Kumasi, April 29, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, has complained about the poor academic performance of public basic schools in the region. This development was forcing many parents to withdraw their children to private schools.

Available statistics shows that 36 per cent of public Junior High Schools (JHS) in Ashanti scored zero percentage pass in the 2010 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Dr Agyemang-Mensah raised the concern at the opening session of the region's two-day education sector annual review in Kumasi. It was attended by educationists, traditional rulers, District Chief Executives (DCE), clergy, assembly members and other stakeholders.

The meeting discussed challenges facing education and ways to tackle them, as well as information sharing and capacity strengthening in education management at decentralized levels. Dr Agyemang-Mensah said there was the need for all to accept to do their bit to help ensure effective teaching and learning. He also urged education planners in the region to make sure that those with physical disabilities have access to second cycle education.

Mr Asamoah Duodu, Director of Education, in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), said through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Basic Education Scholarship Programme (BESP), 3,235 needy girls and pupils were provided with financial support. In the Bole and Gushiegu districts, he said 80 girls each were offered bursaries while 336 girls in Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo district benefitted.

Nana Adomako-Ansah, Ankaasehene, deplored the widening education gap between the urban and rural communities, in terms of access, quality, infrastructure and supervision. He therefore appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to help address these.