Madam Philippa Banson, Nkoranza South District Director of Education, has appealed to the local District Assembly to support the directorate to conduct a mock examination to adequately prepare local candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
She said the exercise would introduce the Junior High School finalists to guidelines of the examination and familiarize with test instruments of the various subjects.
Madam Banson made the appeal at the weekend when she briefed members of the District Education Oversight Committee on the state of education in the district at their end-of-year meeting at Nkoranza.
She expressed regret about how three Junior High Schools in the district scored zero per cent in last year’s BECE and said the mock examination would help allay the fears and anxiety of some of the students.
The district director named the schools as Akuma Seventh-Day Adventist, Abuontam District Assembly and Kyeradeso District Assembly.
Madam Banson disclosed that the directorate had organised a team of examination officers responsible for the conduct of the BECE in the district who would make the necessary arrangements for the successful conduct of the mock examination.
She said officers at the directorate would visit schools to put teachers on track to perform for improved academic standards.
School Management Committees and executives of Parent-Teacher Associations in the district have identified attendance of the youth at video shows, concerts, dances and their quest for ‘quick money’ as major challenges facing education delivery in the district, she added.
Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, said the Assembly would meet to initiate the necessary measures to address challenges facing the directorate.
He called on circuit supervisors to intensify efforts and support teachers in the discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, the District Education Oversight Committee is to hold community durbars to educate parents on their roles and responsibilities regarding their children’s education.