Wassa East Exemplifies Success Of Free SHS – DCE Proclaims
The Chief Executive of Wassa East District in the Western Region, Hon Wilson Arthur, has thrown a challenge to those who may have doubts about the success of the free Senior High School’s on the improvement of education generally, to visit his area to appraise oneself of the realities.
Hon Arthur who took his turn on Wontumi TV/Radio’s heavily patronized political education programme on Thursday during which the government’s achievements in the area of infrastructural development projects are showcased said “enrolment has not only been boosted but the quality of teaching and learning have upped exceedingly.”
He emphasized that the free SHS has changed completely not only in the face of educational sector but across the entire spectrum of our social life.
He said what is more evident is that about 98% of SHS students who secure the requisite grades can now pursue their education at the SHS level.
“In the pre-free SHS era, only 250 JHS students could afford to pursue their education at the senior high school level but this has shot to over 2000 since the NPP came to power which is encouraging .At the Daboase Senior High Technical School for instance, enrolment which was around 700 has now hit over 3,000. This has made it urgent to provide a new dormitory and classroom blocks with the support of GNPC”
According to Hon Arthur, “classroom learning has greatly been enhanced. The outcome is refreshing and my district is a place the free SHS is working more than any other place in the country.”
He stated further that the good grades secured by the students is attributed to an “innovative examination marking module.
“We organize mock twice each year for JHS pupils preparing for the BECE before the students finally write the BECE. What we have done is the introduction of a peer marking scheme whereby we pair schools for teachers to mark the examination papers of pupils from the other school for proper evaluation.”
He disclosed that prior to his assumption of office the teachers award ceremony had suffered a continuous 10 years break.
“It is only these past two years that it had been organized but on all two occasions, I boldly can say that we recorded a huge success. The teachers now feel highly motivated because of the prizes awarded them.” He explained.
According to Mr. Arthur, “the students examination writing preparedness has greatly been improved with the provision of infrastructural school facilities.”
The intervention has improved educational facilities at all levels of education. At the pre-school level, the Wassa Ekutuase community has been provided with a KG Block likewise the Wassa Edwenase township.
A major achievement of his administration is the construction of the skill training center at Wassa Ekutuase and renovation of another Centre at Daboase.