You have no excuse to fail – Dr. Apaak to 2025 BECE awardees

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has urged 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) awardees to see their recognition as a call to higher responsibility.

Addressing 52 selected candidates at the Ministry of Education as part of Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations, Dr. Apaak said their achievement should inspire them to aim even higher.

“You have no excuse,” he told the students on Monday. “If at your age you are privileged not only to come to Accra but to be chosen as award winners and to interact with the first gentleman of the land, then it means you must do more.”

He explained that the 52 awardees were selected based on competence and performance out of the thousands who sat for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

“When you look at the number of students who sat for the BECE and consider that only 52 of you have been selected, it gives us reason to be joyful,” he said. “Give yourselves a round of applause.”

Breaking down the composition of the awardees, the Deputy Minister noted that 32 students were drawn from all 16 regions, both male and female, while 16 came from private schools. He added that two visually impaired and two hearing-impaired students were also among the honourees.

“Among the 52 of you are two visually impaired students and two hearing-impaired students, all deserving of the awards which will be presented two days from today at a much bigger ceremony, likely with His Excellency the President himself,” he stated.

Reflecting on his own upbringing, Dr. Apaak shared that he first visited Accra only after completing his A-Levels in 1991.

“When I was your age, I didn’t even have the privilege of coming to Accra,” he said. “The challenges I went through, you shouldn’t go through those challenges.”

He stressed that ongoing efforts by the Education Ministry and the President are aimed at improving teaching and learning at the basic level, particularly in less-endowed and rural schools.

“There are inequalities depending on where you are,” he noted, adding that the government remains determined to address disparities in infrastructure, teacher deployment, and learning conditions across the country.