Professor Yankah Bemoans Poor Educational Standard In Agona East District

Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State In-Charge of Tertiary Education has bemoaned abysmal performance of students in the various basic and Senior High schools in the Agona East District of the Central Region.

It beats my imagination why students in the Agona East District have been performing poorly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West Africa Secondary School Examination (WASSE) over the years.

This situation tarnishes the image of the district which started first National Public school in the country as far back as 1939 by Nana Kojo Amoakwa I, then Chief of Agona Duakwa. It’s therefore, behooves on all of us to put in strategic measures to remedy the situation”

Professor Kwesi Yankah made these known at a Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Education held at Agona Swedru in the Agona West Municipality on Wednesday.

According to him, there ought to be prudent measures to address what has become a social canker in the vicinity.

” I have observed with concern abysmal performance of students in the various basic schools as well as the Senior High Schools and it’s an apology to education.

The Agona East District is gradually becoming problematic when it comes to educational performance.

I, therefore, commend organizers of this meeting for bringing stakeholders together to discuss the way forward. Àgona East has produced several intellectuals most of whom are heads of public institutions across the country ”

Comparing the recent BECE and WASSE results to other neighboring districts, Professor Yankah could not understand why academic standard in Agona East has been falling over the years.

” As things stand now, Let me make a passionate appeal to all academicians who are natives of Agona, especially those from Agona East to pull resources together for the district to regain it lost glory in terms of education.

We have become role models and ought to ensure that this generation steps in our shoes when we are no more.

Education is declining in the Central Region, but Agona East is worsening and an action plan ought to be put in place and see it full implementation.

Parents, Chiefs, religious and Opinion Leaders all have a role to play in this direction ”

He expressed the hope that the stakeholders’ meeting would get the needed results. Professor Yankah, therefore, tasked the committee to prepare an action plan as a means of tackling the problems.

In her welcome address, the Agona West Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan said the Assembly would be in Constance collaboration with the District Directorate of Education to ensure educational development.

She noted that infrastructure has improved in various schools with a conducive environment created for effective teaching and learning.

” This stakeholder meeting is timely and would complement programs and activities of the Assembly for better results in the educational sector.

Let us encourage our children to understand the essence of attaining a height on the educational ladder thus reducing poverty in the municipality. Illiteracy goes with poverty and economic hardships

As parents and stakeholders, we must let the children take advantage of the Free SHS to reach the highest level in education.

I also urge teachers not to rest on their oars but to strive hard in their assigned duties aimed at improving educational standards in the Municipality.

I commend Nananom for giving us their representative for education subcommittee of the Assembly to supervise activities of teachers and students in the various schools ”

Hon. Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan cautioned students against truancy but to concentrate on their students.

The Agona West Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Elizabeth Helen Essel disclosed that rampant cases of truancy and absenteeism amongst registered BECE candidates had been the source of worry to the Municipal Directorate leading to abysmal performance of the students.

” Apart from the aforementioned, several early pregnancies and school dropouts are also on ascendancy. It has been heartbreaking seeing many of pupils and students roaming the street busily engaging in activities which could break their future.

These has affected academic standard of education in the municipality.

We should all be concern about the current trend thus this stakeholders meeting to address the situation ”

The Municipal Director hinted that a 7-Member committee had been formed to look into the factors identified and to come out with modalities that will help improve quality education to salvage further decline in examination results at all levels.

” After series of meetings, the committee has finally come out with a booklet which could remedy the situation.

These include factors that militate academic performance and how to deal with the militating factors among other things.

We are here today to outdoor the booklet and discuss the way forward ”

Madam Elizabeth Helen Essel appeal to stakeholders, NGO, Philanthropist, Civil Society groups and individuals to support implement recommendations in the said booklet.

The Agona East District Chief Executive, Hon. Dennis Armah Frempong called on students to emulate role models like Professor Kwesi Botchwey, the Ahwoi brothers and sisters, Professor Kwesi Yankah and his brothers, Dr. Abrokwa, Professor George Kwaku Toku Oduro current Pro Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast and others who are natives of Agona East to better their lot.

He encouraged the youth to seek knowledge in education rather than dreaming about quick money which could ruin their lives.

Nana Kobina Asiedu Botwe II, Chief of Agona Swedru commended the Assembly and the Ghana Education Service for coming out with footprint that would reduce fallen standard of education in the vicinity.

The Pro Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Professor George Kwaku Toku Oduro pledged his support towards the full implementation of recommendations made by the committee for Agonaman to gain its image when it comes to educational standard.
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Source : Benedict Kweku Nkrumah