Education Minister Wishes BECE Candidates Good Luck
As the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) kicks off today, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has extended a heartfelt message of encouragement to the over 600,000 candidates preparing to take the exams. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Minister Iddrisu described the BECE as a major milestone in the academic journey of the candidates and wished them good luck. The Minister acknowledged the significance of the BECE in the lives of the candidates, noting that it marks an important step in their academic progression. “Today is a significant milestone in the academic journey of these youngsters,” he said. “On behalf of the president, and on my own behalf as well as the people of Ghana, I want to wish them good luck and best wishes.” Minister Iddrisu urged the candidates to approach the exams with calmness and determination, stressing the importance of avoiding any form of malpractice. “A heartfelt encouragement to all of them and a reminder that they should remain calm, focused, and determined, and avoid all forms of examination malpractice,” he advised. The Minister encouraged the students to trust in the preparation they have made over the years, treating the examination as a normal test of memory and knowledge. “They should just consider it as a normal test of memory. They have been studying over the years because of this day, and they only need to put their knowledge, skill, and the confidence they have acquired to the test,” he said. With over 603,328 candidates sitting for the exams, Minister Iddrisu wished them the best of luck, expressing confidence in their ability to succeed. “I wish them the best of luck,” he added. The Minister’s message is a boost to the candidates as they embark on this critical examination. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
UER: 19,523 Candidates Set to Sit for 2025 BECE
The 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is just around the corner, and a total of 19,523 candidates in the Upper East Region are preparing to sit for the exams. The exams, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 11, and end on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, will take place at 90 designated examination centers across the region. According to data from the Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, this year’s cohort comprises 8,842 boys and 10,681 girls from both public and private basic schools. While the high number of female candidates is a positive trend, the statistics also reveal a concerning issue. Twenty-one of the registered girls are heavily pregnant, and an additional 17 are already lactating mothers. The presence of pregnant and lactating mothers among the candidates has raised concerns about the challenges facing adolescent girls in accessing uninterrupted education. While officials have not disclosed specific support mechanisms for these girls, it is expected that school heads and invigilators will ensure a conducive and non-discriminatory environment for all candidates during the exams. The BECE is a critical milestone for final-year Junior High School students in Ghana, determining their placement into Senior High Schools and other second-cycle institutions. Regional education authorities have urged candidates to approach the exams with confidence and discipline. Parents and guardians have also been encouraged to provide necessary emotional and logistical support for their wards throughout the examination period. With proper preparation and support, candidates can navigate the exams successfully and secure a bright future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
UER: 21 BECE candidates heavily pregnant, and 17 are lactating mothers
A worrying statistic has come to light in the Upper East Region. Among the 10,681 female candidates set to write the exams, 21 are heavily pregnant and 17 are lactating mothers. Apexnewsgh reports This means that approximately 1 out of every 255 girls sitting for the BECE in the region is either pregnant or already a mother. While education stakeholders have praised the high female participation in this year’s BECE, the statistics on early pregnancies and teenage motherhood have sparked concern. The presence of these 38 girls highlights a growing trend that challenges efforts to keep girls in school and ensure they complete basic education uninterrupted. As the exams commence, education authorities have assured that all candidates, regardless of their condition, will receive the necessary support to write the exams under dignified and accommodating conditions. The exams will be administered across 90 examination centers in the region from June 11 to June 18, 2025. The numbers, however, remain a sobering reminder that while access to education is improving, the safety, health, and futures of many young girls in the Upper East Region still hang in the balance. With a total of 19,523 candidates registered for the BECE, including 8,842 boys and 10,681 girls, the region is taking a crucial step towards shaping the future of its young population. The situation underscores the need for sustained efforts to address the challenges faced by adolescent girls in the region. By working together, stakeholders can help ensure that these young girls receive the support they need to thrive and reach their full potential. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
Wahala: Tertiary Education Unions Threaten Nationwide Strike
Three key unions in tertiary education — the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) — have jointly threatened a nationwide strike if the government fails to pay their book and research allowances by June 13, 2025. Apexnewsgh reports In a statement issued on Monday, June 9, the three unions expressed frustration over the undue delay in releasing the exchange rate required to compute their book and research allowances. The delay has created significant uncertainty and frustration among members, as many depend on the funds to support academic work and research activities. Following a joint meeting on June 8, the unions resolved that while they are prepared to accommodate the late release of the exchange rate, they will not accept any extension of payment beyond September 2025. They stressed that the allowance is a statutory obligation under their Conditions of Service, not a discretionary gesture. The unions warned that failure by the government to honour the June 13 deadline will be treated as an official strike notice, triggering industrial action across all affected campuses. They urged the government to act swiftly to avert a nationwide disruption of the academic calendar and to protect the welfare of lecturers and the broader education sector. The unions’ ultimatum highlights the need for the government to prioritize the payment of the book and research allowances to avoid a potentially damaging strike. With the deadline looming, it remains to be seen whether the government will take the necessary steps to meet the unions’ demands and prevent a disruption to the academic calendar.
GES Launches State-of-the-Art Smart Classrooms at Opoku Ware Senior High School
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken a significant step towards enhancing digital learning in the country with the commissioning of a dedicated block of smart classrooms at Opoku Ware Senior High School in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. Apexnewsgh reports The new facility is part of the Ghana Smart Classrooms Project, aimed at providing students with the skills and tools needed to thrive in a digital world. The smart classrooms are equipped with interactive smart screens, tablets for every student, reliable internet connectivity, solar-powered charging cabinets, and modern ergonomic furniture. These facilities will enable teachers to deliver content via the KATON360 Learning Management System, a robust digital platform that supports interactive teaching, real-time assessments, and personalized learning journeys. The Director-General of the GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, emphasized the government’s commitment to continuing the implementation of good policies and programs initiated by its predecessors. He reiterated that the GES will ensure that every student gains access to tablets and related accessories to aid knowledge acquisition. The President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere, praised the initiative as a bold decision by the government to provide world-class education to Ghanaian children. However, he urged the government to extend the project to every senior high school in the country, regardless of location or infrastructure. The Ghana Smart Classrooms Project aims to convert existing facilities in public senior high schools into smart environments for digital learning while building new structures for schools in some areas. The project also includes providing free computer tablets to students and laptops to teachers and staff to facilitate research, teaching, and learning. The event, themed “Smart Schools: The Future of Digital Education,” was attended by students and heads of senior high schools in the region. It marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to harness technology to improve education outcomes in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane Donates 770 Educational Materials to Nabdam BECE Students
The Member of Parliament for the Nabdam Constituency, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has donated 770 writing materials to students preparing to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Apexnewsgh report The donation was made on his behalf by the Nabdam District Chief Executive, Francis Tobig Yenwoma. The DCE explained that the donation aims to provide students with the necessary tools to excel in their exams without engaging in malpractice. He encouraged the students to make good use of the materials and produce excellent results, urging them not to disappoint their parents and teachers. The DCE noted that Dr. Nawaane has been making this donation to students in the Nabdam Constituency for some time now, demonstrating his commitment to supporting education in the area. He thanked the District Director of Education and her staff for their efforts in creating a conducive learning environment for the students. The DCE urged the students to justify the efforts of their teachers by producing excellent results and making good choices for their future. He wished them well luck and luck in their exams. wishing them to produce excellent results. Meanwhile, the Nabdam District Director of Ghana Education Service, Ms. MacDarlene Wompakeah, expressed her satisfaction with the donation of educational materials made by the Nabdam MP, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane. The District Director described the gesture as “huge enough to show that you have parents who care.” She encouraged the students to make good use of the materials and produce excellent results, urging them to make their parents, teachers, and the MP proud. She further used the opportunity to appeal to the MP and the District Chief Executive to assist with some pressing issues in the district. She requested that something be done about the Pelungu KG, where students learn in inadequate conditions, and also urged that the ongoing construction of a classroom block at Congo KG be speeded up to accommodate over 100 students. Ms. Wompakeah thanked the MP for his kindness and expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Nabdam Education Directorate. She prayed that God would bless the MP and provide him with the resources to continue supporting education in the district. However, the party chairman and other party executives were all present during the donation. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Government Expands Free SHS Policy to Private Schools
The government has announced plans to expand the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy to cover private schools, starting from the next academic year. This move aims to increase capacity and gradually phase out the double-track system. The announcement was made during the release of revised guidelines for the selection of schools for candidates preparing to write the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Under the new guidelines, candidates will now be allowed to select seven schools, up from the previous six choices. The selection process will run from May 27 to June 6. Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Appak, explained that the inclusion of private schools in the FSHS policy is part of the government’s campaign promise. He stated that meetings have been held with private schools, and they are eager to participate in the program. Dr. Appak believes that this move will help bring an end to the double-track system and increase access to quality education for more students. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
NLC Orders University Staff Unions to Call Off Strike
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed three university staff unions to immediately call off their strike action, citing violations of Ghana’s Labour Act. Apexnewsgh reports The unions, which include the Senior Staff Association – Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG), and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), had embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged non-implementation of agreed conditions of service. In a letter dated May 21, 2025, the NLC invoked Section 139(1)(d) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), ordering the unions to end their industrial action. The directive follows a notice of intention to strike served on the Commission on May 12. Despite the NLC’s intervention and directive to stay the strike, the unions defied the order and proceeded with industrial action. The NLC cited a press release by the unions, also dated May 21, announcing the indefinite strike in protest of what they described as the government’s continued breach of the agreement. The agreement between the unions and the government was signed on November 12, 2024. As a result of the unions’ defiance, the NLC has declined to hear the matter further, invoking Section 161 of the Labour Act. This section states that a matter cannot be entertained if parties are engaged in illegal strike actions. The NLC has advised the unions to call off the strike and formally notify the Commission before any further steps can be taken. The NLC’s directive is clear: the unions must call off the strike and comply with the Labour Act. The Commission’s decision highlights the importance of adhering to the law and negotiating in good faith. The unions must now decide whether to comply with the NLC’s order and resume negotiations or continue with their industrial action. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s Public Universities Ground to a Halt: Unions Declare Indefinite Strike
A nationwide indefinite strike has been declared by three key unions representing senior staff and administrators in Ghana’s public universities. Apexnewsgh reports The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG), and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) announced the joint industrial action at a press conference in Accra. The unions cited the government’s failure to honour a binding agreement signed six months ago as the reason for their decision. According to Mr. George Ansong, National Chairman of SSA-UoG, the strike is a last-resort measure against what the unions describe as a “systemic culture of broken promises.” Despite numerous attempts at dialogue and goodwill engagements, the government has consistently ignored the agreement, leading to the unions’ decision to take drastic action. The unions argue that the strike is not an act of hostility but a principled stand to defend their rights and uphold the sanctity of agreements freely entered into by both parties. Mr. Ansong emphasized that the unions have exhausted all available avenues for resolution and will not return to work until the government fulfils its end of the agreement. The strike is expected to cause significant disruption to the academic calendar and general operations of public universities. However, the unions maintain that the responsibility lies squarely with the government for failing to honour its commitments. The unions are calling on civil society, the media, and the general public to support their cause and pressure the government to act in good faith. The unions remain resolute in their determination to see the agreement implemented. Until the government fulfils its obligations, the strike will remain in full effect. The fate of Ghana’s public universities hangs in the balance, and only time will tell how this standoff will be resolved. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
MP Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa Donates Laptops to Support Teachers in Rural North Tongu
Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has once again shown his commitment to teaching. Recently, he donated laptops to 36 teachers newly posted to various rural communities within the constituency. “This gesture is our way of showing appreciation to teachers who accept postings to rural communities in my beloved constituency,” Mr. Ablakwa proudly said. We want them to feel welcomed and valued.” His initiative is designed not just to provide technology but also to motivate educators who often face challenges in underserved areas. The laptop donation is part of a broader strategy to improve teaching and learning outcomes across North Tongu. Mr. Ablakwa has ambitious plans to roll out further support for educators, including continuous professional development programs, scholarship schemes, and annual awards to recognize excellence in teaching. “These policies are designed to help retain teachers, motivate them, and ultimately improve the quality of education delivered to our children,” he emphasized, highlighting his commitment to fostering a conducive learning environment. With these initiatives, Mr. Ablakwa aims to elevate the educational landscape in his constituency and ensure that every child has access to quality education. Source: Apexnewsgh.com