Tebah Educational initiative cautioned BECE Invigilators to be courteous

The Tebah Educational Initiative (TEI) on Monday appealed to the Invigilators at the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) not to intimidate the pupils at the examination halls.

Ms Viola Tebah, the Executive Director of TEI told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that, sometimes students and pupils failed examinations due to the posture of Invigilators who through covert means intimidate and create a hostile atmosphere at the examination centres.

“Such hostile environmental created mainly by Invigilators and sometimes, Security Officers, as well as Officials, psychologically affects the students and pupils’ sense of concentration and recollection.

“We must see the students and pupils as our children who must be nurtured and directed through friendly means; Invigilators and Security Officers are there to play a vital key role in upholding the integrity of the examination process.

Ms Tebah said in general process of maintaining discipline and good order during Examinations, “TEI appeals to all Invigilators to exercise restraint as the future of the students and pupils hinges largely on the examination”.

She also appealed to the students and pupils to adhere to basic rules and regulations governing the writing of examination, “do not take any foreign material into the examination hall, avoid coping or assisting someone, and desist from examination malpractices”.

A total of 509,824 candidates from 16,060 basic schools are writing the BECE at 1,772 examination centres across the country from Monday, June 4, to June 8, 2018.

The statistics indicate that 263,295 boys and the 246,529 girls, representing an increase of 8.9 per cent over the 2017 figure of 468,060.

Meanwhile, the TEI is set to launch an Innovative Students’ Empowerment Programme (ISEP), which seeks to enhance the interface for stakeholders to understand their critical role towards offering a holistic education.

Ms Tebah explained that the programme would offer students and pupils the opportunity to build and link theoretical studies to the business world.

“Students must be exposed to the business environment at the very early stage, there must be pragmatic relationship between the academia and enterprises, enhanced connection among stakeholders, as well as the creation of enabling environment for fresh graduates to venture into setting up businesses.

“We also need to boost the confidence of students through constant and consistent engagement with accomplished personalities from across the professional field…we must narrow the gap between the student world and professional world,” she said.

Ms Tebah said the TEI would launch the Innovative Students’ Empowerment Programme on Saturday, June 30, at Akroma Plaza Hotel as part of the first Annual Fundraising Gala and Fifth Anniversary celebration.

The 2018 TEI Fundraising Gala is on the theme; “A Night of Excellence - Celebrating the success of mentees.”

Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the former Minister of Education, among other personalities, would be honoured at the Fundraising, which would be an event of drama, dance, good music, motivational speeches, performances and dinner.

Ms Tebah said TEI, through the ISEP, would promote educational awareness for students by helping them understand the benefits of education and to strive for excellence.

“We believe that Education has an immense potential to change and save lives. We need to encourage students to become exceptional in society by promoting individual growth through academic achievement.

“ISEP also seeks to create a platform to harness students’ skills and talents despite challenges such as peer pressure, bullying, teenage pregnancy, juvenile history, and self–esteem problems.

“Our goal is to put them on a path to leadership. Use creative methods to encourage disadvantaged students to excel by offering mentorship, summer camps and after school activities,” she said.

Ms Tebah represented the Northern Region in the 2013 Miss Ghana USA pageant, and since then had served as a role model to young children and supporting deprived schools in Ghana, through the Tebah Educational Initiative.

“After the Miss Ghana USA Pageant, I was not crowned but I still have the spirit within my heart to give back to my community, contribute to my nation Ghana and help students in Africa and the world,” Ms Tebah said.