Out of the 5,000 students who sat for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 117 passed which represent only 3% of the students. That, according to the North-East Regional Minister, Hon Zakaria Yidana is abysmal and speaks poorly of their region.
“We had about 5,000 students and when the results came out, only 117 students passed, that represent only 3%t of the 5,00 students. You ask yourself what happened to the over 4,800 students. 97% failed. We cannot do that in this region and think that we have a future” he said.
The Honorable Minister revealed these worrying statistics at the handing-over ceremony of a 1 unit classroom block and a 400-bed capacity girl’s dormitory for the WaleWale Vocational Training Institute to reduce overcrowding in the school. The North-East Region has a total of 11 Senior High, Vocational Training Institutes across its 6 municipalities. Mr Yidana entreated the students to study harder and achieve better academic results going forward.
He challenged them that they are intelligent and their teachers are more than capable to do attain higher levels in their Academia.
The North-East Regional Education Directorate attributed the abysmal performances to the numerous abandoned school projects which highlights the inadequate educational facilities in the region. They also added the lack of teaching and learning materials, lack of furniture and Teacher accommodation in the region as well.
To help curb the menace of inadequate educational infrastructure the Ghana Education Trust Fund and the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly constructed the 12-unit classroom block and a 400-bed capacity girl’s dormitory for the Walewale Vocational and Technical institute. The principal of the school, John Abdul Razak Salifu appealed for more support to the school including dinning hall, boys’ dormitory, fence wall and workshops.
Hon. Zakaria Yiadom charged the students to up their game amidst the challenging situation and the Municipal Chief Executive of West Mamprusi Arimiyaw assured the indigenes in the municipality that all the stalled government projects will be completed. He said they will re-award the contracts to serious contractors to finish the projects this time.
