VIDEO: Headmistress Raises Alarm After BECE Graduate Admitted to SHS Could Not Write Her Own Name
Concerns about the quality of basic education in Ghana have resurfaced following a startling revelation by Ernestina Kankam, the Headmistress of Ahantaman Girls Senior High School. In an address highlighting the challenges faced by senior high schools across the country, she disclosed that a student who had successfully passed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was unable to write her own name upon admission.
According to the headmistress, the incident occurred during routine onboarding processes for newly admitted students. To the shock of teachers, this particular student struggled with the most fundamental literacy requirement: writing her name. Despite having obtained passes that qualified her for senior high school placement, her writing and general literacy abilities were far below the expected standard.
This revelation has intensified discussions about the credibility of assessments at the basic education level. Many education stakeholders have long argued that Ghana’s basic school system is facing significant challenges — from inadequate supervision to a lack of effective remedial interventions for struggling learners. The headmistress’s account seems to confirm concerns that some students complete junior high school without acquiring the basic skills needed to progress academically.
Mrs. Kankam explained that the issue goes beyond an isolated case. It points to larger systemic weaknesses in the nation’s foundational learning structure. She stressed that when a student is able to navigate the BECE process yet cannot perform simple literacy tasks, it raises questions about teaching quality, examination monitoring, and the criteria used in evaluating student competence.
She further noted that although schools at the senior high level are expected to build on knowledge acquired from the basic level, they now spend significant time addressing gaps that should have been resolved earlier. Teachers increasingly find themselves reteaching basic skills such as reading comprehension, sentence construction, and simple arithmetic — tasks that, under normal circumstances, should be mastered before a student completes junior high school.
Her revelation aligns with findings from various education think tanks and civil society organizations, many of which have warned that learning outcomes in basic schools are declining. Factors such as teacher absenteeism, overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, and limited parental involvement have all been cited as contributors to the problem.
Mrs. Kankam called for a renewed commitment to improving Ghana’s basic education system. She emphasized the need for strong supervision, continuous teacher training, early identification of struggling learners, and interventions that address learning difficulties before students progress to higher levels.
She also urged policymakers to review the assessment methods used at the basic level. According to her, examinations should not only test content memorization but also practical skills that reflect a student’s true learning ability. Without this shift, she warned, more students may transition to senior high school unprepared, placing additional pressure on teachers and negatively affecting overall academic performance.
The headmistress also encouraged parents to take a more active role in their children’s learning journey. She noted that while teachers play a major role in shaping students, parental guidance and monitoring are crucial in ensuring that children develop strong literacy and numeracy foundations.
The incident has sparked national interest, with many calling for immediate reforms. Education experts argue that ensuring quality at the basic level is the only way to guarantee meaningful outcomes at the senior high and tertiary levels.
As discussions continue, Mrs. Kankam’s revelation serves as a stark reminder that Ghana’s education system requires urgent attention. Without decisive interventions, more students may find themselves advancing through the system without the essential skills needed for academic and personal development.
Watch the video below:
@beachfm1055 The headmistress of Ahantaman Girls SHS, Ernestina Kankam, has revealed a disturbing case of examination malpractice, where a student with an aggregate 14 in the BECE was unable to write her name correctly upon admission. According to her, the student later confessed that a teacher had written the BECE on her behalf. Mrs. Kankam cited this incident when speaking about factors that could contribute to the poor performance of students in the 2025 WASSCE.
Source: Thepressradio.com
