Mahama sets up Committee to organise National Education Forum

President John Dramani Mahama as part of efforts to seek ideas from the public on how best to improve the country’s education sector has appointed an eight-member committee to organise the National Education Forum.

A statement sighted by Pretertiary.com said the Education Forum Committee, chaired by former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor George K. T. Oduro, has two weeks to submit its report and plan.

The statement issued by presidential spokesman, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu said other members of the Committee include Professor Goski Alabi, President Laweh Opened University; Professor Rosemary Bosu, Dr Samuel Awuku, and Professor Smile Dzisi.

The rest are Mr Kofi Asare, Mr Stephen Owusu and Mr Inusah Shiraz.

The statement said the Planning Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR) were to develop a theme and sub-themes to guide the stakeholder engagement.

They are to identify key stakeholders in the education sector, including students, parents, teachers (pre-tertiary and tertiary, including the private sector), researchers, civil society organisations, development partners, religious bodies, political parties, Ghanaian educational researchers in the diaspora, chiefs, heads of educational institutions, Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to be invited as participants.

They would also develop a stakeholder activity agenda with time allocations (for example thematic breakout sessions, and plenaries).

Others are to propose a venue and date(s) for the forum, set up a secretariat to document activities and provide a budget for the National Education Forum.

The eight-member committee is to develop a comprehensive report detailing the findings and recommendations of the Forum.

It is to draft a national education policy framework and propose an action plan for implementing recommendations within three weeks after the Forum and to consider any other issue relevant to the organisation of the Forum.

Relatedly, the Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), Kofi Asare has expressed gratitude to His Excellency John Mahama for appointing him to serve on the planning Committee of the National Education Forum.

“I am grateful to H.E. for the opportunity to serve on the Planning Committee of the National Education Forum. Just as I served on MoE’s Ministerial Advisory Board under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in 2018/19, so shall I serve with diligence. National Service,” he said in a social media post.