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Central Regional Minister-designate, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, has hinted that when given the nod, he will create a system that will absorb indigenes of the region into the country’s first class senior high  schools (SHSs) which are mostly located in the region.

According to him, many indigenes of the region do not gain admission into the best SHSs situated there.

“This unfortunate situation must change,” he stressed.

“As a Regional Minister, I will create and promote a policy to admit Junior High School (JHS) students from the region into some of the best schools even if their grades are slightly below the mark. This, I think, is the only way to improve the educational fortunes of the region,” Hon. Ricketts-Hagan said.

The regional minister-designate made the comments when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament yesterday where he was vetted by the Ebo Barton-Odru-led committee.

Most of the nation’s best second cycle schools like Wesley Girls’ High School, Holy Child School, Mfantsipim, Adisadel College, St Augustine’s ,Aggrey Memorial among others are located in the Central region, yet majority of JHS graduates from the area do not get access into these schools.

This has become a matter for concern for the indigenes, he indicated.

Mr. Ricketts-Hagan said he would introduce policies that will help the students in the region to pass their examinations at the basic level, but added that in the meantime affirmative action through a quota system was necessary.

The regional minister-designate stated that poverty and other extreme circumstances add to the poor performance of children in the region which he promised to address in the shortest time.