Quality basic education to be prioritized – Matthew Opoku Prempeh

The Education Minister-designate, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has indicated that, government will prioritize basic education before pursuing any form of free tertiary education saying the UN’s right to basic education is being changed to a right of education up to the secondary level.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said his focus will therefore be ensuring quality at the basic level education.

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South also indicated that government would continue with the upgrade of Technical Universities started under the John Mahama administration.

He said work on the other two polytechnics left to be converted into Technical Universities have been done and soon they would make the transition. He said five technical universities and ten technical institutes will be equipped with support from China.

On Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Opoku Prempeh disclosed that there are plans to centralise all vocal and technical colleges that are under other Ministries to the Education Ministry to enable the Ministry to give support to those institutions.

He said in line with the New Patriotic Party's 2016 manifesto, he would select in every region of the country one or two of the 40 colleges of education to upgrade the labs and workshops for teachers who are going to teach technical and vocational education.

On WAEC exams leakages, Dr Opoku Prempeh assured that those days are over. He said that examination leakages will not be entertained under his watch.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, took his turn for vetting on Tuesday before the Appointments Committee of Parliament as Education Minister-designate.

GBC