A staff of Gold Fields handing over some items needed for the examination to the students
Gold Fields Ghana Limited, a gold mining company in the Western Region has urged candidates writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) not to harbor any fear but be confident of their success in the examination.
The Operations Manager of the gold mining company, Charles Kofi Nti, made the call when officials of the company met with over 1,400 final year Junior High School students who have been adequately prepared by their teachers for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) which begins today.
The meeting was part of Gold Fields’ Employee Volunteerism Programme.
He explained that the aim was to motivate and prepare the students psychologically for the task ahead.
He said, “It is important for parents and professionals like us to constantly be available for these young ones as we serve as role models to them”.
He added that Gold Fields over the past decade has introduced the Employee Volunteerism Programme where employees of the mine volunteer their working hours to help address societal issues.
He mentioned for instance that at Nana Amoakwa Model School (NAMS), in the area, the employees dedicated their working hours to teach students in accordance with the GES curriculum.
He said the company believes that promoting and enhancing human capital through education and skill development are vital to the sustainable development of the communities that host it mining operations.
To this end, he noted that Gold Fields through its Foundation has invested over $4.8 million in providing access to quality education in its host communities since 2002.
“The investments have gone mostly into supporting student education through the payment of school fees, hostel/accommodation fees, provision of teaching and learning materials and teacher support programmes among others”, he added.
He also indicated that through these human resource development initiatives, over 748 host community students have benefitted from the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Scholarship Scheme.
Wassa East Director of Examination, Fredrick Kwame Forson, implored the candidates to enter the examination hall with a positive mind set.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Damang