Thirty-three Junior High School (JHS) Students in four districts are likely to be absent for the 14 September, 2020 final year exams, with some reportedly being pregnant following the re-opening of schools due to COVID -19 pandemic outbreak in the country in 12th March 2020.
It would be recalled the government has directed all basic schools across the country to resume school in 29TH June, 2020 to enable the JHS final year students to prepare ahead of their forth coming Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) after COVID -19 break.
The coronavirus according to World Health Organization (WHO) is a ravaging virus including death, slump of economic activities as well as the closure of schools across the world including Ghana. This development has therefore forced Ghana’s governments to put measures in place to avert the loss of human lives and to reduce the pandemic prevalence in schools.
As part of some measures put in place, the Ministry of Education together with Ghana Education
Service – GES has introduced TV base learning program, online learning and radio base platform to encourage students to learn on their own or with parent amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, UNICEF report in May, 2020 says that the factors that affect equity in access may include the economic deprivation at the house hold level, lack of electricity, internet literacy, and local language instructions among others which the basic schools in Ghana are not left out in these challenges.
Rite FM can authoritatively report following its visits to some schools in the four Districts to find out the extent of preparation after the said COVID -19 break, and he has therefore come through with pregnancy and absenteeism cases recorded in some schools visited.
While some were absent due to pregnancy, others have stopped coming to schools to engage in economic activities and other social vices.
In nine of the eighteen basic schools visited, some fourteen female candidates have not return from the COVID-19 break to prepare for the forthcoming examination due to reported pregnancy in their respective schools.
Though, one (1) female student at Akuse Presby JHS was reported to have died after hanging out with her male colleagues. However, some two male students in the Akuse Roman Catholic JHS have failed to show up since schools have reopened on the 29th June, 2020. Further information has it that the said male absentee students were said to have engaged in some economic activities which they find more lucrative than schooling.
Some students who spoke to a reporter on the condition of anonymity alleged that three of their mates, have dropped out from school as a result of weed smoking but have assured them of coming back to write the BECE when the time was due.
The reporter’s visit to Fanteakwa District at Ayiesu Anglican JHS, the school has recorded three (3) pregnancies. The said affected female students have admitted bearing three to fourth month pregnancies respectively – a claim each of this student has made after confirming it at the Antenatal Clinic in Asesewa District Hospital. One (1) of the victims in her narrations, says she feared the stigmatization associated with the said pregnancy hence she decided to stay away from school for the safe delivery so she could rather engaged in a petty trade.
From the Upper Manya Krobo District, four out of the seven schools visited; Sekesua Presby JHS, Agajajeter JHS, Akonkorma Sisi and Anyoboni DA JHS, all registered students were present and preparing for their examination.
However, Sawa Yiti Presby and Anyoboni Roman Catholic have been hit by one (1) pregnancy each.
Korwhere RC School, one (1) male student has been reportedly engage in haircut business in a different District to fend for himself. According to the head teacher of the said school, he made several efforts to bring back the said male student to school but have proven futile.
In Lower Manya Krobo municipality, stringer visited the Forman Presby JHS and spoke to the Head Teacher, Mr. Nadutey who said, “I registered sixty students but five have since not return from the COVID -19 break.” According to Mr. Nadutey, he was told two of his female students were pregnant while two male students were at large, but his outfit was still pursuing them to rescind their decision. One small boy with peculiar sickness has since not return to the school the school after reopening.
The case of Odumae Anglican, Akuse RC and Nuaso presby-schools in same Lower Manya Krobo municipality have unconfirmed pregnancy and school dropped out cases.
Five schools in Asutuare – made up of Volivo DA, Asutuare Estate basic No 1 and Asutuare Roman Catholic No.2 have all recorded at least one case of pregnancies in their respective schools.
Asutuare RC basic school No.2, registered 38 candidates, nine 9 absented for the mock examination and one pregnancy.
In Asutuare Estate basic No.1 has three boys suspected to be smoking weed. Meanwhile, there was a reported case of a nursing mother who is also preparing for the examination. One pregnancy was also recoded.
Monday, 14 September, 2020 is set for the commencement of the 2020 BECE after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the alteration of academic calendar for various educational institutions including JHS.
Source: Omanba Kodwo Boafo/ritefmonline.org
