Ghana not moving because students fear maths – WAEC examiner

Ashanti-region-based Chief Examiner for Mathematics, Mr Stephen Apiah has attributed the underdeveloped state of the country to the fear Ghanaian students have for mathematics and other subjects that involve calculations.

The Examiner made the comments speaking at a workshop for Junior High School (JHS) teachers in Kumasi on how their students can answer mathematics questions and pass the subject in the impending BECE for School exams.

“If we want to develop as a country we must look at the Mathematical base as Mathematics is the total development of everything,” Mr Stephen Apiah Debrah told the Junior High School (JHS) mathematics teachers at the workshop.

Explaining why the majority of candidates fail the calculation subject in Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr Stephen said most students have a wrong perception of maths which automatically makes them dislike the subject.

Advising students preparing to sit for the national examination, the mathematician encouraged them to keep learning the subject as it is part of their daily lives adding that is one of the easiest subjects to pass the BECE.

“Mathematics is not difficult, Irrespective of the course area you pursue, mathematics is required”, Mr Stephen stated.

The Mathematics Chief Examiner also urged teachers to teach mathematics in a practical way that will help students easily understand the subject many Ghanaians have described as difficult and hard to pass.

In a related development, a University lecturer has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) responsible for the conduct of BECE for School to exclude students between the ages of 9 to 13 from writing the national examination.

Speaking on Accra-based Peace 104. FM’s Kokrokoo show monitored by AcademicWeek, the University of Ghana lecturer, Prof Joseph Osafo said students between the ages of 9 to 13 years writing BECE affects their mental health.

According to him, such prospective candidates don’t have the emotional capacity to manage the shocks or anxiety that comes with the writing of an examination, particularly national examinations like the forthcoming BECE for School.

“The argument should be how best can we make sure that a child between the ages of 9 to 13 years doesn’t fail JHS exams. This picture of failing and writing and failing, at that stage, I think it is too much,” Prof Osafo told Peace FM.