Adukrom (ER), Dec 06, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama, has
expressed concern about the sharp decline of educational standards in the
Akuapem area and called on the traditional authorities to take steps to
address the situation.
Mr Mahama stressed that parents and the communities involvement was a
critical factor in raising educational standards and that must be
spearheaded by the local authorities.
He said the persistent score of zero percent of pupils in the Basic
Education Certificate Examination (BECE), may not be that the children were
not good but could be attributed to other factors, such as lack of parental
care, school environment and teaching and learning materials.
The Vice President mentioned that apart from the teacher factor, which
was left for government, all the others could be addressed, when chiefs take
interest in schools and collaborate with the heads to ensure that things
were done in the correct way.
Mr Mahama, who was speaking at the annual Odwira festival of the people
of Adukrom said the decline of educational standards coupled with the recent
media reports of pornographic acts of some people in Akuapem must engage the
attention of the leaders in the area.
He said government recognized the role of teachers in the improvement
of education and had therefore put in measures to address the service
conditions of teachers, despite the fact that teachers formed the largest
sector of government employees.
Mr Mahama said morals were fast eroding in the Ghanaian society and
called for concerted efforts from all to find solutions to the problem.
He mentioned the internet fraud, popularly known as "Sakawa" that had
led to Ghana being blacklisted by those operating the Internet commerce, as
one of the negative activities that chiefs should address.
Mr Mahama told the people that "looking at the proverbial Akuapem
discipline he was sad when media reports broke out of the pornographic acts
in Akuapem" and advised the youth that "there was no short cut to life but
only through hard work and honesty, which guarantees one's future".
Osuodumgya Otutu Kono III, Chief of Adukrom, said in tackling the sharp
decline of education, especially at the BECE levels, government must
critically look at the Computer School Selection Programme (CSSPS), which
was undermining community Senior High Schools system.
He said the abolition of the 20 percent protocol for traditional
authorities where average students were helped to get admission to schools
was also a factor contributing to the decline at the BECE since parents and
students got discouraged of the fact that they could not get access to a
community school closer to them.
The chief assured the Vice President that Okere would take up the
challenge and collaborate with heads of schools to ensure that schools use
their classes hours judiciously.
Distinguished citizens of Adukrom were honoured, including a student of
Aburi Girls Presbyterian Secondary School, who scored eight-ones at the just
ended BECE.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and his deputy Mr
Baba Jamal Mohamed and the Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Dan Botwe,
were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
GNA