The Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) has committed GH¢140,362 to support mock examinations for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the Ahafo Region.
The move, which is aimed at improving learning outcomes and strengthening basic education, will benefit 2,081 candidates in 71 junior high schools across the Asutifi North District and Tano North Municipality, where access to quality learning resources remains a challenge. 46 out of these schools are in Asutifi North, with the remainder located in Tano North.
Officials from the two municipalities described the intervention as timely and helpful in improving exam preparedness, while providing a structured assessment of students ahead of the final BECE.
The initiative forms part of NADeF’s broader Quality Improvement in Basic Schools (QUIBS) Programme, a four-year education investment covering 94 basic schools—including kindergarten, primary and junior high institutions—at a total cost of GH¢16.93 million.
The programme reflects a wider push by the foundation to strengthen human capital development in its host communities, where education is seen as a key driver of long-term economic growth and social mobility.
NADeF’s Executive Secretary, Elizabeth Opoku-Darko, said the programme is designed to raise teaching standards, improve school management and supervision, and create conditions that support effective learning at the basic level by 2030.
Beyond mock examinations, the initiative includes targeted interventions such as teacher training and refresher courses, provision of textbooks and teaching materials, and academic support programmes for BECE candidates.
Additional support measures include the supply and maintenance of motorbikes for School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs), grants to Ghana Education Service (GES) district offices, and the organisation of vacation classes led by NADeF scholarship beneficiaries.
The programme also incorporates guidance and counselling services, reading initiatives, academic competitions, and regular stakeholder engagement and performance reviews.
The Tano North Municipal Director of Education, Stephen Tiah Adams, said the mock examinations have become an important preparatory tool for candidates sitting the BECE, which is scheduled to commence soon.
He noted that student performance in the municipality, previously described as average, has improved in recent years, with some candidates earning national recognition, including selection for the Independence Day State Awards.
However, he flagged ongoing challenges, particularly a shortage of teachers in rural communities, which continues to affect the quality of education delivery in parts of the district.
NADeF, established under Newmont Ghana’s corporate social responsibility framework, has positioned education as a central pillar of its development strategy in the Ahafo Region.
Its interventions span infrastructure, teaching support and student-focused programmes, to build a stronger education system while contributing to broader community development outcomes.
Post Views: 1
Discover more from The Business & Financial Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
