THE Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has reacted angrily against reports that the abolition of the shift system has caused congestion in schools in the metropolis.
He said the congestion existed before the shift system was abolished, citing some schools which had about 110 pupils in a class.
To the Times there is no need for the AMA boss to be angry over this matter.
Nobody is disputing with Mr. Vanderpuije that the congestion had existed long before the abolition was introduced in 2009. Neither has anybody accused him of causing congestion in the schools in the metropolis.
The problem lies in the apparent rush with which the Shift system was abolished in view of prevailing challenges which needed to be sorted out first, before the introduction of the new system.
We recall that when the idea was first mooted by the Major in 2009, there were many who thought that the exercise should be carried out systematically, in order not to dislocate the basic school system in the metropolis.
They argued that infrastructural the shift system must be allowed to go on until the necessary infrastructural facilities were put in place.
The Times sees the current congestion in various schools in the metropolis as most unfortunate, since it will affect teaching and learning in the classrooms. It is difficult to imagine how a teacher can handle a class of over 75 pupils at a time.
We understand the Mayor’s desire to modernize the school system and provide facilities that will enhance the basic school system.
Much as we admit that the Millennium City Schools Project is a laudable initiative by the Mayor to solve the infrastructural problem permanently, we believe that it will take some time before this project starts yielding results.
That is why it is necessary for the AMA to exercise extreme caution in dealing with the challenges that are bound to arise
It will be suicidal for the nation to toy with the education of our children, especially at the basic level.
We need to plan well in all matters concerning the education of our children.
He said the congestion existed before the shift system was abolished, citing some schools which had about 110 pupils in a class.
To the Times there is no need for the AMA boss to be angry over this matter.
Nobody is disputing with Mr. Vanderpuije that the congestion had existed long before the abolition was introduced in 2009. Neither has anybody accused him of causing congestion in the schools in the metropolis.
The problem lies in the apparent rush with which the Shift system was abolished in view of prevailing challenges which needed to be sorted out first, before the introduction of the new system.
We recall that when the idea was first mooted by the Major in 2009, there were many who thought that the exercise should be carried out systematically, in order not to dislocate the basic school system in the metropolis.
They argued that infrastructural the shift system must be allowed to go on until the necessary infrastructural facilities were put in place.
The Times sees the current congestion in various schools in the metropolis as most unfortunate, since it will affect teaching and learning in the classrooms. It is difficult to imagine how a teacher can handle a class of over 75 pupils at a time.
We understand the Mayor’s desire to modernize the school system and provide facilities that will enhance the basic school system.
Much as we admit that the Millennium City Schools Project is a laudable initiative by the Mayor to solve the infrastructural problem permanently, we believe that it will take some time before this project starts yielding results.
That is why it is necessary for the AMA to exercise extreme caution in dealing with the challenges that are bound to arise
It will be suicidal for the nation to toy with the education of our children, especially at the basic level.
We need to plan well in all matters concerning the education of our children.
