The federal government has introduced plans to increase the Primary Schooling Certificates Examination (BECE) from its present five-day schedule to eight days, a transfer aimed toward decreasing strain on candidates and giving them extra time to organize between exams.
Talking at Aburi Ladies SHS on Thursday, June 10, the Minister acknowledged considerations over the present BECE examination schedule, saying it was placing pointless strain on candidates.
“I perceive that many individuals had been confused as a result of the BECE examination schedule was from Monday to Friday,” Idris mentioned.
He revealed that the federal government was reviewing the examination calendar to offer college students extra time to organize between papers.
“Accordingly, the federal government is reviewing the BECE examination calendar. Subsequently, to make sure that learners throughout the nation have sufficient time to organize for the BECE, the BECE will start on Wednesday and finish on the next Wednesday,” he mentioned.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposed modifications, the Minister mentioned the revised schedule would permit college students to profit from weekend breaks throughout examination durations, and core topic papers could be scheduled on consecutive Wednesdays, giving candidates extra time to organize for the expanded workload.
Mr Idris added that the Secretary-Common of the Ghana Schooling Service (GES) would oversee the implementation of the revised timetable.
Enhancing faculty lunches
The Minister of Schooling additionally expressed satisfaction with the present state of meals provide in excessive colleges, noting that the nation has seen vital enchancment in comparison with earlier years.
“I’m additionally happy that, for the primary time in not less than the previous couple of years, we’re not affected by meals insecurity in our colleges,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the federal government’s resolution to elevate the cap on the Ghana Schooling Belief Fund (GETFund) had elevated help for the Free Senior Excessive Faculty (SHS) faculty meals programme.
“Because of the removing of the cap on GETFund, GETFund and Bufferstock by means of the Ghana Commodity Change are correctly offering satisfactory meals provide,” Idris defined.
He added that the feeding a part of the free SHS coverage is presently being successfully managed by means of GETFund funding.
“So not less than the free highschool meal portion is now nicely managed with GETFund funds,” he mentioned.
The Minister revealed that the Authorities has allotted vital funds to highschool meals for college kids throughout the nation this 12 months.
“This 12 months alone, we have now allotted 4 billion Ghanaian Cedis to maintain feeding everybody throughout the nation,” he introduced.
World Financial institution approval anticipated for infrastructure enlargement
Mr. Idris additional revealed that the federal government is wanting ahead to approval from the World Financial institution for an formidable program aimed toward increasing academic infrastructure throughout the nation.
“The World Financial institution will meet for the primary time subsequent week, on the sixteenth of this month, to offer its approval to the infrastructure enlargement we have now dedicated to,” he mentioned.
Beneath the proposed initiative, a number of colleges will probably be upgraded to enhance amenities and enhance studying circumstances for college kids.
“We’ll convert 30 class C colleges into B colleges and 20 class B colleges into A colleges at a price of $300 million to increase infrastructure throughout the nation,” the minister revealed.
He famous that Class A colleges would additionally profit from further funding.
Recognition for varsity management
The Minister concluded by praising the varsity’s principal for her management and recognizing her contribution to the event of the varsity and the welfare of its college students.
The announcement is a part of the federal government’s broader efforts to enhance academic outcomes, enhance pupil welfare and strengthen infrastructure inside Ghana’s training sector.
