On Monday morning, 5th June, 2017, the new Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Hon. Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, who was largely endorsed by the Assembly and subsequently sworn into office paid a visit to candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E.) in a number of centres across the Metropolis.
The visit took him to some examination centres including; Sakumono Complex School in Sakumono, Presbyterian Senior High School in Community 11 and Manhean Senior High and Technical School in Manhean-Newtown. At these centres, candidates were busily writing their papers with English Language as the first subject. The exams which began on Monday covered five days of intensive exams with 9 subjects and ended on Friday.
Present at the examination centres to monitor the exercise and also brief the Chief Executive were the Education Director at the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Tema, Mrs. Margaret Frempong-Kore and the Ag. Executive Director for National Curriculum Assessment Council, Mad. Felicia Boakye Yiadom. Also part of the MCE’s entourage were, the Metro. Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Emmanuel Abuanor Nortey, the Deputy Director, Public Relations Officer, the Metro Finance Officer, some officers from TMA and a host of media personnel were all present.
Population of BECE Candidates in the Metropolis
In a brief conversation with the Education Director for GES in Tema, a total of 7,183 candidates had registered for the BECE in Tema. This constitutes 3,520 boys and 3,663 girls. Out of this number, 132 were from private schools and 49 were from public schools. At the start of the exams only 4 candidates were believed to be absent from the examination centres and there was no record of teenage pregnancy. The Education Director was glad the exams commenced on time and the candidates were all prepared to go through the examination with zeal.
MCE’s Message to BECE Candidates
As a symbolic expression to wish the candidates well during their final exams, Hon. Nii Anang-La acknowledged the tiring efforts of the candidates in preparing for the exams throughout their school period. He admonished them to avoid any form of examination malpractices, but rather concentrate in writing the exams with the best of knowledge acquired. The MCE believes with a deep sense of concentration in their papers without looking for any subject leakages they were bound to pass well.
He informed the candidates that, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s free Senior High School (SHS) policy which will be rolled out in September, 2017 will start with the current BECE candidates and so they need to be serious with their exams. He added that, it is not a lip-service by His Excellency the President, and for that matter the policy will cover all those entering SHS in the next 2017-2018 academic year.
The Education Directorate, the exam supervisors, teachers and parents were acknowledged by the MCE for organizing the exams in a peaceful, calm and decent manner. He assured them that, the Assembly has more plans to support the education sector in the Tema Metropolis.
MCE’s Media Briefing on BECE and Other Matters
The media personnel present took the opportunity to interview the new MCE regarding his ideas for the education sector and other issues. In a laconic response, Hon. Felix Mensah La, gave his unwavering decision to support the Education Directorate to deliver on their mandate and also roll out other initiatives to improve teaching, learning and extra-curricular activities. A quick response to a question on walling school lands in the Metropolis, he assured that projects executed by his predecessor will be continued. He believes more work needs to be done to stop people from encroaching on school lands and also help in protecting school properties as well.
He was emphatic that, the Tema Restoration Agenda which the Assembly is now championing will introduce lots of improvement and incorporate so many things in the education sector. As part of the agenda, parks will be developed and other recreational centres will be constructed to give alternative means to school children who waste their time at gaming centres. The MCE believes, the restoration agenda will unearth sports talents among the youth and produce great individuals from Tema.
The MCE was convinced the seriousness of the school children as he observed during his visit, clearly indicates they were well prepared to write the BECE papers without any problem. He once again reiterated that, the free SHS policy which is a flagship programme of H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo’s government will start with the current BECE candidates and so all parents, teachers and the entire country should support the policy initiative.
In all, the new Metro Chief Executive for TMA and his entourage visit to BECE candidates in the various centres in the Metropolis was largely successful. The mere appearance on the faces of the candidates during the exams shows they were well prepared and focused to write and pass the exams with the seriousness it deserves. The onus therefore lies on the Assembly to give maximum support to the education of the youth in order to get the needed results for the benefit of all and for development of the future leaders of Tema and Ghana as a whole.
