BIBIANI: Save Complementary Education Agency From Collapse

BIBIANI :Save Complementary Education Agency from collapse

The Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Complementary Education Agency, formerly Non-Formal Education Division, coordinator, Mr.Biri Emmanuel have bemoaned that the agency is woefully under-resourced–making it difficult to deliver on its mandate.

He claims that since the World Bank withdrew its support from the then Non-Formal Education Division in 2008, activities have gone sideways; making it difficult for them to achieve their purpose of building the country through literacy.

President Akufo-Addo, has appointed Catherine Agyapomaa Appiah-Pinkrah as the Acting Executive Director of the Complementary Education Agency (CEA).

Her appointment is in Pursuant to Section 11 (1) of the Complementary Education Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1055).

The appointment letter dated 27th November, 2023, was signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.

Commenting on her appointment,Mr Biri Emmanuel Congratulated his new boss.

He said that in his municipal resources such as money, human capital, vehicles and even primers (books) for their work are not available, hence most of his literacy classes have come to a halt.

“There are areas where education hasn’t reached, and we are supposed to go there, but where are the resources? We need cars. Look at our roads; the books (primers), where are they? Where are the funds to do supervision and monitoring activities? Common boards and markers are not available, and these beneficiaries do not pay anything. We can’t take money from them,” he lamented.

Continuing the narrative, the coordinator disclosed that the agency previously worked with volunteers who were granted incentives, such as roofing sheets, wax-prints, sewing machines, or bicycles, once they finished the 21-month cycle. However, because these items are no longer forthcoming, most of the volunteers have left.

“Generally, that volunteering spirit in the country is no longer there. It is difficult getting people to volunteer. You are telling somebody to facilitate a class for 21 months without salary. We used to give them items such as roofing sheets, clothes, sewing machines, bicycles, etc.

“Currently we do not even have them, we have lost them. We are now using our supervisors and programme officers to facilitate. Those incentives are no longer being provided. It comes back to resources. We were then funded by the World Bank; they gave us cars, printed our books and everything. Lots of money,” he elaborated.

According to him, the Agency is financially constrained. He, however, expressed a hope that the new boss can help the situation changed through a well-structured resource mobilisation strategy.

Source: Bibianinews.com