The Ketu North Directorate of Education has said it was sad final year junior high school students in the district “become laws on to themselves after registering for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).”
“They will vacate school almost en-mass and gleefully indulge in immoral conducts,” Mrs. Olivia Kwawukumey, Administration and Finance Director, said this at the Fifth Annual Educational Excellence Award Ceremony of John Gatsi Educational Foundation for pupils of the area.
She said this conduct could be the reason for the poor performance which reflected in eight schools out of 67 scoring zero% in 2013/14.
The Foundation, owned by Dr. John Gatsi, a Financial Analyst and Lecturer, University of Cape Coast (UCC) School of Business, holds competitive annual examinations for basic schools in the area and awards deserving ones.
The project is aimed at stimulating competitiveness and excellence among pupils.
It also has a component under which proficiency courses are organized for teachers handling Mathematics, Science and English.
Mrs. Kwawukumey said the Directorate had started stakeholder discussions including pupils and parents to halt the problem and that parental apathy was a major issue.
She lauded the Foundation for helping to improve teaching methodologies and standards of pupils.
Mrs Kwawukumey said as a result of the Foundation’s offer, non-performing schools in the BECE reduced from 16 in 2013 to eight in 2014.
Madam Gloria Avorgah, the Assistant Headmistress of Anlo Senior High School, said in a speech read for her that educational levels of a people reflected on their development.
“I commend this Award Scheme for contributing to education in the area and urge pupils to respect and learn hard”, she said.
Dr. Gatsi said the refresher courses had resulted in “great improvements in performance of pupils in Mathematics, Science and English in the competition”
He said there was a lot more to be done in those areas because there remained grey areas.
Dr Gatsi said this year’s ratings had been judged the best since the Awards started in 2010 and that even though the pass mark was raised for certain categories the number of those who made it increased.
He said it was the view of the Foundation that raised teacher commitment to duty could raise performance level of pupils and students.
Dr Gatsi expressed joy at “the zeal of pupils and parents towards the competition”.
In all, 25 pupils received awards in category ‘A’ and nine category ‘B’.
Master Agbodza Selasi of Mawuli School Complex of Dzodze received GHC500.00, books and other souvenirs as the Best Student.
His school was adjudged the best school.
Miss Amanyo Favour of Mac Tetteh School also at Dzodze emerged the best female student.
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