Cut-Off Points in Senior High Schools: An Academic Perspective

Cut-off points have become a significant feature in the admission process of Senior High Schools (SHS) across various education systems, particularly in developing countries. This system, often based on standardized examination performance, aims to ensure merit-based placement of students into different categories of schools. However, the practice raises concerns about equity, student well-being, and the holistic development of learners. This article explores the concept of cut-off points, their advantages, limitations, and potential reforms to create a more inclusive and balanced educational system.

Education serves as a cornerstone for national development, and equitable access to quality education is a critical goal for policymakers. In many countries, including Ghana, Senior High School admissions are largely determined by cut-off points — minimum academic thresholds set by schools to select students based on performance in standardized examinations such as the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). This approach intends to promote meritocracy and resource efficiency but has sparked debates on its fairness, effectiveness, and implications for student development.

Concept of cut-off points: Cut-off points are predefined minimum academic scores that students must achieve to gain admission into particular schools. These points are often influenced by:

• School Reputation and Performance History
• Availability of Resources and Facilities
• Geographical Location
• Government Policies on Education Placement

The cut-off point system aligns with the meritocratic model of education, which seeks to allocate limited educational opportunities based on academic performance.

Advantages of using Cut-Off Points 

1. Merit-Based Placement
   The system rewards hard work and academic excellence, ensuring that students with the highest scores access the best schools. This encourages a culture of competition and academic diligence.

2. Efficient Resource Utilization
   High-performing schools often have limited facilities and staff. Cut-off points help regulate the intake of students to ensure resources are efficiently allocated.

3. National Education Standards
   By placing students in schools that match their academic abilities, the system helps maintain consistent academic standards across the education sector.

4. Motivation for Students
   The prospect of gaining admission into prestigious schools acts as an incentive for students to excel in their studies.  Disadvantages of Cut-Off Points 

1. Educational Inequality
   The system disproportionately benefits students from well-resourced schools, often leaving behind those from marginalized communities. This creates a gap in access to quality education.

2. Psychological Pressure on Students
   The emphasis on high-stakes examinations can lead to stress, anxiety, and a narrow focus on memorization rather than comprehensive learning.

3. Neglect of Holistic Development
   Cut-off points primarily measure academic performance, overlooking other talents such as leadership, creativity, and sportsmanship.

4. Limited Second Chances
   Students who underperform due to temporary circumstances or late academic bloomers are often denied entry into top schools without consideration for improvement.

Ghana's Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) uses BECE results to place students into various Senior High Schools. The system has been lauded for its transparency but criticized for deepening educational inequality. A report by the Ghana Education Service (GES, 2023) indicates that only 18% of students from rural communities gain admission into Category A schools, compared to 60% from urban centers.

Recommendations:

1. Holistic Admission Criteria
   Admissions should combine academic performance with extracurricular achievements, leadership skills, and community service.

2. Affirmative Action Programs
   Special quotas should be allocated for students from underserved communities to promote inclusivity.

3. Continuous Assessment Integration
   Incorporating continuous assessment scores into final placement decisions can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student abilities.

4. Mentorship and Remedial Programs
   Schools should implement mentorship and remedial classes for students who narrowly miss the cut-off points, offering them second chances.   Conclusion

Cut-off points in Senior High School admissions play a pivotal role in shaping educational outcomes. While they promote meritocracy and academic excellence, they also contribute to educational inequality and excessive pressure on students. To build a more equitable education system, policymakers must adopt a holistic approach that balances academic performance with broader measures of student potential. A reformed system will not only ensure fairness but also foster the holistic development of learners, paving the way for inclusive national development.

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References

Ghana Education Service (2023). Annual Education Sector Performance Report. Accra, Ghana.
Mensah, J. & Boateng, K. (2020). "Equity and Access in Secondary School Admissions: A Case Study of Ghana." International Journal of Educational Development, 45(2), 112-128.
UNESCO (2022). Global Education Monitoring Report: Inclusion and Education. Paris, France.
Williams, P. (2021). "The Impact of Standardized Testing on Student Outcomes." Educational Research Quarterly, 34(3), 56-70.

Fire Outbreaks and Security Gaps: A Nation's Misplaced Priorities

In Ghana, countless communities face a glaring absence of essential services. Markets, often prone to fire outbreaks, operate without nearby fire stations, leaving livelihoods and lives at constant risk. Entire neighborhoods lack police presence, creating an environment of insecurity and vulnerability. A classic example is what has just happened to the people of Kantamanto. The whole market has been burnt down. 

Yet, in a puzzling twist of priorities, some individuals enjoy the privilege of having as many as 20 police officers and soldiers dedicated to their personal protection. This stark imbalance raises critical questions: Are our leaders truly addressing the needs of the people, or are we trapped in a cycle of misplaced priorities and inefficiency?

With fire outbreaks becoming increasingly common and security concerns mounting, it’s time to demand accountability and a governance system that prioritizes the safety and welfare of all citizens. Ghana deserves better.

By: Emmanuel Awedam

#awedam

#aisi

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION OR PLAN MADE SIMPLE

 Your New Year’s resolution framework is an excellent way to set priorities and structure your goals. Here’s a breakdown of each category with meaningful insights and critiques, along with practical application to your daily activities:  

1. Must Do

Meaning:

These are non-negotiable tasks or responsibilities that are critical to your well-being, career, or relationships. Failure to address these would have significant consequences.  

Application:

- Daily Activities:

   - Health: Prioritize exercise, balanced meals, and adequate sleep.  

   - Work: Complete essential job tasks or deadlines.  

   - Personal: Spend time with loved ones or fulfill obligations (e.g., bills, household management).  

Critique:

While these are essential, overloading this category can lead to stress. Be discerning—if everything is a “must,” nothing truly is. Reserve this category for what absolutely cannot wait or be compromised.  

2. Should Do

Meaning:

These are important tasks that contribute to long-term goals or improvements but aren’t immediately critical. They can be delayed or delegated without disastrous effects.  

Application:

- Daily Activities:

   - Skill-building: Enroll in courses, read industry-related books.  

   - Health: Regular doctor check-ups or advanced fitness goals.  

   - Relationships: Reach out to friends or network professionally.  

Critique:

This category is often overlooked in favor of “musts” or “desires.” Ensure you allocate time here, as neglecting these tasks can lead to stagnation in personal or professional growth.  

3. Can Do

Meaning:

These are optional tasks that you have the capacity to take on if time and energy permit. They are not urgent or crucial but can be rewarding.  

Application:

- Daily Activities: 

   - Leisure: Try a new hobby, watch a movie, or socialize.  

   - Work: Volunteer for additional responsibilities.  

   - Self-care: Meditate or journal if you feel inclined.  

Critique:

This category helps balance productivity with flexibility. However, avoid letting “can do” activities distract from “must do” or “should do” priorities.  

4. Desire to Do

Meaning:

These are your dreams, passions, or indulgences that bring joy and fulfillment. While not essential, they enrich your life.  

Application: 

- Daily Activities:

   - Personal: Work on a creative project, travel plans, or indulge in your favorite pastime.  

   - Career: Pursue an ambitious idea or entrepreneurial venture.  

   - Relationships: Plan meaningful experiences with loved ones.  

Critique:

While pursuing desires is fulfilling, it’s easy to overindulge in this category at the expense of other responsibilities. Strike a balance to ensure these goals align with your values and long-term aspirations. 

Final Thoughts for 2025 

Application:

- Balance is Key: Each category should be represented daily, but in varying proportions. Your “must do” tasks will naturally take precedence, while “desire to do” activities add color and excitement to your routine.  

- Prioritize Weekly: Use a planner or digital tool to group tasks under these categories and revisit them weekly to stay on track.  

- Flexibility: Be willing to shift tasks between categories as circumstances evolve. A “should do” today might become a “must do” tomorrow.  

With this thoughtful approach, you’re setting yourself up for a well-rounded, purpose-driven 2025.

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SLAVERY OF MEN BY WOMEN

A must READ for every MAN!

Every Man irrespective of who they are must read the book by a German writer ESTHER VILLAR the THE MANIPULATED MAN.

This BOOK has caused outrage and HOSTILE CRITICISM from women, it explains how women since the earliest times have MANIPULATED men and turned them into their SLAVES, they have PRETENDED to be the OPPRESSED s.£¥ while in the real sense they are the OPPRESSORS. 

She explains how a WOMAN manipulates a MAN skillfully by steps like COURTSHIP and finally MARRIAGE, hence the saying “a man chases a woman until SHE catches him”.

In her book she explains how the man is TRICKED to care for the woman all his LIFE and her offspring. 

He rolls the stone like SISYPHUS and in turn gets rewarded by a few minutes of s£xual PLEASURE. 

We can, by observing Esther Villars assertions that a man is a SLAVE of his DESIRES and the WOMAN uses and has used it for THOUSANDS of years as a stick and carrot to keep the man chasing VANITY and commit his life to SERVING her.

She goes ahead to explain the RIVALRY of WOMEN, how each woman feels the powerful urge and need to OWN a male for HERSELF. 

Like a SLAVE owner, she detests any move the MAN would make to offer his services to another woman. She uses all means to keep the man to herself and her offspring alone.

Esther Villar's sentiments are captured by Nigerian Poet, critic and writer, Chinweizu Ibekwe in his book, “The Anatomy of Female Power” (AFP) and  Will Farrel's, “The Predatory Female”. 

They all push the THEORY that all societies are MATRIARCHAL and not PATRIARCHAL as we are pushed and forced to believe. 

MATRIARCHY has ruled not through brawn but WITS and TRICKS; women feigning weakness to be protected etc. Thus the male becomes the most exploited s.£¥ in human history, (in wars the man is always ready to DIE for the woman; he has been trained to do that).

Chinweizu calls the idea of DATING and COURTSHIP, TRAINING, like that of a horse. It is during this time that a woman having kept the man on a LEASH by denying him s.£¥ and getting him addicted to her by FALSE charms, trains and breaks him to whatever she wants him to become.

The MARRIAGE celebration becomes a celebration for the woman and her friends, and they all congratulate HER for having succeeded in getting herself a SLAVE . 

A man on that WEDDING day waves goodbye to his INDEPENDENCE and his coalition of males and commits himself to a SISYPHEAN life, rolling the stone, an act he cannot abandon having SOCIETY and the GOVERNMENT checking on him and always ready to JAIL, SHAME or EXILE him for absconding his duties of SLAVERY. 

Thus, the government and SOCIETY helps the WOMAN in keeping her SLAVE (man) in check.

Chinweizu gives a narration of how women are trained by older matriarchs to TAME men. He explains how a man is trained to rely on women by his own mother. 

A man is SHAMED for cooking for himself and other domestic chores by his own mother who is an agent of the global matriarchal rule.

By getting the MAN to hate DOMESTIC works and having it enforced by culture which warns men against going into the kitchen, doing LAUNDRY etc. 

The mother trains his son for the woman who will captivate him and when the time comes she takes hold of the man's stomach and by getting the man addicted to her body she holds him by the two, in BED and in the KITCHEN. 

With those two weapons she manipulates the man and turns him into her plaything.

A noble piece which is a must read for every MAN under the globe.

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Summarized: By Sadiq Saad 

Why Mark Zuckerberg is richer than Ghana...

One Saturday, Dr Mensa Otabil Founder of the International Central Gospel Church infected and provoked a mass of young entrepreneurs with yet another signature performance, a destiny changing motivational message that will linger in the minds of many, for many years to come.

Otabil feels angry and insulted by the development because Zuckerberg, he reckoned, is not any more intelligent than the thousands of computer programmers in Ghana but the American has a better environment; a country of opportunities.

"What is the difference between Zuckerberg and you; Steve Jobs and you? Otabil asked rhetorically. "It is not brains, it is the environment," he answered sullenly.

Where is our travolator and sulfur-free onion?

The preacher man told a story of how he travelled out of the country and with the aid of a travolator he beat a young man to a walking contest. The man decided to speedwalk but used a travolator at some point. Even though the man heeled-and-toed with agility he could not beat Otabil because the travolator pushed him faster to his destination.

He told another story, he read in a book, of a US company seeking to grow onions that will not sting the eyes. For a man who had shed onion-stinging- tears in the past from his kitchen in Accra, he will certainly wonder how an American company will grow new species of onions without its notorious characteristic. But the 'useless' book he was reading in the plane suddenly became useful, revealing, that the new species of onions will be planted in a "non-sulfuric ground."

He learnt a new thing. Onions sting eyes because they are always grown and nurtured in a soil full of sulfur but the US company is coming with a new offer. "The reason why the onions will not sting people's eyes is because it was going to be grown in sulfur free soil."

"It is not the nature of onions to sting eyes. It is the environment it is nurtured in that makes it sting eyes.

"It struck me that a person can be so good but if he is planted in a wrong environment, he is going to turn up so bad," Otabil said.

He wondered how much sulfur was in the Ghanaian environment that made many dreams, business break down in tears.

"What have we put in the environment, in the soil that is killing the dream of young men and young women. How can people go to university and for years and not know what to do? How can people with potential not fulfill their potential?

"If you take a simple area like football, the greatest Ghanaian players now were all onions that were planted in a different soil. They had to go outside Ghana for their talents to become world class. Do you think if Michael Essien had continued playing in the Ghana league we will call his name? No! Is he talented? Yes.

No matter how big the dream is, Otabil says if the environment is without a travolator or a sulfur free soil, you will achieve something but ultimately you will become the village champion amongst global players.

"The challenge for nations like Ghana is not the challenge of talented citizens. It is the challenge of poisonous environment. An environment that has been poisoned by ordinariness, by mediocrity and sometimes by a clear agenda to destroy talents.

"And how can a nation be great when its systems are fighting the talent of its people? he asked.

It is good to dream because dream is free but fight to get a better environment for the dream to thrive, he challenged the young men and women.

"We have to force the politicians to start thinking of us; of our lives; our future and dreams. And the only way to do that is for you to start thinking not in party terms but in policy terms,"

"Because if that doesn't happen dreamers will die with their dreams not realised," he added.

What is your dream; fight for a better travolator and a sulfuric free soil, to make your dreams come to pass.

~ Mensa Otabil ~

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"From Power to Protest: Unpacking Why the NPP Lost Ghana's Recent Elections"

 The New Patriotic Party (NPP) losing the recent elections in Ghana could be attributed to several factors based on common political trends and voter behavior. Here are some candid thoughts:

1. Economic Challenges: Economic hardships, such as rising inflation, unemployment, and high cost of living, often lead to voter dissatisfaction. The NPP government was perceived as failing to address these issues , which led to eroded public trust. For instance, inflation rose up to 54℅ which eroded the people purchasing power and general cost of living. 

2. Corruption Allegations: Perceptions or allegations of corruption can significantly harm a ruling party’s image. If voters believed the NPP was involved in mismanagement or unethical practices, this might influenced their decision. There were several cases of corruption which the government failed to handle it. The most popular of them is the Madam Cecilia Dapaah case. 

3. Broken Campaign Promises: Failure to deliver on key campaign promises led to voter disillusionment. The citizens felt that the NPP did not fulfill its commitments,for which reasons they  opted for a change.

4. Leadership Fatigue: After years in power, some governments face "incumbency fatigue," where voters desire new leadership, regardless of performance. And this showed in the NPP government lackadaisical attitude solving problems. 

5. Effective Opposition Campaign: The opposition party may have run a strong campaign that highlighted the NPP's shortcomings and presented itself as a credible alternative.

6. Youth Discontent: Young voters in Ghana are a significant demographic. The NPP government was perceived as not addressing their needs—such as job creation, education, and technology investment—which cost them significant loss of votes especially in their strong hold ,Ashanti region. 

7. Regional Dynamics: Ghanaian elections often reflect regional voting patterns. A shift in loyalty in key regions have been detrimental to the NPP's overall performance.

8. External Factors: Global economic challenges, such as post-COVID recovery issues or the impact of international conflicts, might have exacerbated domestic problems, creating a perception that the government was not in control.

It is critical to analyze the post-election data and feedback to understand the root causes fully.

Bright Simmons write

 Bright Simmons write ✍️ 👇🏼👇🏼

1. Watchers of Ghana politics must have heard complaints from the NDC (lead opposition party/incoming govt) side of the ongoing transition of political power concerning tens of millions of dollars being paid out to a vendor of the state-owned electricity utility at this late hour.

2. The NDC claims to have blocked this payment for now.

3. The episode would make some think that the task of lessening the effect of the fiscal bomb awaiting the NDC when it takes office in January 2025 would involve a lot of cloak & dagger and undercover moves to retrieve stashed loot under beds and in foreign tax havens. 

4. Maybe there would be that. I don't know. Every incoming Ghanaian government makes these promises and then disappoints. What I know, without doubt, is that a lot of the fiscal trapdoors waiting for the new government are "hiding in plain sight".

5. Just one example: Agenda 111. The government used COVID-19 as a pretext to embark on a massive hospital and clinic building spree even though no budgetary provisions had been made for such in the medium-term expenditure framework. 

6. The Health Ministry was not directly involved in strategy, so there are no plans on how to stock these "111" large hospitals/clinics, staff them, or provide for their maintenance. Nor is it clear from which department's budget these costs will be serviced.

7. Everything was done in the Chief of Staff's office within the Presidency. Favoured contractors were handpicked and blessed with the juicy multi-billion dollar opportunity. Two in particular: famed Ghanaian architect, Adjaye, and luxury estate developer, Buena Vista. 

8. No one really knows how much the whole spread will cost. In 2021, $100 million was released to get things started and pay "mobilisation". Since then, reports say a further $300 million has been released to contractors.

9. None of the hospitals have been fully completed and certified as built to the requisite clinical standards. It is up to the next government to foot the bill. The pending liability has usually been estimated at $1.45 billion, and contractors are waiting for large disbursements to keep the work ongoing. Promises to complete by September this year were of course completely arbitrary and driven by nothing more than the electoral campaign calendar.

10. What is frightening is that the Ministry of Health has suddenly taken a look and now claims that about $7.5 billion is required. You heard that right. 250% more than the entire IMF package of $3bn, which required the painful DDEP to happen before Ghana could qualify. But even if it is the $2 billion some analysts assumed, it is still bigger than the energy sector arrears some fear might trigger a bigger round of dumsor. Yet, no one is talking about it.

11. Talking about the IMF, it is quite strange that whilst in a program that is supposed to constrain expenditure, the government was still allowed to spend this way. Bear in mind, also, that ~70% of the IMF money has already been disbursed to the current government. Apparently, for "good performance". Yet, most of the painful structural reforms have been left for the next government. 

12. All the above is why analysts believe that the new government on assuming office may revise macroeconomic numbers like the fiscal deficit and true debt position for, at least, 2024 following a detailed audit. Thereafter, they are likely to hound the IMF for a revision to multiple program targets and even an augmentation of the financing package itself.

Credit : Bright Simmons.