Parent Teacher Associations network unhappy about dwindling performance of students in the north
A study conducted by the Sagnarigu district, the Tamale metro school management committee network and the Tamale metro parent-teacher Association (TAMPATA-NET) has revealed that the performance of students at both junior and lower primary school level continues to decline.
The parent teacher associations are therefore mapping strategies to help reduce what they called dwindling performance of pupils in Tamale metro and Sagnarigu district in the northern region.
The Public Relations Officer of Tamale Metropolitan Parent-Teacher Association Network (TAMPATA-NET), Mr Zakaria Mohammed Muniru stated this when he presented a worrying finding based on keen observations by parents that indicated a continuous decline in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) especially between 2013 and 2015.
Among the strategies was a discussion forum with key stakeholders in education, including parliamentary candidates of the various political parties, to find solutions to the challenges.
The forum was to improve quality education delivery in public basic schools in Tamale metro and the Sagnarigu district.
Mr Muniru outlined the performance of Sagnarigu district as follows: in 2013, the district scored 52.86% in the BECE; in 2014, it scored 45.34% and in 2015 it had 41.07%.
The PRO added that one of the factors responsisble for the abysmal performance in the BECE in both areas is poor monitoring and supervision by circuit supervisors. He said the research revealed that supervisors of the basic schools do not have means of transport, and even they did at all, there were fuel constraints to deal with.
He, therefore, appealed to the aspiring members of parliament in the catchment area to come to the aid of the education directorates by providing motorbikes to the supervisors because the supervisor-school ratio was unusually high; one supervisor to twenty-six schools.
The District Chief Executive of Sagnarigu district, Mr Alhassan Mohammed Sorugudoo addressing the forum, lamented the falling standard of education in Tamale metro and the Sagnarigu district.
He subsequently called on all stakeholders to bring all hands on deck to address it. Mr Sorugudoo urged the TAMPATA to channel their grievance in writing to his office for government’s support.
The participants who came from various political parties namely PNC, CPP and NDC pledged their commitment in helping uplift the image of education in Tamale metro and the Sagnarigu district.
By Fuseini Dawuda Neidow/zaaradio.com