Ho, Sept. 16, GNA - Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, Regional Director of Education, has said than 50 per cent of pupils who completed their basic education in the Volta region may not gain admission to second cycle schools.

He said this at a meeting of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday.

He said the region has recorded a consistent decline in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) since 2009 adding that the region recorded 48.8 per cent in 2009, which went down to 43.9 per cent in 2010 and further down to 38 per cent in 2011.

He said South Dayi District posted the best result at 73 per cent with Krachi-East being the worst performer at 20 per cent this year.

Mr Kploanyi said the low percentage indicates that more than 50 per cent of the region's pupils may not proceed to second cycle schools after their basic education.

He said there was also a high attrition rate of teachers from the region with more than 90 teachers from both the basic and senior high schools requesting to be released to other regions and as a result of this a total of 3744 teacher vacancies have been declared for the 2010/2011 academic year.

Mr Kploanyi said there should be an intensification of monitoring and supervision in all schools in order to improve quality teaching and learning.

He suggested that the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and Conference of Directors of Education (CODE), should take the necessary measures to ensure a positive change in the current academic regime.