The Minority in Parliament is concerned about the reporting date for first year students entering into the various second cycle institutions across the country.
Weeks ago, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) released results for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Consequently, the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, 26th November, released placement of some of the successful candidates and followed that with a directive that these students should report to school on Monday, 4th December, 2023.
This directive, according to the Minority in Parliament is impromptu and creates numerous constraints for both the students and their parents.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Ranking Member on Education and Member of Parliament for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe cautioned the Education Ministry against the move and urged the to reconsider the decision.
“Mr. Speaker, parents are yet to get the required materials and items that they need to buy for their wards. Also, there are a lot of placement that need to be remedied because of the fact that some of the candidates have been placed on schools outside the region they reside,” he argued.
The Akatsi North MP also stated that the decision would only exacerbate the concerns raised by teacher unions on the need for the Ghana Education Service to grant them enough time to rest and the end of the year.
Since the introduction of the Free Senior High School and the consequential Double Track System in 2018, both teaching and non-teaching staff in Senior High schools across the country have complained about the lack of time to rest.
This, the Akatsi North lawmaker argues that “this is seriously affecting their health. It is therefore necessary to allow them some rest during this break to the end of the year.”
With Christmas around the corner, the students are expected to spend only two weeks in school before returning home for the Christmas break.
The Minority believes it is not appropriate to expose the students to the high risk and dangers of traveling during the festive season.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu
