Less than 25% of youth reach proficiency in P6 English

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - Less than 25 per cent of Ghana's youth reach proficiency levels for P6 English and attain 10 per cent proficiency in P6 mathematics, Mr Akwasi Addae-Boahene, Country Director, World University Service of Canada, said on Wednesday.

This was the test result of the 2006/2007 national assessment preliminary education after the 2008 preliminary education sector performance was conducted, Mr Addae-Boahene said.

He was speaking at the 2008 World University Service of Canada international workshop under the theme, "The quality of Education, the Achievement of Universal Primary Education."

The six-week programme is aimed at enhancing skills necessary to contribute to a more equitable world and foster human development and global understanding through education and training.

The seminar is based on a research carried out on the theme in four districts, namely, Yendi, West Mamprusi, both in the Northern Region, Gomoa East and Gomoa West in the Central Region.

Mr Addae-Boahene said the report indicated that the regional results for the 2005 test indicate that Greater Accra area was the highest performing region in both subjects at both the P3 and P6 levels, adding that Greater Accra had the highest overall mean score and the highest percentage of pupils reaching minimum-competency and proficiency levels.

He said the report revealed that in both English and Mathematics for P3 and P6, the three northern regions generally had the lowest scores particularly the Northern Region.

He expressed the hope that the workshop would provide some insights into some of the challenges facing basic schools in providing quality education to Ghanaian children.

Mr Addae-Boahene said the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, Ghana Education Service and all education stakeholders would need to work together to achieve the highest level of literacy.

He said WUSC had supported development programmes in over 50 countries throughout the world in the past three decades, adding that as one of Canada's most dynamic not-for profit organizations, WESC supported development education and innovative international programmes on Canadian post-secondary campuses.

He noted that in doing this equitable development based on the principles of participation, sustainability, transparency and accountability would be promoted.