Eleven Students honoured for excellent performance in 2018 BECE
Eleven students in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region who distinguished themselves in the 2018 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been presented with educational support packages to help them pursue their senior high school education.
Under the package, with an estimated value of GH¢41,000, each of the beneficiaries had a full set of items on the prospectus for senior high school programme in addition to GH¢300 cash as pocket money.
The beneficiaries, nine from public schools and two from private schools, have already gained admission into senior high schools.
A former Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Mr Paul Asare Ansah, who hails from the area, made a promise to sponsor 2018 BECE candidates who scored between aggregates six and 10 in the district.
Confidence boosting
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview during the presentation of the package to the students, Mr Ansah said he collaborated with the Asuogyaman District Education Directorate to organise free vacation classes for the 2018 BECE students in the Asuogyaman District to prepare them for the examination and to boost their confidence.
He said in addition to the organisation of the special vacation classes for the students, mathematical sets, pens and pencils were presented to each of the candidates and it was during that period that he promised to supply all the items on the prospectus of any student who scored between aggregate six and 10.
He explained that the gesture was to motivate the students, adding that he was looking forward to sponsoring not less than 20 students.
Mr Ansah, who is seeking the mandate of the people of Asuogyaman to go to Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the next parliamentary elections said, when given the mandate to serve as the MP for the area, he would, with the support from funds from his share of the Common Fund, do more for the youth of the district.
Performance
The District Director of Education, Mrs Mavis Oparebea Yirenkye said in 2016, only four candidates scored between aggregate six to 10, while in 2017, the figure reduced to two.
She urged the beneficiaries to serve as worthy ambassadors by studying hard to give an impetus to others to invest in education in the district.
Education is key
The District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, Mr Samuel Kwame Agyekum, lauded Mr Ansah for his support, pointing out that although the government had introduced the free SHS programme, some parents in the district were unable to provide for their children to go to school.
A parent of one of the beneficiaries, Madam Mansa Siantey commended Mr Ansah for the gesture. She stressed that though her community was a rural one without access to electricity, her daughter, Ruth Siantey was inspired by the promise of the benefactor and went the extra mile to study hard and scored aggregate seven.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh