Denu (V/R), March 9, GNA - Basic school students who want to improve their BECE examination grades now have the opportunity to do so, Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education Youth and Sports, announced at the weekend.

He said government had directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to begin the process in creating such opportunity.

Speaking at the celebrations marking the 50th year anniversary of Saint Paul's Senior High School (SPACO) at Denu, he said the decision followed the brilliant performance of a number of students with poor grades who entered senior secondary schools thought to be low grade schools.

"Based on such revelations, we have directed the GES to create the opportunity for BECE students who want to better their grades to re-sit the examination," Professor Fobih said.

The theme for the celebration was: "Fifty years of Church Community Relationship in Boy's Education: Challenges and Prospects". Touching on the celebrations, he said 50 years of existence was no mean achievement and that the anniversary presented the school with a unique opportunity for stocktaking and assessment of the future challenges.

He said though things had not been rosy, the academic and disciplinary records of the school were worthy of emulation, saying, the Ministry of Education and the GES shared in the school's pride of achievements.

The Minister commended the staff and students for the successes they had achieved, reminding them that education meant more than merely imparting knowledge and skill to the individual.

"It also includes character building and inculcating in the individual certain moral value, which would go to develop a total personality of a person who cannot be misdirected or swayed by others without regard to his own conviction," the Minister said.

Professor Fobih paid tribute to the pioneering role of the Catholic Church in the foresight for establishing the school in 1958 and in particular the unique roles of Bishop Konings, Reverend Father Steemers and Kafre as well as the pioneer Headmaster, Father J. Caffrey in whose memory the school's new motto "Conquer Evil by Doing Good" was adopted. He also praised the new generation of headmasters, staff, past and present, students and the Chief of Hatsukope in the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbe Pasaku III, for generously donating land to the school.

Professor Fobih noted that the Roman Catholic Church continued to play an important role in education in the country with its schools consistently turning out many brilliant students annually. "Seventy-Five percent of recipients of the President's awards this year were students from Catholic Schools, a record which remain the same over the years," he said.

Professor Fobih advised the students to avoid all negative practices and unprofitable pastimes that could distract them from their books.

He said the new education reform programme was meant to give students self-confidence, sense of identity and empowerment to face the realities in life in addition to enabling communities to participate in the infrastructure distribution for the increasing number of school going pupils.

Professor Fobih called on all stakeholders to join in the programme since government alone could not do it.

He said the improvement in working conditions of workers in the education sector was also key, to advance the programme and on behalf of government announced the building of an 18-room classroom block to begin this year. He pledged a bus to the school in addition to a cash donation of GH¢50,000.

Mrs Olivia Sosu, Volta Regional Director of the GES, urged the school's administration to keep all channels of communication open between the staff and students.

Mr Kwame Adzamli, Headmaster said the school, which has a population of 1,200 needed additional classrooms, boarding and facilities and a library.

He said the buildings available now also needed urgent renovations. Mr Adzamli said the school's academic record remained on track, chalking 100 percent last year and attributed performance to hard work of students and staff. Master Richard Ahiable, School Prefect commended students and guardians for their support of staff in ensuring discipline in the school. A sod was cut for a GH¢300,000 library to be sponsored by the Old Students Association. A guesthouse and a bus provided by the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) were also inaugurated. 09 March 08