Frequent use of social media is a factor in poor academic performance - Educationist

Mr Kyeremeh Williwise, Proprietor of the Wise Educational Complex, a private based school at Penkwase, has said the frequent use of social media by the youth is a factor leading to poor examination results.

He said there is the need for stakeholders, parents, student and teachers to deliberate on the impact of social media and come out with possible solutions that could rectify the situation.

Mr Williwise said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the school’s 2018 annual career ceremony held at Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani.

He said the current report by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) shows that students performed poorly in English, Mathematics and Science and this does not augur well for the national development and this calls for immediate steps to reverse the trend.

Mr Williwise said education is an investment for children who are the country’s future leaders and parents need to supervise and control the use of social media applications and the internet usage by their children.

He said parents must have enough time for their children, visit the school of the child regularly to know his conduct and performances.

Mr Williwise urged teachers not to use social media English to teach in the classroom since the standard of English required by the examiners are different from that used in the social media context.

He also reminded teachers on the need to prepare extensively before entering the classroom and entreated headmasters to supervise teachers on the welfare of their children.