Goviefe-Agodome (V/R), Oct. 29, GNA - Mr Joseph Amenowode, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South on Saturday blamed basic schoolteachers and parents in his constituency for the poor performance of pupils in the last Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). According to the MP, most basic schoolteachers in the area are not punctual and have lackadaisical attitude towards work while parents refuse to guide and monitor their children to study.

Mr Amenowode said this at the celebration of this year's Goviefe-Agodome Yam Festival at Agodome in the Hohoe District. The celebration was to raise funds to establish a library complex for pupils and students in the area.

Mr Amenowode said the laid-back attitude of these stakeholders had killed the interest of some children in education who, either drop out or stay in school without any aim.

He said as a result, only six pupils qualified for secondary education out of a total of nine who represented two communities namely Goviefe-Agodome and Goviefe-Kowu.

Mr Amenowode stated that out of a total of 838 pupils who sat for the exams from the constituency, only 272 qualified to gain admission into secondary school with five candidates getting between six and 15, while 79 candidates got between 16 and 24, with 188 having between aggregate 25 and 30.

He described the situation as challenging and said an education forum would soon be held to find solutions to the problem. Mr Joseph Kwaku Nayan, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, praised the people for initiating self-help projects including the library. He urged them not to relent in complementing government's effort at bringing development to the rural areas since the government alone could not develop the country.

Mr Nayan asked parents to take advantage of the capitation grant and send their children to school.

He pledged 100 bags of cement towards the construction of the library complex.

Earlier, Togbe Sakrafo X, Paramount Chief of Goviefe Traditional Area underscored the importance of unity to socio-economic development and asked his people to remain loyal to their leaders. 29 Oct. 06