Ashanti among the lowest performing regions in English

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 May ?99

A recent study conducted by the Ministry of Education into the performance of public basic school pupils in the use of the English language revealed that Ashanti Region ranks among the lowest-performing regions.

Nana Akwasi Agyeman, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive who disclosed this, said the study showed that Ashanti Region has a low average performance in English language examinations.

Nana Agyeman said the Criteria Reference Test (CRT) in Mathematics and English Language for primary six pupils also showed that Ashanti Region's performance was nothing to write home about.

"We are yet to see the region's performance in the last baseline test in literacy and numeracy for primary schools."

Nana Agyeman told a forum on education organised jointly by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Metropolitan Education Directorate for stakeholders drawn from Subin and Asokwa Sub-Metropolitan areas in Kumasi on Tuesday, that the assembly may do their part to provide the needed inputs.

However, if parents, teachers and pupils failed to play their part, the children's performance would continue to decline.

Nana Agyeman, who personally donated two million cedis to support the development of education in the two areas, said the assembly has started constructing new schools and rehabilitating old ones and warned estate developers to stop encroaching on school lands.

Mr Joe D. Issachar, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, said illiteracy and ignorance are drawbacks to national advancement. The region can boast of natural, human and material resources, and these can only be fully exploited through effective planning and education, he indicated.

Under the theme: "Improving Quality Education in the Metropolis - The Role of Stakeholders", the forum, a brainchild of the Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, was initiated by the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council.