PSWU supports 4-year SHS

THE Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed support for the four-year duration of Senior High School (SHS) programme.
The union was of the view that three years duration of the SHS was too short a period for the former seven-year programme which comprised five years of ‘O’ level and two yearsof ‘A’ level.
According to the PSWU, “We are saying this because of the poor results of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSSCE) in recent times.
The General Secretary of the PSWU, Mr Abraham Okine expressed the position of the PSWU at its founders day ceremony as part of its 50th anniversary celebration in Accra.
The celebration was on the theme, “PSWU, 50 years in service of workers-The way forward.”
He said the union had followed with keen interest the debate on the duration of the SHS and expressed regret that the consultative forum could not arrive at a consensus.
He called on the government to provide the necessary infrastructure for the four -year programme to continue since that would give enough time for the students to study and pass their examinations well.
The General Secretary acknowledged the efforts of the founding members of the union for the initiative to form the union. “We would like to register our satisfaction and gratitude to our pioneering patriots both living and dead for their good judgement and selflessness in coming to form this great union,” he added.
He said their perseverance and sacrifices marked the historic turning point of creating the union, which the present rank and file would never forget.
Mr Okine assured Ghanaians that the PSWU would continue to champion the course of workers and would not compromise its principles in the effort towards the realisation of its goals.
The PSWU which started with 16 members in 1959 now has over 56 union members in different organisations in the country.
Recounting the events which led to the formation of the union 50 years ago, the first General Secretary of the union, Mr Frederick Asante said the union was formed to ensure the well being of workers at that time and underscored the need for the union to continue to be the mouthpiece of workers in decision making and a representative of workers in the corridors of powers.
“The purpose of the union is to create a condition that would make you an architect of your future,” he said.
In a fraternal message, the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr William Ampem-Darko congratulated the union and called on the executives to train their members to enable them meet the fast growing global requirements of technology in the job market.
There were other messages from the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Ghana Meteorological Agency, Ghana Tourist Board and Ms Samia Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Jomoro.