The Yilo Krobo Municipal Directorate of Education has called for support to address the myriad of challenges facing education in the municipality.
According to the directorate, some schools are recording an overall score of zero percent in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), a situation it said should be of uttermost concern to all stakeholders.
The major challenge confronting education, the directorate indicated, is that the majority of school-going children are working as labourers at quarry sites and on farms, while some are into commercial motorbike riding.
Director of Education – Ghana Education Service (GES), Yilo Krobo Municipal, Rev. Peter Attah Bilson, said: “Let me emphasise that from our surveys, many of the pupils in class three could not read to qualify them for upper primary education. It was also discovered that girls are doing better than boys in most cases in their academic performance”.
He informed the stakeholders, including traditional leaders and parents, of their vital role in holistic education apart from the government. He also added that for schools to meet their strategic goals and objectives, other stakeholders have to contribute their experience, substance, and perspectives toward improving learning.
The directorate made this appeal at an educational forum held in collaboration with traditional authorities and the municipal assembly.
The directorate used the opportunity to review the general status of schools in Yilo Municipality to identify the gaps between the current status and the expected outcome. The outcomes of current educational programmes were compared to the learning outcomes projected by the government.
The forum, which was held under the theme ‘School Status Accountability and Performance Review (SSAPR)’, also deliberated on the key functions stakeholders can play to incorporate good practices that can help to improve the teaching and learning outcomes of the children.
Chief Executive (MCE) of Yilo Krobo Municipality, Eric Tetteh, was saddened by the outcome of the performance of the basic schools in the municipality in the just-ended Basic Education Certificate Examination BECE, especially the revelation that three schools scored zero percent in the exams.
He announced that three schools within the municipality would benefit from new projects this year while two other schools would see a facelift, with sponsorship from the Education Ministry.
Amid the grief and disappointment of parents and the traditional council, they shared concern and commitment to contribute their quota to the improvement of educational outcomes in communities. The traditional authorities also pledged to assist with land for educational infrastructure if need be.
Education
The government’s strategic overview of Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly 2021, indicated that Yilo Krobo Municipality has 82 Kindergarten/nursery schools, 84 Primary schools, 49 Junior High Schools (JHS), two public Senior High School (SHS), one private Senior High Technical School and one College of Education. Out of the total number of schools in the municipality, 69.6 percent, are said to be in good condition.
This figure, though encouraging, has seriously constrained effective teaching and learning in some schools.
The kindergarten and primary levels only had 53.7 percent of their facilities in good standing, the lowest among them. Classroom, furniture, textbooks, and other learning materials continue to be a challenge. A systematic rehabilitation strategy will not only save property, but will also enhance teaching and learning in the affected schools.
