A General Assembly meeting of the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly in Eastern Region held on Monday was marked by heated exchanges following concerns over the poor performance of candidates in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Out of more than 2,000 candidates presented by both public and private basic schools across the municipality, only one candidate from a public school attained Grade Six, the highest grade recorded in the municipality.
Raising the issue, the Assembly Member for Ada Electoral Area, Freeman Kojo Gadri, expressed deep concern about the results, questioning why a municipality that serves as a regional capital could record such low top-grade performance.
In response, the Municipal Director of Education, Mustapha Haruna Appiah, defended the outcome, explaining that under the new Standards-Based Curriculum, grades alone are no longer the most critical measure of success.
According to him, emphasis is now placed on candidates’ raw scores and placement into Senior High Schools.
He disclosed that about 95 per cent of candidates who sat the 2024 BECE in the municipality passed and were successfully placed in Senior High Schools.
“Yes, only one candidate from a public school had grade six but we presented 2,122 and out of 2,122, 95% of them were able to go to secondary school. The issue is nationwide because of the introduction of standard based system. With that, it is th raw score of candidates that are used to assess their performance not that grades” The Education Director explained.
However, this explanation was strongly rejected by several Assembly Members, who described the justification as an endorsement of mediocrity.
They insisted that the Director must acknowledge the poor performance and propose practical interventions to improve educational standards in the municipality.
The Presiding Member of the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, Nana Yaw Debrah, stressed that as the “eye of the region,” the municipality must uphold high standards in all sectors, particularly education. He urged the Municipal Education Directorate to present concrete and actionable proposals to the Assembly aimed at improving future BECE outcomes.
Adding his voice to the debate, the Municipal Chief Executive, Ransford Owusu Boakye, stated that regardless of the explanations offered, the results had exposed weaknesses within the education system that must be identified and addressed.
“Tell us what made it not go well. I can just accept it.Unless you want to tell me that this was what you, as director of GES was expecting.But actually, we were not expecting that. So let’s accept it and then move on with solutions”. The MCE said.
He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of education in the municipality and pledged the Assembly’s support toward implementing measures to enhance academic performance.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
