The Technical Working Committee, comprising some Divisional Directors of GES, senior officers of WAEC, past coordinators of CSSPS, representatives of Religious Education Units, including COMEU, and representatives of CHASS, met on Friday, May 5, 2017 in Accra.
The meeting, which was attended by some 30 personalities and which was chaired by the Director of Basic Education Division and acting Deputy Director-General (Management Services), Mrs. Cynthia Bosumtwi-Sam, discussed, among other things, the following:
- Review of 2016 placement-the way forward
- New policies and add-ons towards the 2017 placement exercise
- Role of CSSPS Regional Coordinators as it coincides with the free SHS policy
On the review of the 2016 Placement Exercise, the House unanimously lauded the Secretariat for a relatively better performance as the agitations recorded from parents and the general public were said to be handled with the sense of urgency and tact they deserved.
After Mr. Mark Sasu-Mensah was introduced as the new coordinator of the Secretariat, the House moved to propose some new policies towards enhancing the performance of the Secretariat. The following proposals for the review of the existing System have been made:
- Creation of regional and district offices for CSSPS
- Soft copies of placement lists to be sent to Regional and District coordinators, and heads of second-cycle schools [Copies to be sent will be on “Read Only”]
- A website and an effective communication strategy to be designed and operated
- A proposal to open a special Public Relations Unit at the Secretariat to handle emerging public concerns
The House urged the Coordinator to ensure that the regional coordinators of CSSPS work in tandem with regional directors of education as they respond to matters of school placement in their areas of operation and to make the work of the Secretariat hassle-freeand much more effective than before.
The House was briefed on the fact that some basic school heads have still not submitted to the Secretariat the data of pupils that are due for this year’s BECE.
The chairperson then requested that a memo be prepared and sent to the Director-General for the heads concerned to submit their candidates’ data to the Secretariat as soon as practicable.
A seven-member Committee was put together to work on the modalities and issues discussed for an improved performance of the Secretariat in this year’s placement exercise and beyond.
The Committee, which is expected to complete its work in two weeks prior to the meeting of the Technical Working Committee on 23rd May, is made up of the following personalities:
- The CSSPS Coordinator, Mr. Mark Sasu-Mensah
- Mr. Kwasi Abankwa Anokye, immediate past coordinator (CSSPS)
- Mr. George Atta-Boateng, former coordinator (CSSPS)
- Mr. Andrew Asare Akuoko, former coordinator (CSSPS)
- Mr. Rudolf Ayittey, consultant on SMS texting (CSSPS)
- Mr. Joseph Amuah, WAEC
- A Representative of CHASS
The meeting was closed with a prayer by Rev (Mrs.) Naana Dannyame, of COMEU.
By Anthony Kwaku Amoah
The writer is an educationist and Public Relations Officer at the Headquarters of Ghana Education Service.
E-mail: amoatec27@yahoo.com/amoatec109@gmail.com