By Boakye Baafi
Goaso (A/R) July 24, GNA – The Most Reverend Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Catholic Bishop of the Goaso Diocese in the Ahafo Region, has urged parents and heads of basic schools to desist from registering unqualified pupils to write the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
He said such act on the part of parents and school heads, was not helping the pupils since it would have a long-term effect on their future progression in education.
Most Rev Peter Atuahene was speaking at the graduation ceremony for the 2024 Junior High School graduates of the Mother Ignacia School at Goaso.
He said it was becoming the order of the day that some parents were not allowing their wards to complete the full eleven-year cycle of basic education before registering them for the first external examination.
Some of the parents register their wards and force them to write the BECE when they reach either basic seven or eight.
He pointed out that, such acts would not only affect their future learning but also the thinking and reasoning levels and that could go a long way to hinder the creativity and innovation skills of the children.
Most Rev. Atuahene added that such behaviour by parents and school heads might also create learning gaps in the life of those learners.
“The sad aspect is that it is the private schools which suffer from this situation. The private schools will put in much effort to give those children strong foundation and mid-way, their parents will withdraw them and register them in public schools to write the BECE, while they will be at either basic seven or eight,” the bishop lamented.
He said some teachers in the public basic schools had become contractors for that exercise while some school heads deliberately did that to presume that their pupils performed better in the BECE, which could not be the case.
He entreated the Ghana Education Service to come out clear with a policy on that situation to help both parents and basic school authorities and even the pupils.
Mr. Boakye-Baafi Williams, Ahafo Regional Manager of Catholic Schools, appealed to parents whose children had completed the BECE, to keep close eye on their wards to help prevent them from going astray while they were in the house.
He urged parents to let the graduands learn some 21st century soft skills while waiting for their results since such skill training would help them in their future life.
He also advised the parents to show keen interest in the school selection process when it commenced.
Mr. Boakye-Baafi also advised the graduands to desist from social vices and prepare themselves for their next journey of education.
Sister Ma Krecentia Maxima Erlin, RVM, Assistant Headmistress of Mother Ignacia School, commended the graduands for their hard work and perseverance during their studies in the school.
She acknowledged the parents and guardians also for their support and dedication towards the education of their wards and encouraged them to continue with that.
Miss Boakye Nana Yaa Adom won the overall best pupils award.
GNA