The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman and Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has resumed his free lunch programme for all candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, as the Ghana Education Service (GES) targets a 68 percent pass rate.
A total of 1,943 candidates from both public and private schools are writing the exams in the district.
The free feeding initiative, introduced by the MP years ago but suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic when the government took over feeding responsibilities, is aimed at ensuring no candidate writes the exams on an empty stomach.
On the first day of the examination, candidates were served jollof rice with chicken.
“Every year, there were some students who would come and write the exams on an empty stomach. So I decided that if I have the opportunity to feed a few of you, I will do that. For the next five days that you are going to write the exams, I will provide you free lunch,” Hon. Ampem Nyarko assured.
Addressing the candidates, the MP also advised them to avoid examination malpractices and uphold integrity. He promised to purchase all prospectus items for any candidate who obtains a single-digit aggregate in the exams.
“Challenge yourselves that if you make a single digit in this examination, as soon as you are posted to any of the secondary schools, you and your parents will see the Education Director and my special aide. We will have a ceremony, and I will present all the items on your prospectus so your parents do not have to worry about getting you what you need for secondary school,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Asuogyaman District Education Directorate has set a target of achieving at least a 68 percent pass rate this year.
District Director of Education, Miss Augustina Adwoa Owusu, expressed confidence in the candidates’ preparation and performance.
“In all, they are going to give us about a 68 percent pass rate to improve upon last year’s performance. We believe in our candidates and their preparation, and we hope most of them will come out with flying colours,” she said.
Some candidates who spoke to the media expressed appreciation for the MP’s gesture and shared high hopes of passing the exams.
Source :Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
