Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), John K. Kapi, has refuted allegations that WAEC manipulates examination results for political purposes.
According to him, his outfit ensures fairness and upholds strict standards in their marking schemes.
“It’s untrue that we alter results to favour any government. No one should claim our exams are politically influenced. What candidates deserve is exactly what they receive,” Mr. Kapi stressed.
He made this known in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem on Thursday, while addressing concerns about undue influence and compromised WAEC officials.
In Mr. Kapi’s view, there is no intention to please any government by adjusting the marking scheme.
“Such claims are baseless. No one within our organization would compromise our standards. We meticulously review and agree on marking schemes during coordination meetings to ensure consistency,” he explained.
The WAEC official said examiners are instructed to adhere strictly to agreed-upon criteria and not to use discretion to favour any candidate.
“We stand by our rigorous processes to guarantee fair and impartial examination outcomes,” he added.
In a fierce contest that showcased some of the brightest young minds in the Ashanti region, Kumasi High School has for the second time won the LUV FM-PEPSODENT High School Debate.
This marks their return to the top, following their previous victory two years ago.
In a nail-biting faceoff with Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (OLAG), Kumasi High proved once again that they are among the most formidable competitors in interscholastic debates.
The riveting contest centered on the motion: “The rising cost of living cannot be blamed on the government”.
Debaters from both schools presented compelling arguments supported by extensive research. However, Kumasi High School had the eloquence and convincing delivery to sway the judges in their favor.
“We owe this victory to countless late nights spent brainstorming ideas, reviewing evidence, and refining our strategy. It took discipline, commitment, and resilience from everyone involved,” said Joshua Kwabena Afram, Supporting Speaker for Kumasi High School.
Baba Hudu Ibrahim, debate trainer of Kumasi High School, expressed immense pride in his institution’s accomplishment.
Reflecting on the journey leading up to their victory, Baba Hudu emphasized how participating in such tournaments provides valuable opportunities beyond merely acquiring communication skills.
“We are coming for our third trophy because these experiences shape our students into confident communicators and insightful analysts capable of engaging constructively in conversations pertinent to societal advancement,” he noted.
Meanwhile, St. Hubert Seminary SHS took the third-place position after an intense battle with Church of Christ SHS.
LUV FM General Manager, Jimmy Aglah, described the enthusiasm demonstrated by all competing schools as inspiring and promising for Ghana’s future.
As preparations commence for the 2025 edition, Kumasi High School will undoubtedly remain a force to reckon with, spurred on by their recent achievement.
Yet even as they celebrate, it remains certain that the stage is now set for another intriguing battle of wit in the coming year.
The high school debate had Pepsodent Cavity Fighter toothpaste as headline sponsor. Others include Jackson University College, Bigoo Cola, Fortune Spread for bread and Christian Service University.
Supporters for the debate are Cowbell Milk, Naky Publications, Ultimate Land Hub, Jamaa Soap, Flora Tissues, Super Lovek and Top Choco. Others are Best Brain Publications, New Generation Investment Services, DBS Industries, Otuasekan Rural Bank, Dunamis Plast Company, Seed Travel Consult, Tradewinds Chemist, The Rub Haven, Slim and Fit and Daksa Dental Clinic.
Source: Nana Boakye Yiadom
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has eulogized the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) for making giant strides towards curtailing examination malpractices in the country.
He pledged the Education Ministry’s preparedness to continue collaborating with WAEC and other stakeholders towards winning the fight against exam malpractice in the country.
Dr Adutwum announced this after visiting the Accra College of Education Demonstration School to monitor the ongoing BECE on Monday.
A total of 570,461 candidates are currently writing the exams in 2,123 centres across the country.
The exams would be used as the means of determining the qualification for the candidates’ selection of courses at Senior High as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions next academic year.
Innovations
The Education Minister said although the serialization of exam questions which started three years ago has been successful, they were now considering introducing e-testing which would lead to a computer selecting a set of questions for every student and this would prevent exam malpractices.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum inspecting ongoing exam
He wished all the candidates writing the exams well and prayed that they work very hard so they pass well so that they would be able to continue their education.
The Ayawaso West Municipal Director of Education, Madam Margaret Kaba, assured the Minister that everything possible would be done to ensure that the exams were conducted without any incident.
She hinted that a total of 1,345 candidates were writing the BECE in the Municipality of which 695 were boys and the remaining 650 were girls.
The NPP’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency, Mr. George Akom has donated Solar Lights to Junior High Schools without electricity in Sekyere to aid in their preparation towards their Basic School Certificate Examinations ( BECE).
Sekyere Afram Plains District, which is one of the under privileged districts in the Ashanti region lacks a lot of social amenities and developmental infrastructures. Electricity penetration is very low which after a lot of social – economic activities in the district.
As part of efforts to support education in the district, the Parliamentary Candidate has embarked on several educational interventions to improve teaching and learning in the district. Several trainings have been organized by him for pupils in the district to provide the best opportunities for them in the future. He has organized mocks, donated mathematical sets and organized inter – schools football games in the past for the schools in the district as his contribution to education.
As many of the JHS schools do not have electricity which affects night studies, Mr. George Akom went into the aid of the schools and donated Solar Lights which are supposed to help the BECE Candidates study in the night and revise their lessons. He also donated mathematical sets to the candidates to be used for their BECE Exams.
The communities that benefitted from such an innovation intervention could not hide their joy as they cheered the Parliamentary Candidate up for his benevolence.
They encouraged him to continue such projects which could lay solid foundation for the future of the district
In related development, Mr. George Akom also organized Career Guidance and Programme Selection session for all the BECE Candidates as a means to prepare them for their future career path
The program which saw presentations from career experts, guidance and counseling experts and high profile educationists put together parents and stakeholders to discuss academic and professional development of their children.
The Parliamentary Candidate also provided means of transportation to all schools what were to travel from their respective communities to the examination centre, Drobonso the district capital
Many have described Mr. George Akom as a leader whose vision transcends across all facets of human development and empowerment.
Mr. George Akom, who is a renowned educationist and information systems expert had contributed in diverse ways in the field of education and information technology.
He has been tipped to win the seat for NPP in the Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency come December 7, 2024.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has voiced his support for the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) bill aimed at codifying the Free SHS policy into law.
Speaking at a press engagement on Sunday the former President emphasized his commitment to improving education in Ghana and expressed openness to any legislative measure that enhances the sustainability and quality of education for Ghanaian children.
“I support any bill that will improve our education—to make it sustainable, to afford quality education for our children. So yes, any bill that would achieve this is something that I will support,” Mahama stated.
His endorsement comes amidst accusations from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who criticized the Minority’s stance on the bill, alleging lack of commitment.
Mahama highlighted the constitutional provisions for Free SHS as aspirational and emphasized the necessity of enacting a law to effectively regulate the policy.
While Mahama indicated he had not yet reviewed the specific details of the bill, he stressed the importance of stakeholder consultations in shaping education policies.
He expressed confidence that once approved by Cabinet, the bill would undergo thorough parliamentary scrutiny and stakeholder engagement.
Additionally, Mahama commended the integration of junior high school (JHS) and senior high school (SHS) as a fundamental advancement in Ghana’s education system.
In a heartwarming gesture, the Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund has donated math sets and pens to BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination) candidates in the Abenase and Gyewani communities. This thoughtful initiative aims to promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and support the educational journey of young girls in the region.
As the BECE candidates prepare for their exams, the fund’s donation has brought a sense of excitement and relief to the students and their families. The math sets and pens will serve as essential tools for the students to excel in their studies, fostering a strong foundation in mathematics and problem-solving skills.
The Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund’s commitment to promoting STEM education and empowering young girls is a testament to the organization’s dedication to shaping the future of the next generation. By investing in education, the fund is helping to build a brighter tomorrow for the communities of Abenase and Gyewani.
This generous act has ignited hope and inspiration among the students, encouraging them to strive for academic excellence and pursue their dreams with confidence. As the students embark on their educational journey, the Akyem Abenase Agona Adonten Education Fund’s support will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their lives and the community at large.
As the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commences from Monday 8th to 12th July 2024, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah, Deputy Coordinator of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, has offered inspiring words to candidates across the country.
In a heartfelt message, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah urged the students to remain focused, calm, and dedicated, assuring them that their hard work will ultimately lead to success. “Your hard work and dedication will surely pay off,” she emphasized.
With the Free SHS programme aimed at ensuring accessible and quality education for all, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah’s encouragement serves as a timely reminder of the importance of perseverance and determination. As the students prepare to take this crucial examination, her words of wisdom will undoubtedly inspire confidence and motivation.
The Deputy Coordinator’s message extends beyond the exam, instilling a growth mindset and a sense of purpose in the young candidates. As they strive for academic excellence, her best wishes will resonate with them every step of the way.
To all BECE candidates, stay focused, stay calm, and do your best. Your future is bright!
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Abdulai, Jinapor, has described teachers as the lifeline of every nation and should not be underestimated
He explained that “Teachers make nations, we must never look down upon ourselves, and neither should we be attracted to this profession because it is the last resort with nowhere else to go”.
Speaking at the 16th congregation of the Offinso College of Education over the weekend, Prof. Jinapor described teachers as the oxygen and breath of every country, saying that, lecturers, scientists, engineers, clergy, and even politicians were products of teachers.
The event saw 458 students of the 2022/2023 batch who are the second batch of the B. Ed. Programme graduating of which 49 of them had First Class (15 being females), 291 had Second Class Upper Division, 110 Second Class Lower Division and eight candidates managing a Third Class score with no Pass class
The congregation which attracted people from all walks of life had a theme: “Equipping the Young Teacher for the 21st Century Classroom”.
Commendation
Prof. Jinapor used the occasion to praise the leadership of the college for accomplishing another impressive student’s performance and pledged GTEC’s commitment towards supporting teacher educational delivery in the country as well as other initiatives that promote educational leadership development in the country.
Prof Jinapor (left) presenting an award to GRACE FOSUAAH, Best -performed female graduating student with CGPA of 3.8 during the ceremony
He stated that “for us at GTEC, we will continue to work towards the attainment of our vision of ensuring equitable access to relevant world-class tertiary education”.
Great strides
“Again, the introduction of the Special Accreditation Committee to augment the Traditional Accreditation setup has led to the accreditation of 982 programs for just this year, in addition to about 1200 programs for the last part of last year”. Prof. Jinapor said.
The DG was upbeat that the nation stood a better chance of equipping young teachers with the skills of the 21st-century classroom if only they were dedicated and committed to the teaching profession.
The Principal of Offinso College of Education (OCoE), Very Rev. Dr Joseph Nkyi Asamoah, announce that they have adequately equipped their 2nd batch of the 4-year B. Ed. graduating students with the necessary techniques and skills to empower them to go out there to improve learning outcomes and ensure that children are motivated to be life-long learners beyond their time in school.
He was full of praise to the Director General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, for his kind consideration to the college for migration of some critical staff to augment the existing staff strength and also commending the Government for the provision of Staff Development Fund to support staff upgrading.
End strike action
The Very Rev. Dr Asamoah appealed to all stakeholders, particularly the Government, to do everything possible to ensure that the grievances of College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) members were quickly resolved in order not to unduly distort the academic calendar they were trying to restore.
He also pleaded with the leadership of CETAG to take the necessary steps to suspend their impending strike so that the parties could go back to the negotiation table for an amicable solution.
The Principal of the College mentioned inadequate accommodation for both staff and students and, the delay in GETFund releasing funds towards the construction of a modern lecture hall and ICT complex which began in 2015 as some of the challenges confronting the college.
Again he appealed to the government through the Education Ministry to help them get a means of transportation (a Bus) for students, especially, during their Supported Teaching in Schools (STS) activities.
Background
The Offinso College of Education which was established in 1955 will mark its 70th anniversary in 2025.
END
The 2022 National Best Farmer, Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe who is the CEO of Siriboe Farms in the Ashanti Region has urged the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) members to embrace agrobusiness as a viable alternative to youth unemployment confronting Ghana. He
made this assertion when he addressed a youth development seminar organized by the Christian Service University in partnership with National Service Scheme (NSS) and NASPA as part of the ongoing CSU @ 50 Anniversary Celebrations.
The theme for the seminar was: Life after National Service: What Possibilities? and was meant to offer practical solutions to the problem of unemployment beyond mandatory national service.
The seminar was addressed by two prominent speakers namely; Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo Kantanka, a retired Methodist Bishop and a former Council Chairman of CSU and Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, CEO of Siriboe Farms and 2022 National Best Farmer.
Agrobusiness as Viable Option to Youth Unemployment
In his presentation, Oheneba Yaw Siriboe argued that the problem of youth unemployment is real and pervasive in the Ghanaian society.
Citing statistics from credible government and international sources, he observed that the challenge of unemployment among the youth required urgent attention not only from the government but industry and academia as well.
He therefore commended the University for putting together such a programme to shape the perspectives of the NASPA members particularly as they prepare to exit the mandatory one-year national service.
Based on his success story in the agrobusiness, he urged the youth to embrace sustainable agrobusiness to transform their economic circumstances. He reechoed the popular view that University education only provides the platform for individual to“fit” into the world.
Therefore, one should not be bound by the boundaries of the programme he/she read and see life from that narrow perspective.
On the contrary, he argued that irrespective of the programme one offered at the University, it could serve as a springboard to contextualize the principles to generate wealth through
agribusiness.
In short, any graduate can venture into agrobusiness and succeed!
In line with this thought and based on his definition of employment as “any job sustainable and satisfying”, he offered practical solutions to fresh graduates who may want to enter into
agrobusiness.
The advice covered how to build partnerships for start-ups, developing marketing strategies, and leveraging on theoretical knowledge for efficient management, access to grants, and government interventions such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), among others.
He explained that his background as a mechanical engineer has greatly impacted his agrobusiness and espoused that irrespective of one’s first-degree specialization, venturing into agrobusiness will not be a problem.
Deal with your Mindset to succeed
Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo-Kantanka on his
part, alluded to his academic
background as an agronomist from first
degree to professorial level to support
the claims made by Oheneba Yaw
Siriboe. He particularly supported the
call to embrace agrobusiness as the
benefits were enormous and
sustainable. He however, challenged
the youth to consciously deal with
what he described as “entitlement
mentality and dependency syndrome” that has work against the economic
emancipation of Ghanaian youth. According to him, the sad and debilitating story has been that most youth of productive and creative age only see life through the lenses of “white collar jobs” and in the absence of it, waste away precious opportunity.Even though he admitted that elected governments must create employment opportunities for the youth, he equally opined that the youth must create their own destinies without over relying on stop gap interventions that have been witnessed under succeeding governments in this 4th Republic. He noted, “There has been attempts by all governments to create jobs but they have
not been sustainable. It is critical that you have a vision for your life and work towards it even
before you leave the university”.
Based on this conviction, he offered a three-prong biblically
based success formular (founded on a character study of Jacob) i.e. Strong Achievement Drive + Diligence + The Favour of God. He urged the youth to embrace and actualize this change their economic circumstances.
On his part,the Ashanti Regional Boss of the NSS, Mr. Prince Kankam Boadu expressed appreciation to the Christian Service
University for such a timely initiative as they reflect NSS’s commitment of preparing the youth for successful transition from national service to the broader world. He commended the guest speakers for providing practical solutions to navigate the job market and explore entrepreneurial ventures. He ended by urging the participants to reflect on the values and the skills they
have acquired to impact their personal and professional lives.
Rationale for the Youth Development Seminars
The Youth Development Seminar (YDS) is one of the initiatives of the current Vice Chancellor of the Christian Service University, Professor Samuel Kofi Afrane to address the problem of youth unemployment in Ghana. The YDS aims to
engage continuing students (CSs), final year
students (FYSs) and national service
personnels (NSPs) to explore sustainable ways
of addressing the challenge of
unemployment.
To achieve this goal, Achievers’ Summit is
organized once every year in partnership with
the SRC to engage continuing students on
exploring the opportunities that exist in the
job market. Then again, Exit Clinic is
organized for final year students to deliberate
on firming up their plans as they exit the university into the world of work.
The third initiative is the NASPA OUTREACH which is organized in partnership with NSS Ashanti Region to create avenue for national personnel to link the theory from the university and lessons from the field to chart to create sustainable jobs as entrepreneurs. To achieve the objectives of the YDS, experienced
entrepreneurs and industry players are invited to address the participants.
Appreciation by NASPA President.
The first female President of NASPA (Ashanti Region), Ms. Yaa Tweneboah Opoku Bandoh, expressed appreciation to the Christian Service University for such an initiative and hoped that
the lessons learnt will be implemented beyond the forum.
She urged her colleagues to develop positive attitudes towards such programmes so that they can equip themselves for life beyond
national service. She further expressed that the world was fast changing affecting employment opportunities. As a result, she encouraged her colleagues to remain responsive to the changing
dynamics and embrace opportunities that will earn them a living.
The Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate Francis Owusu-Akyaw for his commitment to improving the quality of education of communities in the catchment area.
Hon. Omane Aboagye, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) said Mr Owusu-Akyaw has positioned himself as a major stakeholder in educational development in the area even before he was elected to represent the governing party in the constituency.
He was speaking after Mr Owusu-Akyaw donated mathematical sets to all 1,355 candidates sitting the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE in the Municipality.
Presenting the items, Mr Owusu-Akyaw reiterated his commitment to prioritising investment in education and firmly believes one of the tools to enhance the socio-economic well-being of residents in the catchment area, is the provision of quality education.
He is hopeful that the provision the mathematical sets and other support provided to the candidates will inspire and motivate them to be successful in the BECE. He also cautioned the students to abide by the rules and regulations and shun all forms of examination malpractices.
A teacher in one of the beneficiary schools told Asaase News that the provision of the mathematical sets has lifted a burden off many parents who are unable to afford stationery for their wards.
He noted some parents struggled to provide even pens for their wards.
“It is not that I want to disgrace anyone, but some of these students come from very poor homes, there are many instances where we the teacher have had to by mathematical sets for the students without own money before they are able to write the BECE”, he said.
The 2024 BECE will begin on Monday, 8th July 2024 and end on Friday, 12 July 2024. This external exam is supervised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
He therefore commended the University for putting together such a programme to shape the perspectives of the NASPA members particularly as they prepare to exit the mandatory one-year national service.
