The Atwima Mponua District Assembly, in collaboration with the Ismat Foundation, has supported 17 outstanding Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the district with essential educational materials to facilitate their transition into Senior High School (SHS).
The beneficiaries, who obtained aggregates ranging from 6 to 12 in the 2026 BECE, received school backpacks, textbooks and toiletries at a ceremony held in the district.
The initiative, according to the organisers, was aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and guardians while encouraging the beneficiaries to remain committed to their education as they begin a new phase of their academic journey.
A notable feature of the beneficiaries was the strong representation of female students, with 13 out of the 17 students being girls.
The development has, however, raised concerns about the educational progression of boys in the district, with calls for stakeholders to pay renewed attention to the academic performance and retention of male students.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Mponua, Ibrahim Issahak, urged them to take their education seriously and remain disciplined and committed to their studies.
He encouraged the students to consider the support they had received as an opportunity and motivation to work harder to achieve their educational aspirations.
According to him, the transition from basic school to the second-cycle level came with greater academic responsibilities, requiring students to demonstrate discipline, determination and a strong commitment to their studies.
He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the learning materials and other items provided to them and strive to become responsible and productive citizens in the future.
The DCE further assured the beneficiaries and their parents that the District Assembly remained committed to supporting education and creating an enabling environment for children in the district to pursue their academic ambitions.
He said the Assembly would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to identify challenges confronting education in the district and develop appropriate interventions to address them.
Gender Gap
Mr Issahak said the fact that 13 of the 17 beneficiaries were girls was encouraging, particularly in efforts to promote female education, but noted that it also called for reflection on the educational progress of boys.
He observed that the apparent disparity required renewed attention to ensure that boys did not lag behind their female counterparts in academic achievement and progression.
He explained that the district would work towards developing and implementing appropriate measures to address the emerging gender gap in educational progression.
The objective, he said, was to ensure that both boys and girls had equal opportunities to access quality education, remain in school and excel academically.
He stressed that educational development required the collective responsibility of the Assembly, parents, teachers, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
Call For Stakeholder Support
The DCE commended the Ismat Foundation for partnering the Assembly to support the students, describing such interventions as important contributions towards improving educational outcomes in the district.
He also acknowledged the efforts of parents, teachers and school authorities who had supported the students to achieve the impressive BECE results.
He encouraged other organisations, individuals and development partners to emulate the gesture and support education-related initiatives within Atwima Mponua.
The collaboration between the Assembly and the Ismat Foundation, he noted, demonstrated how partnerships between local authorities and private organisations could contribute to improving the educational prospects of young people.
The beneficiaries, for their part, were encouraged to uphold discipline, respect their teachers and parents, and remain focused on their academic goals as they enter SHS.
The presentation forms part of broader efforts to motivate academically promising students and ensure that financial difficulties do not become a major obstacle to their educational progression.
The Assembly expressed its commitment to working with stakeholders to strengthen education in Atwima Mponua while ensuring that both male and female students are given the support and opportunities needed to realise their full potential.
