Stakeholders in education at Agona Nyakrom in the Agona West Municipality of the Central Region have intensified efforts to improve academic performance among pupils following poor results recorded in last year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The initiative, led by the Nyakrom Mpontu Kuw, brought together final-year students and other stakeholders for a career and counselling conference aimed at motivating pupils to take their education seriously and adequately prepare for their final examinations.
The conference, which targeted Form Two and Form Three students at Agona Nyakrom, focused on academic discipline, career development, responsible behaviour and the need for students to make informed choices that would positively influence their future.
The organisers said the intervention had become necessary following the poor performance recorded by a significant number of students in the previous BECE, raising concerns among parents, community leaders and other stakeholders about the educational prospects of young people in the area.
Chairman of the Nyakrom Mpontu Kuw, Mr George Nkrumah, said the disappointing BECE results had compelled stakeholders to take steps to address the challenges confronting students and help them improve their academic performance.
Mr George Nkrumah, Chairman, Agona Nyakrom Mpontu Kuw
He encouraged the students to develop a strong commitment to their studies and make effective use of the opportunities available to them.
Mr Nkrumah cautioned the students against activities that could negatively affect their education and future prospects, particularly drug use, gambling and negative peer influence.
He urged them to remain focused on their academic goals and resist pressures that could derail their ambitions.
According to him, the choices students make at their current stage could have significant consequences for their future, stressing the need for them to prioritise education and personal development.
The immediate past International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi Addo, also called on parents to play a more active role in the education and upbringing of their children.
He urged parents to take responsibility for providing the necessary educational materials and other support their wards needed to perform well in school.
Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi Addo, immediate past International Missions Director (IMD), Church of Pentecost
Apostle Gyesi Addo stressed that parents had an important role to play beyond providing basic needs, urging them to monitor the activities of their children and provide appropriate guidance and discipline.
He cautioned students against engaging in behaviours that could undermine their education and destroy their future prospects.
He encouraged them to remain disciplined, respect their parents and teachers, and develop attitudes that would enable them to achieve their educational and career aspirations.
Other speakers at the conference similarly urged the students to prioritise their long-term future over temporary pleasures, warning that irresponsible decisions could have lasting consequences on their education and personal development.
They encouraged the students to identify their career interests early, set realistic academic goals and remain committed to achieving them.
The organisers said the intervention would not end with the career and counselling conference, as the Nyakrom Mpontu Kuw plans to engage other community stakeholders to strengthen support for education in the area.
According to them, the organisation will engage various churches and Muslim communities to explain the objectives of the initiative and solicit their support in improving educational outcomes.
The engagements are expected to encourage parents and religious leaders to work together with schools and community leaders to motivate students and create an environment conducive to learning.
The stakeholders also want parents to encourage their children to take ownership of their future by making responsible choices, taking their studies seriously and developing the discipline needed to succeed.
The initiative forms part of broader community efforts to reverse the decline in BECE performance and ensure that pupils in Agona Nyakrom have the necessary support to progress to the next stage of their education.
Story by Joseph Cobbina
