Minister bemoans the region's poor performance in WASSCE

Wa, Oct. 12, GNA - Alhaji Issahaku Salia, the Upper West Regional Minister, has expressed concern about the abysmal performance of students in second cycle institutions in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for the past three years. "It is regrettable to note that out of 17 second cycle institutions in the region that sat for the most recent WASSCE, only four schools crossed the 50% mark," he said.

Alhaji Salia was speaking on Monday in Wa during the official opening of a three-day workshop organised for English Language teachers in the second cycle institutions in the region. Organised by the Upper West Regional Education Directorate, the workshop was aimed at improving the recent poor performance in the English Language during WASSCE.

Alhaji Salia said the provision of education infrastructure and logistics to bring about quality education was a major priority for the government.

He said government had supplied 1,570,827 exercise books, 18,000 pre-cut and 14, 834 already sewn school uniforms for deprived children in the region.

The government has also constructed 54 classroom blocks to replace under tree schools and provided 50,000 dual and mono desks for basic schools in the region.

The government is also constructing classroom blocks and dormitories and had also ensured the supply of 10,000 bunk beds to institutions. Mr. Fabian Belieb, Upper West Regional Education Director, expressed worry that last year no student from the region scored 'A1' in English Language and called on English teachers to use the workshop to upgrade their knowledge and teaching skills to their performance. He called on school governing bodies in the region to step up their performance by linking their schools to resources and come out with a direction to achieve academic excellence.