Communication Specialist and Gender Advocate, Mrs. Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, who is also the Founder of the Discovery Teen Foundation has presented copies of her English book, Understanding English Literature, to the Teshie Presbyterian Senior High School, at a brief ceremony in the school.
She also presented copies of the Discovery Teen Magazine.
Presenting the books valued at GH¢5000 (Five Thousand Ghana Cedis), the author, Mrs. Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, who is herself a former English Language and Literature tutor of Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast, said she was pleased to be supporting schools to achieve academic excellence.
“Having been a tutor for many years and dealing with adolescents, I have the opportunity to engage students in many ways”.
I’m convinced we all need to play roles in helping our young ones achieve academic excellence.
That’s why I’m excited at this opportunity to contribute by donating these books to boost academic excellence of our students”.
“I know this is a timely intervention that would boost the academic performance of students in English language and Literature courses because it breaks down the concepts and techniques of Literature that make students think the subject is difficult.
Again teachers can also use the book as a facilitator’s handbook to provide further information for their teaching.
This is because the book ultimately aims at providing a complete guide for general reading, studying, and a straightforward approach to understanding and enjoying Literature”.
“English is the language of instruction and assessment in schools; this means a poor command over the language affects performance no matter the level of skills”.
According to WAEC, over 45% of the candidates representing over 200,858 students failed in English Language, and failed to the pass mark for English Language to enable them gain admission into the Tertiary institutions.
Out of this number, 101,538 obtained E8 and F9 in English Language. This is a serious threat to the academic capital, labour force and sustainable development of this country.
“I’m pleased that schools like Wesley Girls’ High School, Archbishop Porter Girls’ School, St. Thomas Aquinas School and Armed Forces Senior High Technical Schools, who have benefited from these books, as well as students from other schools continue to give us positive feedback”.
By Joseph Wemakor