Education, Better Driver Of Economy � Nduom

The Founder and leader of the Progressive People�s Party (PPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has said education is a better driver of a nation�s economy than gold, oil, gas and other natural resources. According to him, without it our natural resources become huge burdens on all the country�s citizens. Dr Nduom was speaking at the 100th anniversary celebration of St. Joseph�s Primary Boys School at Elmina in the Central Region. Application of knowledge He said well-educated people tended to be more prosperous since they applied their knowledge to industry, research and in all fields of endeavour in a more productive and profitable manner. Dr Nduom also said that the framers of the 1992 Constitution pointed out clearly that the goal of ensuring an educated and knowledgeable people was not negotiable. That, he said, was the reason for the implementation of Chapter Six of the Constitution - Directive Principles of State Policy to enhance the education policy. 1992 Constitution on education According to Dr Nduom, sections of the Constitution provided clear guidelines as to how to empower the people to promote economic growth, saying these provisions were that �The State shall provide educational facilities at all levels and in all the regions of Ghana, and shall, to the greatest extent feasible, make those facilities available to all citizens. �The Government shall, within two years after Parliament first meets after the coming into force of this Constitution, draw up a programme for implementation within the following ten years, for the provision of free, compulsory and universal basic education. �The State shall, subject to availability of resources, provide (a) equal and balanced access to secondary and other appropriate pre-university education, equal access to university or equivalent education, with emphasis on science and technology; (b) a free adult literacy programme, and a free vocational training, rehabilitation and resettlement of persons; and (c) life-long education.� Advice to leaders In line with this provisions, Dr Nduom encouraged all citizens and the government to work hard to support the campaign to implement free, compulsory education at the basic level. He said the 1992 Constitution had made it a requirement for all administrations in Ghana to implement free, compulsory education at the basic level for all Ghanaian children. That, he said, applied to every political party in the country and added that the parties should be ready to accept challenges and present their plans for the implementation of free and compulsory education at the basic level. Commitment Dr Nduom gave the assurance that his group of companies and family would continue to contribute their quota to the improvement of the educational system in Elmina, first, by constructing a university at Elmina Aboabo. �And for St. Joseph�s we will come and assess the progress of the library project and complete it so that our children in the school can have a safe and conducive place to study and gain knowledge� he added