The Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Hon. Shirley Kyei, has provided full Senior High School (SHS) prospectus support to 300 graduates who sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The intervention, targeted at brilliant but financially disadvantaged students, is aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and guardians ahead of the reopening of Senior High Schools on September 18, 2026.
Under the initiative, each beneficiary received essential school items including metallic trunks, chop boxes, student mattresses, and exercise books — items that often prevent qualified students from reporting to school on time.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Hon. Shirley Kyei said the gesture was motivated by the economic constraints faced by many parents in the constituency, which threaten to deny brilliant students access to second-cycle education.
“Due to the financial constraints of some parents, I decided to bear some of the cost of the school essentials in order to enable brilliant but needy students to access Senior High School education without hindrance,” she stated.
The MP disclosed that beyond the SHS support, she has also facilitated 50 full scholarships for students at the tertiary level as part of her broader educational development agenda for the constituency.
Hon. Kyei further advised the BECE graduates to stay focused on their academic pursuits and abstain from social vices such as drug abuse, truancy and peer pressure, urging them to make their books their topmost priority as they transition to SHS.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Education Director for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Nana Ama Pokua, used the occasion to highlight critical challenges hampering quality education delivery in the municipality.
According to her, severe infrastructural deficits, lack of adequate classroom furniture, and absence of teachers’ bungalows remain major obstacles.
She explained that the lack of accommodation for teachers forces many educators to commute long distances daily, placing undue physical and financial stress on them and affecting teaching and learning outcomes.
Nana Pokua also expressed deep concern about rising student absenteeism, which she linked largely to the influx of “Pragya” (tricycle) commercial transport business, which is luring many school-going children into premature income-generating activities at the expense of their education.
Commendation
Despite these challenges, the Education Director commended Hon. Shirley Kyei for her immense and continuous contributions toward educational growth in the municipality.
She described the MP’s interventions as timely and life-changing, restoring hope and joy to many families.
“For a country to develop, education cannot be left behind,” Nana Ama Pokua stressed, calling for more collaborative support from stakeholders to complement government efforts.
Parents and beneficiaries who spoke to Kumasi Pioneer expressed profound gratitude to the MP, noting that the support had come at a critical time when many families were struggling to meet the demands of the SHS prospectus.
