70 per cent candidates fail to enter SHS in Gomoa West

Apam, (C/R), Oct. 10, GNA - Only 30 per cent of candidates who sat for 2011 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Gomoa West District, have qualified to enter Senior High schools and Technical institutions.

Mr Antwi Bonsiako, Gomoa West District Coordinating Director made this known at the Annual General Meeting of Campaign For Female Education (CAMFED), Non Governmental Organization based in Tamale in the Northern Region (NGO) at Apam on Saturday.

It was under the theme: “Our performance impacting on quality education”

CAMFED has entered the district to offer bursary to needy but brilliant girls from the five basic schools and two Senior High Schools to University level.

Mr Bonsiako did not give details of the results but however said the assembly was unhappy about the performance of the children in the BECE.

He said the meeting was to find solution to matters affecting girl-child education in the Gomoa West District.

He said the Assembly was doing its best to build more structures and provide furniture to schools to enhance effective learning and teaching.

The coordinating director urged parents to provide basic needs to their children.

Ms Magita Ama Mills, In charge of Special Education in an address read for Ms Augusta Akyaa Sarpong, District Director of Education, expressed concern about the low performance of girls in the district.

Ms Sarpong said 45 girls dropped out of school after becoming pregnant in last academic year in the district.

According to her, 28 others became pregnant but managed to write the BECE this year, a situation she described as not the best.

Mrs Olga Teye-Topey, Education Manager of CAMFED, expressed the hope that parents and other stakeholders would assist to improve education standard in the district.

Ms Alberta Bruce, Girl-Child Coordinator for Gomoa West appealed to parents to give priority to the education to their girl-child, adding that the dropout among the girls was becoming unacceptable.

Ms Margaret Eduah, Vice Chairperson of District Education Committee tasked to select beneficial students, appealed to the NGO and Assembly to assist it with transport for their assignment.