The Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has pledged to expand educational support initiatives in his constituency, including offering assistance to a physically challenged student who sat for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The lawmaker made the remarks during visits to examination centres at Abotanso, Ofoase Kokoben and Anwiankwanta on Friday (8 May) after candidates completed their final papers.

Addressing students, Poku-Adusei congratulated them for completing the exams peacefully and urged them to remain confident while awaiting their results.

“Your hard work and discipline throughout your preparation should give you every reason to expect success,” he said. “We are investing in you because we believe in the future you are building.”

He said his School Starter Pack Scholarship Scheme (SPSS), introduced to support students transitioning from junior high school to senior high school, would be expanded next year to cover more beneficiaries.

The MP also highlighted ongoing educational support programmes within the constituency aimed at improving academic performance and access to education.

During the tour, Poku-Adusei met Master Kingsley Owusu Baffoe, a candidate from Dominase M/A JHS who wrote the examination from a wheelchair.

The MP pledged personal support for the student should he perform well in the BECE.

“Education must be inclusive,” he said. “Master Kingsley’s determination is a lesson to us all.”

He added that the student’s physical condition should not become a barrier to his academic progress.

Municipal Director of Education Mrs Leticia Obeng said a total of 3,027 candidates from the Bekwai municipality sat for this year’s examinations.

She described the conduct of the exams as peaceful and incident-free and noted improvements in school retention figures, including a reduction in the number of pregnant candidates compared with previous years.

Mrs Obeng commended teachers, parents and community leaders for helping maintain discipline and calm throughout the examination period.

Poku-Adusei said investments in education were aimed at producing future leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to the development of Bekwai and Ghana as a whole.

“Success in this exam is not the end, but the beginning of a greater responsibility to yourself and to the community,” he said.

Successful BECE candidates are expected to proceed to senior high schools later this year under Ghana’s Free SHS programme.