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Students can now re-write BECE exams to improve grades
Denu (V/R), March 9, Ghanadot/GNA - Basic school students
who want to improve their BECE examination grades now have
the opportunity to do so, Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister
of Education Youth and Sports, announced at the weekend.
He said government had directed the Ghana Education Service
(GES) to begin the process in creating such opportunity.
Speaking at the celebrations marking the 50th year
anniversary of Saint Paul's Senior High School (SPACO) at
Denu, he said the decision followed the brilliant
performance of a number of students with poor grades who
entered senior secondary schools thought to be low grade
schools.
"Based on such revelations, we have directed the GES to
create the opportunity for BECE students who want to better
their grades to re-sit the examination," Professor Fobih
said.
The theme for the celebration was: "Fifty years of Church
Community Relationship in Boy's Education: Challenges and
Prospects".
Touching on the celebrations, he said 50 years of existence
was no mean achievement and that the anniversary presented
the school with a unique opportunity for stocktaking and
assessment of the future challenges.
He said though things had not been rosy, the academic and
disciplinary records of the school were worthy of emulation,
saying, the Ministry of Education and the GES shared in the
school's pride of achievements.
The Minister commended the staff and students for the
successes they had achieved, reminding them that education
meant more than merely imparting knowledge and skill to the
individual.
"It also includes character building and inculcating in the
individual certain moral value, which would go to develop a
total personality of a person who cannot be misdirected or
swayed by others without regard to his own conviction," the
Minister said.
Professor Fobih paid tribute to the pioneering role of the
Catholic Church in the foresight for establishing the school
in 1958 and in particular the unique roles of Bishop Konings,
Reverend Father Steemers and Kafre as well as the pioneer
Headmaster, Father J. Caffrey in whose memory the school's
new motto "Conquer Evil by Doing Good" was adopted.
He also praised the new generation of headmasters, staff,
past and present, students and the Chief of Hatsukope in the
Aflao Traditional Area, Togbe Pasaku III, for generously
donating land to the school.
Professor Fobih noted that the Roman Catholic Church
continued to play an important role in education in the
country with its schools consistently turning out many
brilliant students annually.
"Seventy-Five percent of recipients of the President's
awards this year were students from Catholic Schools, a
record which remain the same over the years," he said.
Professor Fobih advised the students to avoid all negative
practices and unprofitable pastimes that could distract them
from their books.
He said the new education reform programme was meant to give
students self-confidence, sense of identity and empowerment
to face the realities in life in addition to enabling
communities to participate in the infrastructure
distribution for the increasing number of school going
pupils.
Professor Fobih called on all stakeholders to join in the
programme since government alone could not do it.
He said the improvement in working conditions of workers in
the education sector was also key, to advance the programme
and on behalf of government announced the building of an
18-room classroom block to begin this year. He pledged a bus
to the school in addition to a cash donation of GH¢50,000.
Mrs Olivia Sosu, Volta Regional Director of the GES, urged
the school's administration to keep all channels of
communication open between the staff and students.
Mr Kwame Adzamli, Headmaster said the school, which has a
population of 1,200 needed additional classrooms, boarding
and facilities and a library.
He said the buildings available now also needed urgent
renovations.
Mr Adzamli said the school's academic record remained on
track, chalking 100 percent last year and attributed
performance to hard work of students and staff.
Master Richard Ahiable, School Prefect commended students
and guardians for their support of staff in ensuring
discipline in the school.
A sod was cut for a GH¢300,000 library to be sponsored by
the Old Students Association. A guesthouse and a bus
provided by the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
were also inaugurated.
GNA
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