Kumasi, Feb 9, GNA- Kumasi Buokrom basic school 'B' teachers have identified truancy, laziness, absenteeism and indiscipline of pupils as the major factors that contributed greatly to the school's unsatisfactory performance in last year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
They also attributed some of the causes to parents who engaged their wards in excessive domestic and household chores till deep in the night, discouraging them from studying at homes.
These were some of the observations at a School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) held at Buokrom in Kumasi on Friday to review and improve the academic performance of pupils in the area. Out of the 147 public Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the Kumasi Metropolis, Buokrom Basic School 'B' placed 79 in last year's BECE as against 31st position in 2002.
The teachers contended that most of the pupils engaged in gambling, patronised video centres till deep in the night and as a result could not concentrate adequately during normal class hours.
Mr Samuel Boakye Agyemang, Headteacher of the school, however, urged the parents to co-operate and support the school authorities and the teachers to enable them to improve upon last year's BECE results. Mr J.K. Adiyiaa, the Dichemso Circuit Supervisor, who led discussions at the meeting, advised parents not only to supervise their children's movements and studies at home but also provide their school basic needs.
Mr Edward Kwaku Antwi, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman, who presided, advised parents to instil moral values and discipline in their children and also encourage and support them to study hard at home.
The PTA later presented cash and other awards to teachers whose pupils performed well in the BECE.
Meanwhile, the association has expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) for promptly responding to its appeal to remove the refuse dump, which had pile up on the school premises and was posing a threat to the school and its environs. 9 Feb 04
