Rite FM and the Chrismek Rights Foundation have held a capacity building workshop at the Somanya Methodist Hall on Thursday, October 26, 2017 for executives of Parent Teacher Associations and School Management Committee Members from the various DEOP II project schools.
The Rite FM and Chrismek Rights Foundation workshop an advocacy on the District Education Observer Project (DEOP II) is yet another integral stride aimed at improving the standard of Education in the Yilo Krobo Municipality.
The project sponsored by STAR-Ghana with funds from UKaid, DFID and DANIDA has observed a magnificent attendance by members of PTAs and SMCs from this year’s ten (10) projected schools. The schools include: New Somanya Methodist, Abrewankor JHS, Brukum Agavenya, Sra Presbyterian and Akorley JHS.
The others are Ogome Anglican JHS, Obenyemi MA, Aketebour Salvation Army and SDA preparatory School.
Present at the event was the Eastern Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service, GES, Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu Acheampong and the Regional Budget Coordinator, Mr. Humphery Anim; and Mr.Solomon Sackitey and Rev. Alexander Amanya GES Municipal PRO and Head of Supervision respectively.
Community Score Card Action Plan
As part of the workshop, the Project Coordinator of DEOP II, Mr. Goldman Awuku Dodzi projected the action plans for the implementation of the project against inadequacies and needs like infrastructure revealed in recent surveys involving the 10 projected Schools and thus calling on Stakeholders, Government, traditional council, the communities as well School Management Committees and PTAs to address the situation at the aforementioned schools.
Origin, Formation, and Functions of School Management Committees (SMCs)
This was one of the flagship sections of the workshop which clarified the origin, formation, and functions of SMCs. Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu Acheampong on this note stated that:
“Government has decided to include communities to roll out the Free and Compulsory Basic Education and as a step and formed the SMC as a spectrum body to facilitate basic education. In the Senior High school it is called the School Board,” he underscored.
He also clarified that membership of the SMC comprise of the Traditional Council representative, Old Students Associations member, the District/Municipal Assembly, The Unit Committee, the PTA, Head teacher and the Community.
Mr. Emmanuuel Asiedu Acheampong therefore defined the SMC as “a representation of the School’s community.”
He further disclosed that the SMC’s main focus is to implement the school policies and programs and ensure complete achievement of schools’ objectives.
He however stressed that the function of the SMC is not to outshine the functions of the PTA but to work in collaboration and serve as the highest decision making body. He also underscored that the school management system is non-governmental and non-sectorial and very exposed to auditing to ensure accountability and transparency.
Resource Mobilization
On his part, Rev. Alexander Amanya also used the platform to stress on the insightful methodologies to effectively implement resource mobilization for schools by the SMC and PTA. He added that, “SMCs and PTAs should not wait for NGOs and other cooperate organizations to come to their aid but rather, they should go to them with effective lobbying skills and a business plan.”
Using illustrations of the stakeholders map, Rev. Amanya urged SMCs and PTAs to consider local resource mobilization and also extend their efforts to lobby external cooperate organizations to put schools in good shape. He also disclosed that every school should plan all activities for purposes of equitable allocation of resource.
Best Practices on How Parents Could Support their Children in Learning
Rev. Alexander Amanya also counseled parents to remain opened-eyed about their children’s education, help them in learning, build good relationships with teachers and be frequent visitors of their ward’s schools and partake in and support school activities.
Source: ritefmonline.org
