FIRST QUARTER REPORT ON THE STATUS OF EDUCATION IN THE REGION

Regional Brief

The Eastern Region covers a land size of 19,323 km²   and made up of 33 Municipals and Districts. It has a Population of 3.21 million (2020 census). The capital is Koforidua – the proverbial “city of flowers”. Currently, with the second largest number of districts after Ashanti Region in the country.

It shares borders with the Greater Accra Region to the south, Volta and Oti Regions to the east, Ashanti Region to the north and Central Region to the west.

It is endowed with an evergreen vegetation, typical of a rain forest, containing the biggest tree ever sighted in West Africa. It has a number of tourist attractions such as the Akosombo dam, Kpong dam at Akuse, the Aburi Botanical Gardens, Boti and Asenema falls and also physical sceneries like, the Akuapem, Kwahu and Obotabiri mountains.

The Akosombo Textiles, Aburi Carving Village and the Peduase Presidential Lodge are all located in the Region.

There are also an Orchard and a canopy walk at Bonsu. Annually, para-gliding festival is organised at the Kwahu Odwenanoma mountains. The regions have a number of mining centres, principally mining gold and diamond.

 

Our Vision as a Directorate is to aspire to be among the best regions in Ghana for quality education delivery at the pre-tertiary level to produce responsible citizens.

 

Our Mission is to provide quality pre-tertiary education with particular emphasis on academic excellence while harnessing available resources in concert with stakeholders in education.

Our Values are integrity, professionalism and hard work.

Policy Goals

• Quality Education
• Educational Management
• Science, Technology, Technical and Vocational Education and Training
• Equitable Access to Education

 

Key Strategic Priorities

• Close gaps in educational attainments by improving pedagogical skills of teachers.
• Collaborate across districts/ schools to boost students’ confidence, increase expectation and celebrate successes as a region and in individual schools.
• Enhance supervision to raise standards in teaching and learning.
• Introduce comprehensive school self-evaluation processes to help identify weaknesses and strengths, in designing improvement plan for remediation.
• Ensure the proficient application of technology in education.
• Ensure effective leadership by school heads (with clear vision and mission statements of their schools in line with the GES standards).

 

Number of Public Schools by Level
From 2018/19 to 2020/21

Levels	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021
KG	1791	1799	1851
PRIMARY	1836	1838	1891
JHS	1394	1419	1495
SHS	89	90	92

 

The number of KGs increased by 60 from 1,791 to 1851 representing 3%

The number of Primary schools increased by 55 from 1836 to 1891 representing 3%

Growth rate at the JHS was 7.2% from 1,394 to 1,495 schools

The SHS also grew by 3.3% from 89 to 92 schools. The New Schools were Apesua SHS, Abomosu STEM SHS and Nsawam Reformers SHS

Number of Private Schools by Level
From 2018/19 to 2020/21

Level	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021
KG	1059	1138	1176
PRIMARY	1021	1099	1127
JHS	633	678	733

 

The number of Private KGs grew by 11% from 1,059 to 1176.

 

Primary schools increased by 10% from 1,021 to 1,127.

 

JHS schools increased by 16% from 633 to 733. The number of private schools however did not change.

 

Public Schools Enrolment by Level
From 2018/19 to 2020/21

Level	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021
KG	123,117	125,824	124,245
PRIMARY	315,072	320,726	326,312
JHS	130,017	137,878	147,267
SHS	158,842	170,307	177,010

 

At the KG level, enrolment improved by 2.2% in 2019 – 2020 but dropped by 1.2% in 2021.

For primary, 3.6% growth was recorded between 2019 – 2021.

 

Junior High School, 13.3% growth was recorded between 2019 – 2021.

 

At the Senior High School level, 11.4% growth was recorded between 2019 – 2021.

 

 

STAFFING

 

TEACHING STAFF

	TRAINED			UNTRAINED
LEVELS	MALES	FEMALES	TOTAL	MALES	FEMALES	TOTAL
K G	458	3944	4402	44	237	281
PRIMARY	5689	6097	11786	235	87	322
J H S	6966	3360	10326	206	30	236
S H S	5435	1932	7367	1276	453	1729

 

 

                      NON-TEACHING STAFF                                                             PTR

LEVELS	MALE	FEMALE	TOTAL
K G	6	11	17
PRIMARY	4	0	4
J H S	23	10	33
S H S	1971	1679	3650

K G	25
PRIMARY	27
J H S	14
S H S	24

 

 

                                                                                                                         

                      

 

 

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS (DATA)

 

K G	PRIMARY	J H S	SPECIAL SCHS	S H S	GRAND TOTAL
1851	1891	1495	5	94	5336

 

 

SCHOOL ENROLMENT

KINDERGARTEN

 

KG  1			KG  2			GRAND TOTAL
BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL	BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL	BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL
34722	33741	68,463	25610	24462	50,072	60332	58203	11835

 

PRIMARY

 

LEVELS	BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL
P 1	27102	25683	52785
P 2	27673	26235	53908
P 3	28855	26879	55734
P 4	29080	26830	55910
P 5	28597	26689	55286
P 6	27545	25144	52689
GRAND TOTAL	168852	157460	326312

JHS

 

LEVELS	BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL
JHS 1	26411	24959	51370
JHS 2	25573	24345	49918
JHS 3	23666	22313	45979
GRAND TOTAL	75650	71617	147267

 

 

 

           SHS

LEVELS	BOYS	GIRLS	TOTAL
SHS 1	28444	30549	58993
SHS 2	27136	30239	57375
SHS 3	28439	30440	58879
GRAND TOTAL	79066	87860	166926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEY ACTIVITIES: – (SHEP)

 

MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION EXERCISE.

Introduction

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of about 20 preventable and treatable diseases that affects about 1.5 billion people worldwide with about 40% of the cases from Africa.

Ghana is endemic for 14 NTDs of which every District has at least two NTDs with Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthes being endemic in all the Districts and Regions.

NTDs are endemic in poor communities and promotes poverty and intense stigma; it disfigures and disable; it keeps children out of school and then parents also out of work.

Every year, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) conducts schools deworming exercise aimed at addressing the following issues:

1. Improving the general wellbeing of the School Aged Children.
2. Improving the nutritional and psychosocial status of the School Aged Children
3. Improving their academic performance
4. Reducing infection and morbidity due to worm infestation the children
5. Eliminating worm infestation as a disease of public health importance
6. Reducing the incidence of worm infestation in School Aged Children (SAC) in Ghana.

 

Participating Districts/Municipalities For 2022

 

1. Atiwa East
2. Atiwa West
3. Achiase
4. Asuogyaman
5. Birim South
6. Fanteakwa North
7. Kwaebibirim
8. Denkyembuor
9. Kwahu Afram Plains North
10. Kwahu Afram Plains South
11. Kwahu East
12. Kwahu West
13. West Akim
14. Upper West Akim

 

Training Workshop; A Trainer of Trainers workshop was organized by the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with Ghana Education Service for the District teams comprising of the following led by trained facilitators from both departments for the year 2022 Mass Drug Administration exercise.

They are:

1. District / Municipal Director of Health
2. District / Municipal Director of Education
3. District / Municipal Disease Control Officer
4. District / Municipal School Health Education Program (SHEP) Coordinator

Participants

Fifty-Six (56) participants from the fourteen (14) selected Districts/Municipalities both G.E.S and (G.H.S) were trained for this year’s Mass Drug Administration programme.

 

Key Information

1. Only Praziquantel shall be used for this year’s exercise and so all teachers must take note and act accordingly particularly when filling the forms.
2. Social mobilization must be done very well in the communities and at P.T.A meetings too so that parents understand and allow their wards to take the drugs.
3. All Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) should be treated for free. No cost should go to the client, the class teacher or the headteacher.
4.  All supervisors must use the kobo collect for monitoring.
5. All the classrooms must be marked and treatment done in classroom by the class teacher.
6. Out of school children must be encouraged to go for the treatment as well.

 

Challenges;

1. T&T paid to participants at the end of the training session was woefully inadequate and that made most of the participant angry after the workshop. During the monitoring exercise too, most teachers kept on asking about the T&T. It was a general concern from all teachers during the exercise.
2. Directors of Health Service were tasked to pre-finance the training sessions at their level but due to the fact that most of them were not having enough money in their various accounts to carry out the exercise. This had a serious effect on the trainings in most Districts and so the proposed schedule for the entire Region was seriously affected.

With the exception of Upper West Akim District which managed to do their training as planned, all others had theirs delayed for many days and some even for weeks. However, all Districts were able to do their trainings eventually.

 

 

CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE

Executive summary

11^th February, 2023 marked the Celebration of International Day for Women and Girls in Science. The aim of the celebration was to grant women and girls full and equal access to and participation in science and to further achieve gender equality and empowerment on the theme: “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Water Unites Us”. Pre-school, Primary, Junior High School and Senior High School teachers and learners in the Eastern region engaged in several activities to commemorate the day.

Introduction

Science and Gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past decades, the global community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in science. Yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science. As a result, 11^th February, 2022 was marked to celebrate all Women and Girls in Science across the globe.

The celebration this year was on the theme: “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Water Unites Us”.

Rational

The aim of the celebration was to grant women and girls full and equal access to and participation in science and to further achieve gender equality and empowerment.

Planned Activities

Pre-school, Primary, Junior High School and Senior High School teachers and learners in the region engaged in several activities to commemorate the day. All activities were focused on good hygienic practices for girls, water management to reduce pollution, understanding how climate change affects our water bodies and communities and celebrating the efforts of female STEM teachers and innovators.  The following activities were performed in various schools.

• Hands-on activities in science
• Good hygiene practices such as proper hand washing exercises and person hygiene
• Quiz competitions
• Discussion on water management to reduce pollution
• Robotics lessons
• Inspirational talks to motivate girls in pursue Science
• Laboratory activities

Conclusion

Eastern Region had a very successful celebration because the activities gave learners the opportunity to manipulate materials and create their own learning experiences. It has also helped to inspire and develop the interest of girls in science. Finally, it has helped to appreciate and recognize the effort of women and girls in the field of science.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIRLS STEM BY KOICA PROJECT:

Introduction

The District Level Science and Math Quiz was organized from 12^th to16^th December, 2022 across all the five KOICA Districts.

Rational

The quiz was meant to promote the study of Science and Mathematics, help students develop quick thinking and a probing and scientific mind about the everyday world around them, while fostering healthy academic rivalry among schools.

Planned activities

The quiz was organized in three levels; School level, Circuit level quiz and Inter-circuit level/District level.

 

District/Municipal	Winning school	Center/ Venue
1.      New Juaben South	Trinity Presby Model JHS, Koforidua	New Juaben SHS
2.      Abuakwa North	CRIG M/A JHS, New Tafo	Presby Church Hall. New Tafo
3.      Birim Central	Oda Frimpong Manso Cath. JHS ‘B’	Oda Salvation Army School
4.      Upper Manya Krobo	Asesewa Methodist JHS	Asesewa Pentecost Chapel
5.      Akuapem South	Aburi Circuit (PWCE Demonstration/ Aburi Presby JHS)	Aburi Demonstration JHS Library

 

Conclusion

Eastern Region had a successful Science and Maths Quiz competition. Students exhibited higher knowledge in Science and Mathematics and all participants were awarded certificates.

 

HUNGER PROJECT LAUNCHED ON “IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY, WASH AND NUTRITION IN GHANA”

The Hunger Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger and poverty by developing sustainable, grassroots and women-centered initiatives in Communities Worldwide.

In collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they came up with the above-mentioned project to improve nutrition and food security in Ghana particularly in the beneficiary Districts in the Eastern and Central Regions.

Objectives:

The following are the objectives of the project:

• To improve food production.
• To improve dry season farming.
• To improve food storage.
• To improve nutrition practices.
• To promote WASH practices.
• To improve income generation.

 

Presentations:

Ghana Health Service and Environmental Health Department

As part of the launch, the programme presented five motor bikes to Ghana Health Service and the Environmental Health Department and Sanitation to support their health care outreach and environmental monitoring.

Ghana Education Service

Veronica buckets, liquid soaps and sanitary towels were presented to the districts to be given to the schools in those beneficiary Communities.

The project coordinator, Mr. Francis Osei Mensah, said the intervention was expected to increase crop yields, reduce the number of households with moderate or severe hunger, and increase potable water sources and sanitation facilities and the percentage of women receiving antenatal care.

Closing Remarks

In his closing remarks, Dr Arko Akoto Ampaw, the medical superintendent of the Eastern Regional Hospital, stated that out of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, this project is touching twelve and it is a very good thing that must be accepted in all the beneficiary Communities.

He said Community members should exhibit self-help spirit, selflessness, and self-reliance and collaborate with all the partners on the project in order to see its success and also draw up a sustainability plan to have it running after the project period elapses.

 

 

REPORT ON CSSPS ACTIVITIES.

The Eastern Region declared 92,473 vacancies

As at Tuesday, 21^st March, 2023, 75,922 had been placed while 60,542 had been enrolled (made up of 28800 boys and 31742 girls).

Boarders (Girls- 29599 and Boys 25196,) = 54795)

Day Students – 21,127

 

HRMIS

During the period under review, the unit participated in a zoom workshop on the collection of data for HRMIS inputs.

PVs of all Management Units in all 33 districts are to migrate unto the HRMIS template which will be implemented later in the year.

 

66^TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES.

Ofori Panin SHS won to represent the region at the Southern Zone.

The Region presented 6 best BECE graduates 2021 and 2022 for the presidential awards.

They were drawn from the Kwahu West, Suhum, Nsawam Adoagyiri and Akuapem North Municipalities.

 

MATHEMATICS DAY

Celebration of the International Day of Mathematics-14^th. March, 2023 involving 270 students from 12 districts in the region.

Regional STMIE Camp at Ghana SHS from 3^rd-6^th January, 2023 involving 260 JHS students made up of 138 girls and 122 boys from 13 Districts/Municipals.

SHEP

A four-day workshop on strengthening of HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and T/B education in selected second-cycle schools, namely Akroso SHS, Islamic Girls SHS and the Aburi Girls SHS form 13^th. to 17^th. February, 2023. Nutrition Friendly Schools initiative program in 14 districts from 28^th. February-15^th. March, 2023.

 

REGIONAL COMPETITION OF THE 3^RD EDITION OF THE ENERGY COMMISSIONS’ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL RENEWABLE ENERGY CHALLENGE

Executive Summary

The third edition of the Senior High School Renewable Energy Challenge was initiated by the Energy Commission in collaboration with Ghana Education Service to provide education and awareness on renewable energy and efficiency among the various senior high and technical schools in the country. The challenge was meant to highlight innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by senior high school students and provides a platform for the exhibition of their projects.

Eight (8) Second Cycle Institutions participated in the regional competitions where Mamfe Methodist Girls SHS won for the second time in succession.

The theme for this year is “clean cooking and food processing using renewable energy technologies”.

Objectives

• To develop the research skills of senior and technical high school students and promote technological innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• To instill in students a passion for solving efficiency and climate change challenges through innovative research.
• To develop presentation skills of Senior High School students.
• To promote self-confidence and encourage hard work through public recognition and rewards.

 

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Interventions: 

• Capacity-building workshop for all staff
• Girls in ICT
• International Day of Mathematics
• Extended instructional hours
• Organizing SPAM
• Reading festivals
• Quizzes and inter-school’s competitions
• Improved monitoring and supervision (Team Monitoring)
• Guidance and Counselling for Students/Teachers
• Team Teaching
• Back-to-school campaign
• Certificate audit
• Exposure of students to industrial practice
• Redeployment of teachers
• Stakeholder engagement on discipline in schools
• Mentorship for newly-recruited teachers.
• School Connect (yielded good results as a result of this outreach activity by the Regional Director and her team.
• Coaching and mentoring of students to boost their confidence
• Setting of “SMART” targets
• Signing of Performance Contract
• International Day for Women and Girls in Science
• Engaging teachers on the Chief Examiners’ Report
• Institution of ‘one keyword a day, an idiom a week, a page a day and a book a month’ strategy
• Targeted remediation/differentiated learning for weak students, i.e. Weekend Classes
• Institution of vacation assignments
• Appraisal of Teachers
• Adoption of schools by Directors/Officers

 

 

CHALLENGES

• Mem-Chemfre Community Day SHS with all the facilities is operating under capacity.
• Encroachment on school lands (lack of fence walls)
• Difficulty in getting teachers to accept postings to ‘hard- to-reach’ areas
• Accommodation and Office space for newly created Districts
• Staff Bungalows for some Senior High Schools
• Bus and Pick Ups for some Senior High Schools
• Delays in the release of GOG
• Galamsey menace having effect on school attendance in a number of galamsey endemic areas in the Region

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Given the nature and volumes of disciplinary/ legal issues, it would be prudent to have legal officers or people with legal background in the Regional Offices.
• The Mem-Chemfre School should be given boarding/hostel facility to attract patronage.
• The policy of staff accommodation and incentives for teachers accepting postings to hard-to-reach communities should be pursued rigorously.
• Teachers in the Sciences are needed
• Timely release of GOG
• Clear guidelines on the operations of PTAs should be made available