The Information Services Department (ISD) in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Assembly in collaboration with the Mental Health Unit of the District Health Directorate and the Guidance and Counseling unit of the District Education Directorate has mentally prepared the 2023 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates in the district through a two day health discourse at various Senior High School campuses.
The discourse happened on Thursday, August 24 and Friday, August 25, 2023 at participator’s campuses.
In attendance were the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and Mental Health Coordinator, Ashanti Region, Mrs Faustina Nuako, District Information Officer, Mr Augustine Agyei, Mental Health Officer Akropong Health Center and Best District Nurse, Mrs Fusiena Gibiliru, Girl Child Coordinator/ Guidance and Counseling Rep, Mrs Esther Donkor, students, including others made the programme a success.
In his remark the District Information Officer, Mr Augustine made the candidates realized the battle beforehand, revealing the expectations from stakeholders against the candidates which later put fear, stress, examination fright and other mental instability on the candidates. Which sometimes led to fail in paper or entirely, and examination malpractices.
He encouraged students to adhere to what would be discussed and hopefully their examination would be different.
Taking the pulpit, Mrs Fusiena pointed out what the candidates could do to prepare their mind psychologically to face the exams. She made mention of group studies, having a balance meal before study and before entering the examination hall, taking in water to dehydrate the body as well as the mind, take enough sleep, considering the breathing therapy a priority in all walks of life as it’s impactful, studying at a serenity and cautioned them against the use of caffeine, substance abuses, fasting (religiously or not), and many more as those were addictive substance or activity that went a long way to abstain or stop.
The Best District Nurse 2022, opined that the profession they expect to become is a gradual procedure and that should not discouraged anyone of them or compelled them to overstressed the brain or malpractice in the exams hall but accept the outcome and hoped there would be more alternative to achieve a result.
Adding to hers was the Mental Health Coordinator, Mrs Nuako, that the candidates should not rely on the so called “Apor” (foreign materials sneaked inside examination rooms) but study at their best levels and locate past questions for input.
She added that, addictive substances have long term implications which afterwards affect the brain’s functionality. And that their outfit was there to treat but as it is said in healthcare that “prevention is better than cure” they were to prevent what is preventable.
Mrs Nuako, encouraged them of being able to overcome the examination with clean sheets, based on what has been talked of coupled with tutors tutoring.
Candidates whose assessment were sort said, they were extremely blessed for the submission they have received.
According to them, true the expectations always seemed great which compound some stress over them, being unable to equally have a good sleep.
They prayed, more of such discourse would be geared towards their end.
Beneficiaried schools were Barekese Senior High School (BASEC), Spiritan Senior Technical High School (SSTHS), and Osei Tutu Senior High School (OT) with over a thousand, two hundred and seventy candidates.
Story by:
Augustine Agyei
District Information Officer
