Public Relations Officer for Ghana Education Service (GES), Daniel Fenyi, says students who obtain grade 9 in Mathematics or English Language or both consequently fail to qualify for Senior High School placement should remain at the basic level, receive the necessary support and retake the examination the following year.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, the GES Public Relations Officer, Daniel Fenyi, explained that students who do not meet the required standard should be given the opportunity to improve their performance rather than being pushed to the next level without the foundational skills needed to cope.
“Students who fail to meet the required standard should be allowed to continue schooling at the basic level rather than progress to the next stage without the necessary foundational skills”. he said
According to the GES PRO, progressing such students to Senior High School despite failing to attain the expected basic literacy and numeracy skills could leave them struggling academically.
He explained that, just as a student who repeats class five remains in that class to strengthen their understanding, students who obtain grade 9 should similarly be given time to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills before progressing to Senior High School.
Mr Fenyi said the students would not be abandoned but would instead be supported to improve and given another opportunity to sit the examination.
“The message is that you repeat the class, you repeat the JHS. You will learn, we will strategize, we will advise you, and then we take the exams next year,” he said.
He further warned that placing students who lack the required foundational skills in Senior High School could expose them to greater academic difficulties.
“If we push you to senior high school, you are simply going to struggle a lot at senior high school, he said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayeson
