Monrovia – Montserrado District #6 Representative, Dixon Seboe, has backed the Ministry of Education’s new directive to extend learning hours by extra hours in order to absorb the full curriculum for the academic year.
Students would now have to stay in school from 8 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday. This, the ministry believes, would enhance learning outcomes at the elementary and secondary school levels.
The Ministry’s decision was prompted by the constant mass failure of students in public tests like WAEC, WASSCE and entrance examination of higher learning institutions.
Representative Seboe said the mandate would strengthen the education sector and help students achieve better academic performance.
“We cannot solve the capacity problems in our schools if our students are not completing the curriculum adequately,” he said.
He said students need to be challenged relative to their academic work at school, adding that both parents and teachers have a pivotal role to play in achieving this cause.
“Presently in my district, we are running a scholarship program that is challenging students to do their best in obtaining scholarships and financial aids to pursue higher learning,” he disclosed.
Rep. Seboe said society would improve if students improve in their academia.
“Completing the curriculum involves time and our students must be able to remain in school and do their work to avoid taking home tons of assignment that they might not read,” he said.
Rep Seboe prayed the indulgence of the Ministry of Education to also include the school-feeding program in order to help students keep strong during school hours in ensuring a smooth learning environment.
“We don’t want people complaining that the hours are long and they’re learning on empty stomach, so let the ministry initiate the school-feeding program in order to fast-track the learning process,” he said.
Being a member of the ruling party CDC, he restated the government’s unbending position to continuously support key priority area as a means of developing the country.
He said, the education sector of paramount to nation-building. “This is a pro-poor government and at such, education is one of the top priorities and we must ensure that the system is on par with international standards.”
“Let’s face the reality that our students are not doing well academically to improve society tomorrow, the majority of our young people are not focusing on their lessons,” he averred.
Rep. Seboe craved the indulgence of the Ministry of Education to include stringent measures in the system and hoped that the ministry’s budget will capture major reforms in the sector.
The Minister of Education is expected to appear before the joint committee for a public hearing in order to defend their allotment and allocations in their budget line.
The process is done yearly by the joint committee in order to streamline public expenditures and the need for proper allocations.
Report by Lisa Diasay, FPA Contributor
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