PPP to make issues about teachers priority

The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has pledged to place issues concerning teachers at the centre of any policy geared towards improving the quality of education, if given the mandate to govern Ghana, on December 7. The party said it would resource teachers with facilities and equipment, and provide them with houses to enable them to give off their best.     Mr. James Sohimwinye, PPP parliamentary candidate for the Wa Central constituency, said these at a media encounter to throw light on the party's policy on education, at Wa.     He noted that poor remuneration and condition of service for teachers affected academic performance. Mr Sohiwinye said: "Some argue that professionals such as lawyers, medical doctors and engineers work in specialized fields, and should earn more that teachers but the PPP believes that it is the teacher who trained these professionals.''     He claimed that over the past decade, 1,562,270 students failed the Basic Education Certificate Examination out 3,669,138 candidates while it was reported recently that 70 per cent of students in the Northern part of the country could not read.     Mr Sohiwinye said the party would improve teacher training college education to produce efficient teachers, and ensure effective monitoring and supervision of teaching.

GNA