Ato Arthur cries over poor BECE results in Central Region

Abakrampa (C/R), Sept 16, GNA - Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, has expressed concern about poor results of some public schools in the region in the 2007 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He said for example the best aggregate for the Abakrampa Methodist Junior High Secondary School was 23.

Nana Ato Arthur said this at a durbar of chiefs and the people of Abakrampa Traditional Area to climax their Annual Abura State Tutuapong Festival on Saturday.

The people celebrate the festival annually in remembrance of migration by their ancestors from Takyiman some years ago. He expressed regret that some children, instead of learning, spent time dancing at funeral grounds.

The Regional Minister appealed to chiefs, assembly members and opinion leaders to put in place measures to reverse the trend. He said the contractor working on the town's clinic has been asked to stop work for delaying the project and directed Abura Asebu Kwamankese District Assembly see to its early completion. He said the second phase of the road from Asuansi to Abu would be tarred this year.

Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, former Minister of Defence and one of New Patriotic Party presidential aspirants who chaired the function, pledged to help reverse the falling standards of education in the town. He appealed to the chiefs to institute an educational fund to assist students and motivate teachers to give off their best to improve the performance of school children.

Dr Addo Kufuor said plans are far advanced to construct Olympic stadium at Cape Coast to boost sporting activities in the Central Region.

Nana Otu X, Omanhene of Abura, appealed to the government to upgrade the Asuansi Technical Institute to tertiary level. He appealed to the government to help find ready market for large quantities of citrus and lime produced in the area that get rotten on the farms due lack of market.