organize the forum. It would be recalled that the NDC government engaged in what was described as ‘profligate expenditure’, blowing an amount of ¢1.35billion (GH¢135,316.30) on tea, water, snacks and lunch at the sittings of the Transition Team during the early days of President John Atta Mills’ administration. The Minister for Education told the House that upon assumption of office, the new administration charged the Ministry of Education to organize a stakeholders' forum on the duration of senior high school education in the country. Mr. Tettey-Enyo indicated that the outcome of the forum was communicated in a memorandum to Cabinet for policy approval for the reversal of the duration of the senior high school education from four years to three. According to him, Cabinet accepted the proposed reversal to three years and indicated that school enrolment for the 3-year programme should commence in September 2010. According to Mr. Tettey-Enyo, who is the MP for Ada, Cabinet has also approved the implementation plan for the reversal to three years, pending the amendment of Act 778 which established the 4-year duration of the SHS. Also answering questions from John Bennam Jabaah and Ofosu Asamoah, MPs for Zabzugu/Tatale and Kade respectively, as to when Zabzugu, Tatale and Asuom senior high schools in their constituencies would be provided with buses, Mr. Tettey-Enyo said it is the policy of the Ministry to ensure that all senior high schools have buses to enhance their smooth operation. He pointed out that as part of this policy, an exercise was conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry has phased the procurement of buses and hopes to complete the exercise as soon as possible. Mr. Tettey-Enyo said the Ministry has already procured and distributed 199 buses and 139 pick-ups to some senior high schools, disclosing that the process of procurement for the next phase has begun. He gave the assurance that Zabzugu, Tatale and Asuom senior high schools would be considered along with others as part of the implementation process. By Awudu Mahama/Daily Guide