The four political parties with representation in Parliament have resolved to put the requisite educational infrastructure in place to boost the sector. Dr Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC), Prof. J. E. A. Mills of the National Democratic Congress NDC), Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP) assured students of their commitment to making education accessible and affordable when given the mandate to rule the country. They gave the assurance in Accra at the weekend at a day's educational conference, dubbed "An Encounter with the Presidential Candidates". The programme, organised by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), created the platform for the aspirants to spell out their policies on education. Two out of the four aspirants, Dr Nduom and Dr Mahama, were in attendance while Madam Hannah Tetteh and Dr Arthur Kennedy of the NDC and the NPP respectively represented their parties' flag bearers. Addressing the gathering, Dr Nduom urged students to assess the visions of the various flag bearers to make informed choices during voting in the December elections. He said education would be at the forefront of the CPP's agenda when voted into office, and that the necessary educational infrastructure would be provided to improve the sector, adding that "schools would be adequately equipped to cater for the educational needs of the people." Dr Nduom said if the CPP was voted into office, free compulsory education for pupils in the kindergarten through to students in the senior high school would be instituted, and that every child of school going age would be enrolled in school. The CPP presidential aspirant revealed plans to boost the conditions of service of teachers to motivate them to give their best. He said in order for teachers to accept posting to the rural areas, more accommodation facilities would be provided. Dr Nduom stated that standardisation was needed in the educational sector to ensure that quality graduates were produced, and that the Ghana Educational Trust Fund was a major tool to be used to accomplish such targets. Madam Hannah Tetteh said the NDC, when given the mandate, would provide science resource centres in all senior high schools across the country to facilitate science education. She stated that her party would improve upon the existing educational facilities in the public tertiary institutions, as well as provide more of such facilities to attract people to tertiary education. Madam Tetteh said the party would remain committed to providing more accommodation facilities for students since the demand for it was high. Dr Mahama said the PNC, would ensure affordable accommodation for students to alleviate the hardships students were facing. He revealed that the PNC, when voted into power, would elevate the country's polytechnics into universities to enhance the country's labour force. For his part, Dr Arthur Kennedy said education was tops on the agenda of the NPP and that their flag-bearer would invest heavily in it. Dr Kennedy indicated that part of the proceeds of the country's oil fields would also be channelled into education, as well as other sectors of the economy, to accelerate development. The NUGS President, Mr Kweku Tuoho Bombason, said the union's decision to host the aspirants stemmed from their commitment to deepen democracy in the country, adding that "we are championing an issue-based campaign instead of one with insults and vile propaganda". Source: Daily Graphic