By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), April 22, GNA – Some Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Upper West Region have been grappling with low performances in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) over the years, raising concerns from educational sector stakeholders.
To help address the situation, the Rotary Club of Wa, in partnership with Keillo Community Education Economic Development (KCEED), initiated a project to enhance the performance of eight SHSs in the region to benefit about 2,500 students.
The USD51,600.00-worth two-year project, “Supplemental Education Intervention (SEI)”, is expected to double beneficiary schools’ performance through multiple interventions.
It is funded by the Rotary Foundation with support from Johnson City Afternoon Rotary Club in the USA and individuals through Dr. Hadii Mamudu of the Johnson City Afternoon Rotary Club.
The beneficiary schools included the Kanton and Tumu SHSs in the Sissala East Municipality, Hilla Limann and Funsi SHSs in the Sissala West and Wa East Districts, respectively.
The rest are Lambussie Community, Holy Family and Piina SHSs in the Lambussie District and Dafiama SHS in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District.
The project implementing partners conducted an assessment in those schools, which showed that their current performance in WASSCE was about six per cent (6%).
In collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), the project would organise a one-week learners’ facilitation workshop for teachers in those schools and provide the schools with the right teaching and learning materials.
The teachers in those schools would also receive mentorship for four months in preparing the students for the WASSCE.
Speaking at the project launch in Wa, Dr. Zakarea Al-Hassan Balure, the President of the Rotary Club of Wa, indicated that the project was necessitated by low performance in those schools, which denied many students access to tertiary education.
He added that the team would work with relevant stakeholders at all levels to reverse the trend.
“We realised that there are some schools where the students find it difficult to proceed to any tertiary school.
We know that enhancing the capacity of the teachers by giving them access to more knowledge … we can change the dynamics”, Dr. Balure explained.
Ms. Rita Basaaking, the Executive Secretary of KCEED, believed that by investing in education, they were investing in a brighter future for individuals, families, and communities.
She said, together, they could address the longstanding educational gaps in those communities and ensure that no student was left behind, irrespective of their location.
Mr David Bawa, the National Coordinator of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at GES, expressed hope that the project would inspire many people to contribute to the growth and success of education in Ghana.
He expressed hope that the ripple effects of the project would go beyond the targeted schools, touching families, communities, and future generations.
He assured the project team of his Unit’s support to ensure its successful implementation and sustainability.
Rotarians leveraged their passion, energy, resources, and intelligence to impact lives from basic education and literacy to promoting peace, and access to water and health among others.
The SEI project formed part of the interventions of the Rotary Club of Wa and its partners to impact lives on its 2024/2025 Rotary year on the theme, “The Magic of Rotary”.
GNA
CAE/CA