NaCCA replaces Cock Crow with The Beacon of Light for JHS, BECE
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has replaced Cock Crow, which has been in use for over 15 years at the Junior High School (JHS) level, with a new literature book titled The Beacon of Light.
Cock Crow, which has been in usage for over a decade, compels examiners to repeat test items and has time-worn content as far as the Standards-based Curriculum is concerned.
The Beacon of Light, authored by Joshlyn Yayra Diabo, Adam Ankrah, Bryte Okrah, and Lucas Zanyoh NaCCA in a blog post sighted by Pretertiary.com, has officially been approved as the prescribed literature text for Junior High Schools across the country.
The Curriculum Council indicated that an additional resource that accompanies the book is The Beacon of Light Commentary, authored by Victoria Stevens, Dr. Jemima Larteley Mensah, and Very Rev. Ebo Ephraim.
“The commentary provides an in-depth analysis of the book’s contents, offering deeper insights to enhance understanding,” the management of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment said in the blog post on its website.
The Beacon of Light, according to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has been designed to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, literacy, and moral values among young learners.
“It is intended to complement the core instructional materials and provide teachers with additional content to the classroom experience,” NaCCA noted.
The Council in collaboration with the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) has expressed confidence that The Beacon of Light will significantly improve the quality of education in schools.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), following Cock Crow’s replacement, has therefore urged for the Beacon of Light to be studied as part of the English Language Curriculum.
“Teachers preparing learners and learners preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2027 (Learners in JHS 1 for the 2024/2025 academic year) should note that The Beacon of Light will be examined,” NaCCA stated.
The Beacon of Light Commentary Book is a detailed literature guide crafted to help Junior High students understand and analyze the main Beacon of Light storybook.
Perfect for teachers, students, and exam preparation, especially in English Language and Literature classes. It enhances reading comprehension and encourages critical thinking about characters, themes, and plot development.
Cockcrow was a detailed manual on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)-selected textbook for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) English Literature.
The questions of Cock Crow have been divided into two sections: Section A covers literary questions, and Section B contains contextual questions on all the short stories, drama, and poems.
Each question is an interactive exercise to help students gain knowledge about The Cock Crow. This Workbook will help students interact with the short stories, drama, and poems in the textbook and prepare them for the BECE.
The Cockcrow was a compilation of short stories, drama, and poems for Ghanaian Junior High School students. This was to introduce and also prepare them for literature in the Senior High School.
List of stories and drama compilations in Cock Crow
1. Debbie, Sandy and Pepe (story)
2. The Old Man and His Children
3. The Delimma of a Ghost ( drama)
4. Ripples ( story)
5. A Day’s Wait (story)
6. Tell my Son to Hold On to His Gun ( story)
7. Oliver Twist ( abridged and simplified novel)
8. The Girl Who Can ( story)
9. Sosu and the Bukari Boys ( story)
10. The Generous Hunter ( story)
11. Home Sweet Home (story)
