News Categories: Education

The Talensi District Assembly in collaboration with the regional Coordinating Council has organized capacity building training programme at the assembly hall. The training was to build the competencies of staff in the local Governance Act,2016 (Act 936 and the Client Service Charter in order to perform duties more efficiently and effectively).

The District Chief Executive, Hon. Thomas Pearson Duanab Wuni, in a welcoming address urged staff members to avail themselves for new orientation programmes. He hinted that there will be more training programs for staff and further wished them all the best. The staff had the opportunity to ask questions and made suggestions which was addressed accordingly.

The Local Government Service mandates staff to undertake capacity building training to orient their skills and ensure better service delivery to their respective district.

The National Pensions Regulatory Authority has organised an outreach programme at Talensi District Assembly in the Upper East Region to educate and sensitize both formal and informal sector workers on the Three Tier Pension Scheme. The outreach programme was specifically, to encourage the informal sector workers in the area to join and actively participate in pension schemes to alleviate old age poverty.

Officials of NPRA in their speech expressed their delight for the huge turn up of various informal sector groups and individual traders present. They thanked the various group leaders and everyone present for making time to attend the forum. They also assured them that pension funds are very secured and should they decide to join and contribute to the scheme, their monies will be well guarded and non will go missing.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, has urged candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination to be confident in themselves to enable them to excel.

He said building one’s confidence and understanding the questions are some basic key things candidates need to consider before going into the examination hall.

Mr. Yakubu also called on the candidates to be calm and not panic, as well as show some level of respect to their invigilators as they guide them through the examination.

He made this call when he spoke to Mark Smith on A1 radio’s Daybreak Upper East Show regarding the 2023 BECE, which began today, August 7, 2023.

The Regional Chairman of the Ghana Private Schools Association, Alhaji Issah Bukari, has also called on all candidates to see themselves as one and remain focused throughout the period of the Examination.

He said the candidates (from Private schools) were well prepared for the examination, having written a series of mock examinations, and were expected to excel.

A total of 22,431 candidates are sitting for this year’s BECE in the Upper East Region. Out of this, 10,578 are male and 11,853 are female.

Nationally, 600,714 candidates, comprising 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,983 schools, are sitting for the exams in 2,137 centres across the country.

Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gilbert Azeem Tiroog|Ghana

The Talensi District Assembly has procured and distributed 540 pieces of dual desk to some selected basic schools across the district between 28^th and 30^th June 2023.

In April this year, the Assembly procured and distributed 500 pieces of dual desk.

The latest figure of 540 brings the total number of dual desks procured by the Assembly to 1,040 pieces.

Today in history marks the 66^th Independence Day Celebration when Ghana became the first Country in sub-Saharan African to gain Independence from the imperialist colonial rule.  It was on this historic day that our country was declared Independent signifying the end of colonial rule. In commemoration of this day, it is important we remind ourselves the efforts of our forbearers whose toils and sacrifices has brought us this great relief from colonial exploitation.

The District Coordinating Director (DCD) Mr. Clifford Baba Atanga read the speech on behalf of the District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Thomas Pearson Duanab Wuni to commemorate the 66th Independence Day celebration at St. Theresa Primary School Park, Tongo. in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region on Monday, March 6 2023

Mr. Chairman, before I proceed, I wish to cease this opportunity and thank our revered chiefs, traditional leaders, heads of departments and other key stakeholders who have taken time of their busy schedules to honor this occasion.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Invited Guests, the theme for the 66^th Independence Anniversary Day Celebration is “Our Unity! Our Strength! Our Purpose”. I consider this as refreshing as it seeks to reinforce the need for us to live together as one people with a common destiny with a unity of purpose. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to demonstrate to the world that, despite our cultural, religious and political differences among others, we are one people with a common purpose to advance our country’s development.  It is worth mentioning that the Independence of Ghana will be meaningless if we as citizens do not live in peace and unity with one another. As the saying goes ‘Unity is Strength’.

Mr. Chairman, we must admit that the development of the district is a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to achieve the dream of a better and prosperous District. We must consciously pursue a common agenda that will inure to the development of the district as one people with a common destiny for the current and unborn generations. As people with common background we must find a common ground to solve all our differences and give peace a chance to flourish in the district for without peace there cannot be development.

Mr. Chairman, with your kind permission, I will like to take a look at some issues which affect the youth and requires the active participation of all stakeholders so that together we can proffer an amicable solution to the menace.

Education

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is sad to inform you that, for the period 2019, 2020 and 2021, the Talensi District Assembly scored below 50% in the BECE examination which is very worrying.

To address this, a committee was formed with the task of finding out the causes of the falling standards of education in the District. The Committee among other recommendations, recommended an awards scheme for students who excelled in the BECE examinations to serve as challenge for others to take their studies seriously. As part of today’s activities, some deserving students will be honored for excelling in the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination.

Mr. Chairman, apart from the infrastructure and other logistics support provided to the Ghana Education Service, the Assembly also procured mathematical sets and organized standard mock examination for the 2022 BECE candidates aimed at improving the performance of pupils.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to make a personal pledge that, any pupil in the Talensi District who get aggregate 6-9 in the BECE examination, will be awarded with a brand new laptop and other educational materials. This challenge is thrown to both boys and girls in private and public schools in the district.

Youth in galamsey

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Invited Guests, one of the major issues affecting the youth in the Talensi District is galamsey. It is an undeniable fact that most of the youth especially those of school going age have abandoned the schools to engage in galamsey. This desire for quick money by the youth has driven them out of schools to engage in galamsey activities. I wish to appeal to all stakeholders as a matter of urgency to collectively take necessary steps to address the situation to save the future of the youth. I will also like to make a passionate appeal to parents to play their roles effectively to curtail pupils from abandoning school for galamsey activities which is risky.

Teenage pregnancy and early marriage

Mr. Chairman, another problem confronting the youth in the district is the rise in teenage pregnancy and early marriage especially among school girls. It is very common to see children within the ages of 13-18 being pregnant. In the year 2022 alone, about 21 pupils got pregnant whiles 10 got married which is worrying. The current rate of teenage pregnancy in the Talensi District stands at 21% which is quite high. It is disheartening to know that, most of these pupils especially the girls are unable to return to school thereby ending their educational career abruptly. I wish to call on community leaders especially Chiefs, traditional leaders and Assembly Members to assist the relevant institutions to bring the situation under control for the betterment of our children.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must bear in mind that we cannot expect good results from our wards if the teachers are not dedicated and committed to their duty. In this regard, I wish to appeal to all our teachers to continue to put up their best to improve effective teaching and learning. Having said this, you the pupils must also show respect to the teachers who are trying their outmost best to impart the requisite knowledge and skills to you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to thank the District Director of Education and staff and to appeal to them to embark on vigorous monitoring and supervision in schools to ensure that both teachers and learners play their respective roles to improve teaching and learning in our schools.

Finally, I wish to thank the planning committee for making this programme a successfully one.

On this note, I thank all the students here gathered, the security agencies and all other identifiable groups for taken time off their busy schedules to participate in the 66^th Independence Day Anniversary.

Long Live Talensi District

Long Live Ghana Our Beloved Country

Thank you.

Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2023 is January 29 – February 4. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2023 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.

The Minerals Development Fund through the Local Management Committee in the Talensi District has donated desks to selected schools in the Talensi District to support and improve the condition of teaching and learning in schools.

The gesture includes the donation of 365 dual desks to eight (8) Primary and Junior High Schools in the district. The beneficiary communities include Gaare, Gbane, Yameriga, Zanwore, Tola, Datuku, Wakii, and Bapella. Further, 16 hexagonal desks were provided to Tola, Datuku, and Bapella kindergartens.

In early 2022, the Talensi Local Management Committee constructed several water systems across some mining communities in the district from the Minerals development fund and this kind gesture has improved the livelihoods of residents in the mining communities in Talensi.

“For now, Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited is the only large-scale mining company in the Talensi District that is contributing to the fund and we have so far disbursed the funds that came to the Local Management Committee at the district level in the area of water and education which are of major concern to our people”, Samuel Kuug, Chairman of the Talensi Local Management Committee stated.

Mr. Samuel Kuug expressed optimism that the furniture provided to the schools would help address the challenges in the educational sector in the district.

“This forms part of the first phase of furniture distribution and we are optimistic and confident that all basic schools will be provided with furniture through the Minerals Development Fund, kind courtesy of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd”, he added.

The Public Relations Officer of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, Ebenezer Bognaab, said the company is committing to support the government to provide basic social amenities and infrastructure to its host mining communities.

“And for that matter, as a company, we do not renege on payment of royalties and taxes to the government though we have undertaken some projects in the district under our corporate social responsibility and we will continue to support our host communities in the district”, Mr. Bognaab indicated.

Some residents who spoke to the media described the operation of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited as a blessing to the communities “because thousands of the youth in the area have been employed directly and indirectly and this has improved their livelihoods.”

On the issue of the furniture, a parent, Yinbil expressed excitement with the provision of the furniture saying the gesture has come to improve the academic performance of pupils and students who used to learn on their stomachs and sat on bare floors in the classrooms.

“As part of the school PTA, we were planning to contribute some money to provide furniture for at least the JHS two and three students so they can prepare well ahead of the BECE, but we thank the Earl Group mining company for their contributions to the Minerals Development Fund and today our Primary, Junior High School and Kindergarten have received enough furniture”, he added.

The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) is a public fund set up by Act 912 of Parliament in 2016.  The source of the fund is principally twenty percent (20%) of mineral royalties that are received by the Ghana Revenue Authority on behalf of the Republic.

The funds are mainly sourced from holders of mining leases in respect of their mining operations. The purpose of the Fund according to the Act is to provide financial resources for the direct benefit and advantage of mining communities. It is also to equip traditional and local government authority within a mining community. The MDF fund also sets aside a portion of sums of money for the institution responsible for the development of mining – Land and Natural Resources.

Apart from the company’s regular Royalty contributions to the Minerals Development Fund, the Ghana Revenue Authority collects taxes and fees from the company.

Through the Minerals development fund, some of the royalties paid by Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd are returned to the host communities of the mine and managed by the local management committee for the benefit and development of communities affected by mining operations.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Talensi|Ghana

The Talensi District Chief Executive, Thomas Duanab Pearson Wuni has warned saboteurs and “cheap propagandists” to yank their minds from “cheap social media propaganda acts” as that cannot help to achieve the growth needed in the area.

According to him, such social media publications only ridicule leadership but do nothing to solve the problems at hand. Mr. Wuni insisted that he will not allow himself to be controlled by “social media cheap propaganda acts”.

The DCE comments come on the backdrop of the recent pictures of pupils of Yagzore basic school lying on the floor to study circulating on social media.

Speaking to the press after donating 115 dual desks to the pupils, Mr Duanab said the said school was even part of other schools his outfit listed to support with furniture.

He said, “I and my planning officer made several rounds to schools and we already knew the educational problems. So, I least expected people who are from home yet fail to approach the assembly and rather go ahead to post pictures on social media. In case they don’t know, I don’t work on social media. We as an assembly have a working plan and we are going according to that, not social media posts”.

Stressing on improving the educational infrastructure in the area, the DCE indicated that his outfit has plans to provide more furniture to various schools.

“Yes, I have made some raw estimations on the number of dual desks that can meet the furniture deficit and I can say roughly 2000 dual desks are needed. So, I’m calling on individuals both in and out of Talensi to support”, he said.

The gesture by the assembly, parents, teachers and some of the pupils however said was a dream come true as they never thought of such support.

A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga|Ghana

This afternoon, some staff of the Assembly took part on a Research Dissemination meeting of BRECcIA [University of Ghana]. The meeting sought to inform participants on the output of a research conducted on flood prone areas in the district. Particularly the impact of floods on communities along the white volta like Nungu, Pwalugu and Biung