Consider People With WASSCE Grades D7, E8 For Pursuing Higher Education

Somewhere in August 2012, the ministry of education cautions that tertiary institutions that do not follow the applicable entry requirements to admit students will have their accreditation revoked.

Consequently, the ministry directs the national Accreditation board (NAB) to publicize in consonance with the Tertiary Education Accreditation and Establishment Regulation (LI1984 2010), the applicable entry requirements to all tertiary education institution in the country.

Amongst this regulation were that candidates with grades D7 and E8 should not be admitted into any of the country’s tertiary institutions be it private or public. The order followed an audit inspection conducted by the board and the students who were at various levels were admitted with only proficiency certificates in computer studies and other courses.NAB, thus ordered some private universities to withdraw such students with grade D7 and E8 in one core subjects or elective subject.

Three categories of such students were identified. These are Higher National Diploma(HND)students without the requisite passes in the core SSCE/WASSCE subjects especially English and Mathematics .Mature subjects and others with qualifications not recognizes for purposes of admission to the nation’s tertiary education system. These students took the matter to court and won. The court however directed those universities to help organize remedial classes for such students to help them make those grades and also to organize classes for the affected students to catch up with their peers. End results was total waste of time and scare resources.

The question is why candidates with D7and E8 be prevented from accessing tertiary education whiles West African Examination Council (WAEC) recognizes those grades as passes?

In South Africa a students who does not intend studying science related course, can enter the University to purse tertiary education without studying mathematics. After all what is the use of allowing a candidate with C6 in all subjects -3 core and 3 electives (Aggregate 36)-per the current with 5-A1’s and D7 or E8 (Aggregate 12or 13)or preventing another with5 –B2’s and 1 D7 or E8(Aggregate 12or 13)from accessing higher Education.

I honestly have the strongest convictions that as nation we need to enhance much on dimensions, talents and potentials that are engraved in a person and as a county if we are bent on embarking on massive developments and reconstruction, we need to harness and unearth these endowments and talents in everybody especially the youth. Restricting and obstructing them by refusing them entry into tertiary institution just because of grade D7 or E8 does not really augur well and leaves much to be desired and therefore needs to be considered and consequently revoked that policy.

These denied prospective candidates eventually become very incensed ,peeved and distraught and some of them channel their energies and strengths into social vices like prostitution ,armed robbery, street hawkers, internet fraud or scammers in a bid to eke out a living as well.

Moreover due to this insanity policy has turned as a beast haunting youth and also yielded to numerous remedial schools which are not promoting the education system in Ghana. Such candidates find it difficult getting funds to register for those re-sit papers. This doesn’t augur well for the development and prosperity that we all dream of. I am therefore imploring and beseeching the ministry of education, national accreditation board and national council of tertiary education to revive their decision so that the countless number of prospective but incapacitated and vulnerable students who had D7and E8 can be given the platform to showcase their potentials that will eventually inure to the benefit of mother Ghana.

Subsequently, is ridiculous and pathetic to block a candidate from less endowed or remote area from pursing tertiary education, with fewer facilities, lack of teachers, but eagerly forced themselves in leaning to attain such grades. Also, as in this current era of admission requirements the then SSCE was and now accepted from grade A, B, C, D.

With this policy has rendered numerous senior high school leavers not being able to pursue higher education in our universities. These candidates have therefore resorted to pursuing tertiary programs in colleges of education, nursing training and polytechnics against their interest.

This situation has adversely affected the productivity of the nation in the wider view since the graduate that are churned out tend to work in fields devoid of their interest, and do not give their all for optimal productivity.We must begin to analyze and confer critically, evaluate our policies before instituting or implementing them.

Source:
SARPONG KWADWO
0243068552