In a bold effort to tackle declining Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results, the Asuogyaman District has rolled out a two-week academic boot camp designed to prepare top-performing Junior High School students for academic excellence.
The initiative, christened Ampem EduCamp 2025, is spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman and Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, in collaboration with the district education directorate.
The camp, hosted at the Akosombo International School, brought together 400 JHS 2 students — five of the best from each school — for intensive coaching in core BECE subjects, including Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Nyarko said the programme was a deliberate intervention to sharpen academic skills and improve overall examination performance.
“I sat with the education directorate and agreed that the best way to motivate and strengthen the abilities of our brightest students is to create this camp,” he explained. “By bringing together the top students across the district, we are preparing them to excel and set higher standards for their schools.”
Beyond classroom lessons, the EduCamp incorporated mentorship sessions where students engaged with professionals and role models, gaining insights into career development and personal growth. The MP also distributed more than 2,000 exercise books, mathematical sets, and textbooks to participants.
Mr. Nyarko said these interventions form part of a broader vision to bridge educational gaps, promote equity, and uplift standards in public schools.
“Education is the key to development, and I am committed to giving our young people the tools they need to succeed,” he affirmed.
The initiative builds on the MP’s ongoing investments in education, which include the construction and renovation of classroom blocks in several communities to improve the learning environment.
District Education Director, Augustina Adwoa Owusu, praised the EduCamp, describing it as a timely and crucial intervention.
“Poor infrastructure and weak BECE results have long been pressing concerns in this district. But with initiatives like this, we are optimistic that Asuogyaman can rise to become one of the best-performing districts in Ghana,” she said.
The camp climaxed with an academic assessment to test knowledge gained during the two weeks. Zoe Kudo Yayra emerged as the overall best student, earning recognition from organisers and peers.
Stakeholders hope that the EduCamp, which is expected to become an annual programme, will inspire a culture of excellence, transform student attitudes toward learning, and significantly boost BECE outcomes in the years ahead.
