Accra: The Vision for Action Foundation (VAF), a local non-governmental organisation, has organised a series of circuit-level stakeholder dialogues across the Sekyere Afram Plains District, aimed at improving Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) performance in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the engagements were held in the Dagomba, Dawia, Anyinofi, Drobonso, Funsua, and Akoma circuits as part of the ‘I Am Aware’ project by CDD Ghana. This non-partisan citizen empowerment initiative provides accessible data on public service delivery in education, health, water, security, roads, and agriculture. Funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the campaign’s objective is to strengthen citizen demand for accountability and responsiveness from duty bearers.
The dialogues brought together parents, School Management Committees (SMCs), headteachers, teachers, learners, the District Education Directorate, and members of the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC). The focus was to ope
nly examine the causes of poor academic performance and collectively identify practical, locally driven solutions. Each school’s academic performance data was projected and discussed publicly, allowing learners, headteachers, and teachers to respond to concerns about their results and outline specific steps to improve performance in subsequent mock examinations. Schools were tasked to commit to measurable actions ahead of the next assessment period.
Absenteeism and the inadequate supply of textbooks emerged as major challenges identified during the dialogue. Mr. Charles Sarkodie, the District Director of Education, described the initiative as unprecedented in the district, noting it was the first time schools’ performances had been openly discussed with the direct involvement of learners. He emphasized the importance of PTA support for final-year learners and cautioned parents against engaging children in farming activities that interfere with their studies. He also urged parents to monitor mobile phone usag
e and ensure effective night study routines.
Mr. Owuraku Boafo Justice, the Coordinator of VAF, highlighted the Foundation’s development interventions within the district, stressing that BECE performance contributes to the district’s position on the national league table. He underscored the importance of collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) as a pathway to academic improvement and advocated for community-based interventions, such as school farming projects to supplement government financing. For communities without electricity, he appealed for support in providing solar lamps for final-year learners.
The initiative seeks to reverse declining performance trends and secure improved BECE results in the district. Stakeholders expressed appreciation to CDD Ghana and VAF for their support, highlighting the importance of sustained dialogue and shared accountability in raising academic standards.