MOE and WAEC to meet on re-sit of BECE failures

Kona (Ash), Aug 14, GNA- Mr Joe Donkor, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, has stated that the Ministry of Education (MOE) in conjunction with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) would meet on possible re-sit of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) failures.

Presently the system does not allow re-sit in BECE as pertains at other levels of education.

He observed that the issue has been one of the greatest hindrances and development to basic education in the country.

Mr Donkor said this in a speech read on his behalf at an Academic Day of Excellence ceremony organised at Kona on Thursday by Accra branch of Kona 'Kroye Kuo', a benevolent society in the Afigya-Sekyere district of Ashanti for primary and JSS students in the area.

The Deputy Minister, however, said the MOE would continue to make quality education accessible and affordable, adding that, the provision of educational structures for schools would continue until every school was adequately served.

He advised the children to concentrate on their studies bearing in mind the dangers of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and the HIV/AIDS. Mr Kofi Amoako Mensah, Afigya-Sekyere District Deputy Director of Education, said what the society had done was very encouraging and must be emulated by other groups and individuals to promote education in the area. He was happy that there was peace and cordial relations between teachers and parents in the town and stressed that it must be sustained to enhance effective teaching and learning.

Mr Ben Abankwa, the District Chief Executive, in a speech read on his behalf, said the District Assembly would continue to support communities that initiate self-help projects.

He said the government alone could not shoulder all commitments and that organisations that come out with programmes like what the Society had done must be commended.

Mr Abankwa told the people that there was the need for them to embrace the government's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to have easy access to quality health facilities when they fall sick. Mr Adu Gyamfi, chairman of the Accra branch of the Society, said the purpose of the Day was to encourage the children to study hard and parents to support the education of their children.

He said the society raised five million cedis from members to purchase books, wall clocks, and radio sets for award winners. Major Ababio Serebour of the Armed forces Pay Office, Burma Camp, who presided, urged the schools to embark on income generating projects to make them self-sufficient.

About 50 students from the various primary and the JSS in the town who exhibited high academic performance received book prizes and certificates while teachers who showed punctuality to work, had wall clocks, radio sets and certificates.