Stringent measures needed to curb examination malpractices— Rev (Dr) Ofosu-Addo
The Chairperson of the Brong-Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr William Kwabena Ofosu-Addo, has called for stringent measures to deal with examination malpractices in schools.
He made the call when he addressed a press conference organised by the Brong Ahafo Presbytery to round up its 52nd presbytery session in Sunyani on the theme: “Let the earth hear.”
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Poor academic results
Rev. Dr Ofosu-Addo expressed concern about the increasing number of cases of examination malpractices and poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results in the region.
He urged the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Ghana Education Service Council, the various security agencies and all other stakeholders to initiate measures to curtail these malpractices which are “an indictment on the image of the region.”
He called on the government to speed up action on the return of mission schools to religious bodies for management.
He also assured the government of good partnership to promote healthy education for the benefit of pupils and students if their request was granted, saying “we know how to do it well, and our track records are clear”.
He said the Brong-Ahafo Presbytery had established 96 basic schools, 62 junior high schools, two SHSs and a midwifery college as its contributions towards education in the region.
Rev. Dr Ofosu-Addo said the presbytery was re-injecting discipline in its schools through managerial supervision at the board levels, effective coordination through Presbyterian Educational Units and collaboration with staff for excellence through motivational awards.
He also appealed to the government to refurbish facilities of the Presbyterian Senior High/ Commercial School at Techimantia.
Church’s commitment
He pledged the church’s commitment to partner with the government to deliver quality education in the region and the nation at large.
He commended the government for the successful implementation of the free SHS policy which he said had benefited thousands of people in the country.
He again lauded the government for its effort in increasing the coverage of the School Feeding Programme, which has increased enrolment in public schools.
Rev. Dr Ofosu-Addo also urged unemployed young people to take advantage of agriculture programmes to embark on cashew production, cassava and plantain plantation, snail farming, mushroom growing, pepper cultivation and bee keeping.
He appealed to chiefs, the custodians of the land, to release land to the church for such agricultural projects and other undertakings.
He called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the RCC and district assemblies to extend credit facilities to the church and provide them the needed agricultural inputs to help them contribute to the success of the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme.
