A total of eight hundred and twenty four (824) students from public basic
schools in the Central Region who sat for the 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) secured admission into eight "elite" Senior High schools (SHS) in the region.

The figure is more than what was recorded for 2015, 2016 and 2017 put together.

The region prides itself as the citadel of education in the country, yet many students especially from public basic schools were not able to secure admission into these schools  due to poor academic
performance.

The “unprecedented” feat was achieved through deliberate efforts and support from all stakeholders including teachers, parents, circuit supervisors which was set in motion by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to support students from public basic schools to secure quality passes to get admission into the "elite" SHS in the region.

In 2015 for instance, no student from public basic school in the region was able to secure admission to Wesley Girls and the Holy Child SHS with only 214 being admitted into other SHS in the region due to poor academic performance despite the high enrollment.

Worried about the development, the Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamena Duncan and the RCC instituted measures to work towards ensuring better academic performance in public schools to avert the falling standards of education in the Region

The action taken included meeting all heads of public basic schools to discuss basic education challenges and the institution of regional and district award schemes to motivate students to learn well for good
grades.

Speaking at the second Education and Sanitation Excellence Awards in Cape Coast on Friday, the Regional Minister expressed satisfaction about the success chalked and pledged to take the necessary steps to improve academic performance in public basic schools in the Region.

He urged stakeholders to be encouraged by what had been achieved and continue to collaborate with each other and work to further bring about improvement in the standard of education especially in public basic schools.

he Assin South District was adjudged the best district in the 2019 BECE with an average pass rate of 97.08 percent with Upper Denkyira West and East taking the second and third positions respectively.

Achiase D/A JHS in the Assin South District was also adjudged the best public basic school in the region followed by Nkran Ngresi D/A JHS and Asamankesi D/A JHS all in the Assin South District respectively.

Baako Ndzidzi JHS and Name Ye Adom JHS both in the Twifo Hemang-Lower Denkyira District and Kyiase M/A JHS in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality were awarded most improved public basic schools in 2019.

Additionally, sixteen students who scored aggregate six were also awarded with master Nkrumah Evans receiving the best BECE student award.

Osagyefo Kwame Akonu X, Paramount Chief of Enyan Abasa Traditional Area was honoured for his commitment to the improvement of education in his traditional area with a citation.

Agona West Municipality was for the second year running awarded best performing MMDA in terms of sanitation.