From my little research, W.A.E.C. released the B.E.C.E. results to the secretariat early in September and for them to take five weeks to complete the placement and another two weeks to place the result online for students to print out their forms is not good enough. They can actually do better and we hope all the mistakes they  committed this year would not be repeated next year.

How to print out Placements forms

You will need to purchase a scratch card from S.I.C, A.D.B. bank or from any post office in your neighbourhood. Go to www.myjhsresult.org and enter your index number, the serial and pin number on the scratch card and submit. Don’t forget to add ‘11’ at the end of your index number.

If you are lucky, your forms would be displaced without any sweat. If you are not so lucky, a lot of funny information like this would be shown;

“ Sorry the Index Number, Scratch Card Number/PIN Number does not exist. Please look carefully and retype. If you are very sure about it, please send email to info@csspsghana.org.”

I know you are sure about the information you submitted, the fault is not from the scratch card, its the system which is not working properly. Keep on trying until your form is shown. Don’t rush to buy a new card. I am sure they are still working on the site and probably it is jammed up. It wasn’t designed for over 200,000 candidates to visit the site at once. Just relax and try at dawn or late in the night.

Credibility of the C.S.S.P.S.

On the 10th of this month, a Non Governmental Organization, Challenging Heights petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (C.H.R.A.J), to investigate officials of the Computer Schools Selection and Placement System (C.S.S.P.S.) as it alleges of corruption in the placement process.

According to Challenging heights, it claimed it had substantial evidence to prove that officers in charge of the C.S.S.P.S. are illegally collecting monies, in order to place students in some particular Senior high schools where they would otherwise not have been placed. It also alleged that some of the officers are removing duly merited and placed candidates from their chosen schools, and placing students whose parents have paid bribes in their places.

What was their main point in this allegation, a candidate with aggregate 08 had been placed in Wesley Girls High School. But I asked my self whether it was possible.

Examine this scenario

Candidate A had aggregate 1 in BDT, GA, French, RME, Social Studies and English and aggregate 2 in Mathematics and Int. Science whilst Candidate B had aggregate 1 in Mathematics, English, Int. Science and Social Studies and also had aggregate 2 in BDT, GA, French and RME. Even though candidate A had aggregate 06 and Candidate B had 08, it is very likely Candidate B would have a higher raw score than candidate A. Reason, Candidate B had aggregate 1 in the four compulsory core subjects.

If Challenging Heights want to take this up, they should rather use the raw score of the candidates to build their case rather than the grades. No human institution is perfect. I still believe the computerized school selection and placement system is one of the best thing that happened in Ghana Education Service over the past seven years.

To restore their credibility which has been greatly damaged  because of this accusation, I would advice the C.S.S.P.S. secretariat to make the placement of candidates as transparent as possible. Placements of candidates can actually be done live on air to diffuse any doubt in the mind of parents and the general public about any malfeasance in the secretariat.

Like the National Communication Authority, the Government would have to establish an independent organization which would scrutinize and vet the algorithm that is used for the placement to ensure no strange code is inserted anywhere in it to favour any candidate.

The concept of candidates printing their placement forms online needs to be reviewed. Previously, their placement forms was sent to their respective Junior Secondary Schools,  but presently, parents spend a lot of money to check grades on the phone and also buy cards before they can print out their forms. Its making life difficult for candidates in the rural areas.

Sir Kirk, as he is affectionately called, was employed at Mayflower International School in September 2007 after completing his Senior Secondary School at St. Johns Secondary School, Sekondi. He was a science student who was employed to teach RME and Biology.  But in the course of time, Sir Kirk taught several subjects, including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and RME, at the JHS level.

After he gained admission to University of Ghana, Legon, Sir Kirk opted to handle the class on a part time basis, and this is what he has done for the past four years.

Sir Kirk is very good at what he does. In the last Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), 19 out of 24 of his students had aggregate one in RME and all his students since 2007 made aggregate one in Integrated Science.

On two different occasions, he was the MC during Mayflower International Schools’ Speech and Prize Giving Day.  Sir Kirk’s commitment to his work is something I can vouch for, and always admired his his respect for time.

His last Form three class could not hide their tears when they were informed that Sir Kirk was departing for his National service in one of their Sunday  after church class.

As Headmaster, I am personally grateful for the effort of this noble teacher in the history of Mayflower International School. This is one person I am not going to ever forget. I wish Sir Kirk could stay to complete the academic year, but I also understand his desire to continue to pursue greater personal and professional development goals. I just pray whoever takes his place would measure up to the task.

Sir Kirk, good luck and all the best in all your endeavors.

Massa, nobody could sleep in the family yesterday night, he told me. ‘Have you won the $100,000.00 jackpot MOBI game’, i asked again, more than that, my daughter has won a US  lottery Visa, he proclaimed.

We shouted and screamed in the office, what is more better than obtaining a US Green Card on a silver plate. A whole opportunity would be created with this card, i was happy for my friend. After the euphoria had died down, i decided to probe further the nature of the US Visa Lottery his daughter had won.

Fake Websites

I asked my friend whether he could give me the website of the site that sent the information that her daughter had won, he couldn’t. I however insisted that i needed to verify that the information is coming from the US department of state. When the printed form however arrived, my looks changed. When my friend saw my looks, he asked “  is the  US Visa lottery not authentic” these ‘419  people, the moment they told me to send the processing fee to someone in the UK, i smelled  a rat.

There are 1001 websites out there claiming to be the official website for the US Department of State using intelligent ways to dupe innocent people of their hard earned cash.

The authentic website for the Diversity Visa Lottery is  https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/application.aspx,  www.dvlottery.state.gov. Any other website are specifically designed to dupe you. Unfortunately, when i googled US Diversity lottery, apart from the first two which are authentic, the rest were all fake.

www.usdvlotteryportal.com

www.dvlotteryapply.com/2013DV/2013-programe.php

www.dvlotteryhelp.com

www.americangreencard.com/news.htm

www.usagreencardlottery.org

www.green-card.com.au

Any site that would ask you for a processing fee to process your application is not authentic. Processing is free. If you win the Diversity Visa Lottery, then all payment must be made to the US embassy, if you are asked to send dollars through Western Union to a white lady in UK, then know that it is advanced 419. They will chop your dollar free.

Who Qualifies for the US Diversity Lottery Visa

A friend told me that the US Diversity lottery is a complete brain drain to a nation and I honestly agree with him. Without a Senior High School Certificate, one cannot even qualify for the lottery. If you are a degree holder, your chances of winning is very high. Nurses and teachers i learnt are in hot demand. If all these workers that the Government trains over the years leaves in the name of Visa lottery, what would happen to our health sector? Last week I learnt Tema General Hospital were returning pregnant women because doctors and nurses that were to attend to them were not available.

How to Apply

If you are single and just want to go and hassle in the US, don’t entangle yourself with wives and children. Go single and if things stabilizes, you can come back and pick others. But if you are a business man and you don’t intend to stay there for long, then it is advisable to go with your wife or marry and go with your wife. Your wife can stay over whilst you return to do your business. If you don’t have a wife over there, then you might loose your papers if you stay out of the US for more than six months.

Get a good digital picture and ensure everything is up to specification before you upload.

To all those you want the magic green card, all the best.

Among the dignitaries present was the Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Adu Gyamfi (C.E.O, Danpong Group of Companies) and Special Guest of Honour was Mr. Emmanuel  Habuka  Bombande (WANEP), the Life Patron of the School, Mr. Kwegyir Aggrey and the PTA Chairman, Mrs. Lartey were also present.

The graduation started at exactly 10:30AM with a procession by the graduands. chairman and other dignitaries.

This year’s graduation according to the parents was one of the best. It was simple and short. The Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Adu Gyamfi in addressing the parents admonished them to invest in their wards and to take their wards to schools that produce good results at the B.E.C.E. and not to look at buildings and fanciful things when choosing a new school for their wards.

Mr. Emmanuel Habuka Bombande informed the parents to take the education of their wards seriously. They should spend more time on their children and ensure that they monitor their performance in the school and at home.

The Life patron of the school gave the parents the history of the school and what it had taken for the school to get to its present state. ‘Parents should invest in the school even though it is a private business’, he said. He also advised parents to pay their school fees on time to enable management undertake budgeted development project.

The Headmaster’s sister and her husband who were also among other dignitaries on the high table donated 100 bags of cement.       Dr. Adu Gyamfi in his closing remarks gave the testimony of his son who arrived from America and went to Akosombo International School.

He informed the parents that after he realized his son was not performing well in that school,he decided to bring him to Mayflower School.  But after a lot of hard work and sacrifice from the teachers, he informed the parents that he was glad his son made 8 ones.

Dr. Adu Gyamfi donated three laptops and Gh1000.00 to the school.

The mega party the headmaster promised the graduands was the last item they did not miss. The student ate to their fill, the hardworking teachers were not left behind. They also enjoyed after laboring tirelessly  in organizing the graduation ceremony.

The headmaster, Mr. Mensah Akyeampong thanked all the parents that made it to the graduation and also thanked the hardworking teachers who had always been with him for the past six to seven years. The two MC’s, Sir Kirk and Madam Yvonne Pongo were also praised for a good work done.

When the short code is given out, candidates are to buy 1gh unit and text their index number to the given short code, (1060) on all network has been used for the past two years. A text message would be sent into your inbox indicating the school you have been placed.

If you don’t have the scratch card, go to any ADB bank and buy one. If you already have the scratch card,  print out the school placement form from any internet café. Take the printed form for your school’s headmaster/headmistress to fill and endorse. Don’t forget to send your passport picture for endorsement also. You can then call the secondary school you have been placed into before going there with your parents to collect your prospectus.

If you can get the prospectus of the school you have been placed to from a friend, do get it and encourage your parents to start buying your school items. Please don’t go to your secondary school empty handed. They might demand for their school fees before they even give out the prospectus and that would be in a form of Banker’s Draft.

School fees

School fees varies for most secondary schools. Most Cape Coast Schools took GH450-GH500 Ghana Cedis from fresher’s last year. This year, parents should prepare about GH500 – GH600 for their wards. Most schools do not accept cash, so please ensure you have your Banker’s draft before going to the school if you know the amount to be paid.

Text Books

Most secondary schools provide some text books as part of the admission fees. Parents should wait for their wards to settle down in the school, know what textbooks are required before going to buy them. The only textbook I might recommend before your ward goes to school is Akiola Core Mathematics Text Book and Akiola Elective Maths Text Book. The GAST integrated Science textbook is also a must.

Wish all freshers a memorable first term in school.

The blank spaces would be filled as soon as i obtain those information.

In 2007, our worst  aggregate was 08

In 2008, our worst  aggregate was 06

In 2009, our worst aggregate was 08

In 2010, our worst aggregate was 09.

And in 2011, our worst aggregate was 08

We give all the glory to God  for our excellent results.

Below is the details of the 2011 B.E.C.E results

Total Number of Candidates Presented           24

School Placements into the various secondary schools has been encouraging. Visit mayflower.edu.gh/alumni to see which schools our graduands have made since 2006.

By now, The Computerized School Placement Secretariat would have obtained the result from WAEC, Placement of Candidates into their various Secondary Schools would be announced latest by the second week in August. I am only praying that the kind of confusion that was generated last year does not repeat itself this time around. Where candidates who checked via the mobile phone got the school they chose only for them to go and print the information on the internet and realize that they had been placed in a different school altogether.

Another issue bothering me is the advantage pupils in the public school have over those in the private school. The recent order of the President to the Secretariat that students living in the community where the secondary school is located should be given 30% slot provides plenty room for headmasters and headmistress to abuse.

Cape Coast alone boast of about 6-7 good secondary schools, that is their natural resources. Western region now has oil. They demanded for 10% of the revenue, was it given? I believe all Ghanians deserve equal opportunities into these schools. If you deserve it, fight for it.

Ayeekoo however goes to honourable form three graduands who just completed. To get 22 aggregate 06, 1 aggregate 07 and 1 aggregate 08 is not a fluke. They have done extremely well. I am planning of a mega party for you after the graduation. You have made me proud for the record you have set.

Below is th details of their results for the nine subjects they wrote.

9 Students had 9 ones            Agg    06

8  Students had 8 ones           Agg    06

5 Students had 7 ones            Agg     06

1 Student had 5 ones               Agg     07

1 Student had 4 ones               Agg     08

Once again, Ayeekoo Class of  2011.

In 2007, our worst  aggregate was 08

In 2008, our worst  aggregate was 06

In 2009, our worst aggregate was 08

And in 2010, our worst aggregate was 09.

In general, performance in most of the schools in Tema was not very encouraging. Thankfully to God, our students did their best. Below is the details of the 2010 B.E.C.E results

Total Number of Candidates Presented           17

School Placements into the various secondary schools has been encouraging. Visit mayflower.edu.gh/alumni to see which schools our graduands have made since 2006.

I would encourage all students who where not placed to exercise  patience. I am very sure that if the second placement is done by October 20th, you would be placed. If still you don’t like the secondary school you have been placed into, look for a private secondary school in your neigbourhood  to attend.

To ensure fairness in all subsequent placements, I would urge the Ghana Education Service and  W.A.E.C to establish a commission made up of a group of IT experts who would scrutinize the algorithm used for the placements to ensure it is really free and fair to all B.E.C.E candidates.

To those who made their first choice schools,  Ayekoo. And to those  who missed it narrowly and are crying bitterly, take heart,  all is not lost. Your ultimate goal is getting to the university. You can make it no matter the senior secondary school you attend. Just accept the school you have been posted to and never forget your ultimate target.