January 11, 2011

Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, has expressed worry about the persistent poor performance by students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in his constituency and the Akuapem Area in general.

The MP attributed the situation to lack of proper preparation towards the examination by the candidates and their teachers.

Mr Botwe made this known to the Ghana News Agency at Adukrom in the Eastern Region when he opened a week-long vacation classes for the 2011 BECE candidates in his constituency. He said the situation had contributed to high rate of school dropouts, which had created unemployment among the youth. Mr Botwe gave the assurance that he would commit a chunk of his share of the MPs District Assemblies’ Common Fund into educational development, especially at the basic and secondary levels.

He appealed to parents, traditional authorities and other stakeholders in education to assist him to achieve his objective. About 604 school children who registered for the examination this year were taking part in the exercise aimed at preparing them for the BECE scheduled for April this year.

Mr Botwe said last year a similar exercise he organised for the candidates showed positive results hence his motivation to organise another class for this year.

He appealed to parents to consider the education of their children as one of the best investment in life and support them to greater heights. Mr Botwe said this year, he would undertake a number of development projects in his constituency to improve the standard of living of the people.