By Kingsley Nana Buadu
Seventy-Two students from the University of Cape Coast Practice Senior High School have received the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards under the Head of State Awards Scheme.
The students received bronze awards each after going through a six months series of activities, tasks and programmes meant to propel them to become better people for society in future. It is to fill the vacuum the education system has created due to the over-reliance on exams and test scores making young people lack the skills, behaviour and attitudes that employers want.
The Head of State Awards Scheme is an affiliate of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. It is the world’s leading youth achievement award founded by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip.
It provides a non-formal educational and youth development framework for young people aged between 14 and 25 years. The aim is to challenge young people for life and work. The award was first introduced in Ghana in 1967 as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
The name was later changed to The Head of State Awards-Ghana instead of International by the then Head of State Gen. I.K Acheampong in 1974 to encourage self-reliance, self-discovery, perseverance, individual responsibility and service to the community.
The Award further provides young people with the confidence and the core skills as employers look for when distinguishing candidates.
Out of the over 180 members at the University of Cape Coast Practice Senior High School UPSHS, 72 were successful with the task and programmes of the award scheme and have been presented with bronze awards. Their next task would be towards silver awards.
The Regional Coordinator for the Head of State Awards Scheme, Kwadwo Abedi Lartey, explained the expectations of the Awards scheme and the benefit to the young people and society.
The Leader and Coordinator of the scheme in the school, Madam Grace Evelyn Annan, also explained some of the tasks and projects the award winners undertook for the six months period.
The Headmaster of the school .. was excited about the achievement of the students and the discipline they are exhibiting after joining the Scheme. He promised to ensure more students enroll in the scheme next year.
Some of the award winners spoke with GBC about some of the activities and tasks they undertook and expressed their joy for the feat.