Editorial
WASSCE results heart-warming!
In view of the importance of education within the context of the huge sums of money government has spent on the Free Senior High School (SHS), it is heartwarming to note that the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) performance has been the best since 2015, according to West African Examination Council report.
It is also gratifying that the students have not disappointed their parents and the people of Ghana, repaying the trust for the heavy investment made in their education.
It is clear that the candidates have put up a gleaming performance, especially, when the current management of education did not place any “cut-off point” on grades Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates must obtain to pursue SHS education.
In previous years, aggregate 30 was fixed as the cut-off point. This shows that when given the chance and provided with the requisite support, as many students as possible can perform well in exams.
The performance has been improved greatly because of the numerous interventions rolled out by government. To begin with, the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, removed obstacles such as school fees and this gave them the peace of mind to concentrate on their studies.
Again, the supply of free core text books to every student as well as free uniforms to both day and boarding students also contributed positively to their good performance.
Ghanaians are aware of the special training organised for Science and Mathematics tutors together with the provision of the Chief Examiner’s Report to schools to serve as a guide for the students.
All these helped to bring improvement in the performance of the students.
The Spectator is happy about this development and urges the government to continue with this policy of comprehensive support for education – not only for the core subjects, but for the non-core subjects so that there will be continuous improvement in the years ahead.
The percentage of candidates who obtained A1 to C6 in the core subjects constituted more than 50 per cent. In English language, the percentage score was 57.34 per cent in 2020, while Integrated Science in the same year, is 52.53 per cent.
Similarly, percentage score in Mathematics is 65.71 per cent, while it is 64.31 per cent in Social Studies. This shows that the average performance of the candidates for this year is the best compared with results within the past six years.
We will continue to urge our students not to rest on their oars but study harder so as to perform better in the years ahead.
The Spectator also congratulates all teaching and non-teaching staff as well as Headmasters and management of our schools on their hard work and appeal to them to continue the good work so that as a country, Ghana can place itself higher on the educational ladder.
Similarly, The Spectator lauds government on the good work done in supporting education in the manner it has done.
We doff our hats off for all those who have helped to promote this positive agenda.
Editorial
Media, FDA must not relent in fight against secondhand smoking
Secondhand smoke poses grave danger to the health of non smokers
Dear Editor,
As I walk through public spaces, I’m reminded of the lingering threat of secondhand smoke.
Despite the progress in anti-smoking campaigns, innocent bystanders continue to suffer from the harmful effects of secondhand smoking.
The facts are alarming.
Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are carcinogenic.
Tobacco use in Ghana is said to result in over 6,700 deaths annually with related illness accounting for 3 per cent deaths in the country.
These includes cancers, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory conditions.
According to the Centre for Disease Control Prevention, a 100 per cent smoke-free and tobacco-free environment is the most comprehensive approach to ensure health and safety.
Children are particularly vulnerable, with increased risk of asthma, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke face higher risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
To protect public health, there should be stricter enforcement of smoke-free laws initiated by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in public spaces.
Smoking at these public places such as pubs, restaurants, work places, supermarkets, children’s playground and hospitals should be discourage and culprit punished to serve as deterrent to others.
The media should also increase awareness campaigns highlighting secondhand smoke risks.
We must prioritise the health and well-being of nonsmokers to ensure a healthy environment by partnering the FDA to stop secondhand smoking.
It is a collective responsibility and we must all come on board to support the FDA to address this concern in the country.
Anita Nyarko-Yirenkyi,
Accra
Editorial
Afienya-Jerusalem road must be fixed
Dear Editor,
I write this piece to draw the attention of the Roads and Highways Ministry about the deplorable nature of the Afienya-Jerusalem road.
The road which construction started around 2016, has been neglected for long.
The road has developed huge pot-holes and is causing a lot of damage to vehicles that use it.
Drivers and passengers alike have complained about the bad state of the road on a number of occasions, but it seems those complaints have not yielded the needed results.
It is as if the authorities in charge of the project don’t care about it yet they will come to the area to campaign for votes.
As a concerned citizen, I would like to urge the government through the Ningo-Prampram Municipal Assembly to ensure that the road is fixed to help address the negative impact it has on road users and residents.
Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
Prampram
