Professor Duwiejua Mahama, the Board Chairman of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has expressed concern about the poor performance of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the Sissala East and Sissala West Districts.
He said more than 80% of students scored aggregate 30 and above, describing this as worrying.
Speaking at the 40th anniversary and graduation ceremony of the Tumu College of Education, Prof. Mahama charged the college to conduct a thorough study into the persistent low performances of Junior High School students in the two districts.
He noted that in the 2024 BECE results, no candidate in Sissala East obtained aggregates between 7 and 10, while only one student scored between 11 and 15 representing less than one per cent of the 1,249 candidates presented.
He further disclosed that about 89 per cent of candidates in Sissala East scored an aggregate of 30 and above, describing the situation as discouraging.
In Sissala West, the trend was similar, with no candidate obtaining aggregates between seven and 15, while about 72 per cent scored 30 and above.
“Where are all these children going?” Prof. Mahama questioned, stressing that such results limited students’ access to quality second-cycle institutions and future opportunities.
He indicated that the problem was not limited to the two districts but reflected broader challenges confronting rural education across the region.
He urged the Tumu College of Education, as it celebrates 40 years of teacher training, to take up the responsibility of researching the causes and proposing practical solutions to address the chronic underperformance in rural basic schools.
He said the college’s mandate to train competent teachers, particularly for rural communities, places it in a strategic position to help reverse the trend.
Prof. Mahama congratulated the graduating teachers but reminded them that they were inheriting not only a legacy of excellence but also the responsibility to improve learning outcomes in underserved communities.
He encouraged them to embrace perseverance, integrity and commitment as they stepped into classrooms to help transform the educational fortunes of the Sissala area and beyond.
GNA
