BECE and matters arising

About a fortnight ago, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results were released after candidates had been left sitting on tenterhooks for a while. Even then, results were released with some subject results pending.

It was not until barely six days later that the result for the subject in question, creative art and design, was also released.

As with every new curriculum, many of our graduates have been left disillusioned by the outcome of the exams. Whilst some schools did not have qualified teachers to teach the modified curriculum and textbooks were rare in some subject areas, there were no sample questions from previous years for both teachers and students to study trends, patterns and styles of questioning.

Some parents have not slept well since the release of results because of the unpredictability of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System.

To say many students are disappointed to see the outcome of their hard work in particularly Religious & Moral Education and Computing is an understatement.

While the children and their parents have a few days to prepare towards re-opening, these children must be also prepared psychologically to face the future ahead with its uncertainties in senior high schools.

Our graduates need now more than ever, every encouragement that parents and guardians can gather to boost their self-esteem.

To help them push past the tendency to doubt their abilities, the following words of Theodore Roosevelt can be a source of encouragement.

He said, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there”. What is past, is past. As our children advance, they need to believe in their capabilities regardless of their BECE results.

We can fuel persistence and resilience by also letting them know that failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts (Winston Churchill).

Success and apparent failure are not endpoints. Because success is not a destination, we must not define them by their failures or performance, which we deem disappointing.

Success and failure are both learning processes. We must be ready to grow by mustering the courage to persevere when we meet these along life’s journey.

Fear

The fear of failure must not paralyse them in their new environment. This fear can arise out of feelings that they are not good enough or don’t measure up.

They must be made to understand that they miss 100 per cent of the shots (opportunities) they don’t take.

Not seizing opportunities to grow rather guarantees failure. When we try and fail, what we have gained is invaluable experience.

Success and failure are temporal. Whichever their experience, it is only preparing them for extraordinary destiny if they take up the challenge.

This is a critical period of their lives where they must be helped to appreciate and celebrate their strengths, rather than spend time moaning over their weaknesses.

Transition

As they transition to senior secondary schools too, this particular batch is faced with entirely new subject combinations as part of efforts to improve the educational system.

In making programme choices, let’s be guided by the child’s passion and not the selfish ambition or ego of parents.

According to Steve Jobs, the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Who understands this better than the man Jobs, an American businessman, inventor and investor best known for co-founding the technology company Apple Inc?

Let’s help our children to align their future careers and goals with their interests and passions. For it is when they pursue something that they love and genuinely care about, that they are more likely to excel and find fulfillment in their work.

The writer is a Child Development Expert/ Fellow at Zero-to-three Academy, USA.
E-mail: nanaesi_19@yahoo.co.uk