BECE takes off smoothly in regions

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) took off smoothly across the country, with students being advised to eschew malpractices.

The examinations has so far not recorded any major incidents, except minor issues which were resolved by officials from the examination body and the Ghana Education Service.

From Ho, Alberto Mario Noretti reports that six candidates who turned up at the Ho-Kpodzi Basic ‘A’ Centre in the Volta Region wearing sports shoes, instead of the prescribed cross-sandals, were asked to take them off and enter the examination halls barefooted.

Prior to that, all female candidates were provided with sanitary pads before they were checked into the examination halls.

The Municipal Girls’ Officer, Seyram Abra Geni-Aidam, explained that some girls could be tensed up while writing their papers and that could result in a sudden menstrual flow.

In all, 314 candidates, including 161 girls and 153 boys turned up at the centre for the Social Studies paper.

The Centre Supervisor, William Dor, said the candidates were from 11 schools in the municipality, adding that the examination materials arrived at the centre in good time.

The examination started after 9 a.m.

Five convicts from the Ho Central Prison sat for the paper at the Ho RC Girls Centre.

Meanwhile, nine visually impaired candidates, including four boys and five girls, are among the 29,888 candidates who are writing the BECE in the Volta Region.

Also included are 13 hearing impaired pupils, comprising eight females and five boys.

The Volta Regional Director of Education, Francis Agbemadi, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Ho, said the examination would be written at 115 centres in all the 18 municipalities and districts in the region.

Kumasi

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, toured some examination centres yesterday in the company of the Regional Director of the GES, Dr William Kwame Amankra Appiah and some officials to wish the BECE candidates well, reports Gilbert Mawuli Agbey.

The team visited the Osei Tutu Senior High School in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District before proceeding to the Mankraso SHS in the Ahaho Ano South West District on the first day of the ongoing examination.

As part of the tour, Dr Amoakohene distributed mathematical sets and pens to candidates as a way of encouraging them to excel in the examination.

Addressing the pupils, he advised them against engaging in acts that had the tendency to lead to the cancellation of their papers, saying, “I urge you to avoid examination malpractices so as to escape from severe sanctions.

Daniel Akwasi Nuako reports from Juaben in the Ashanti Region that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu and officials from the municipal  education directorate visited four examination centres.

The MCE encouraged the candidates to remain focused, courageous and bold not to entertain fears, avoid cheating and write with the exam confidence to come out with flying colours and enjoy the Free Senior High School policy better under President Mahama's administration.

A supervisor at one of the centres told the visiting delegation that one candidate could not turn up for the examination due to financial challenges that had led him to a galamsey site.

The Municipal Director of Education, Phyllis Boateng, advised the candidates to comport themselves to ensure that the municipality recorded incidence free examination.

Tema

In the Tema Metropolis, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, toured some examination centres and stressed the importance of honesty and integrity on the part of the learners and admonished them to rely on their own knowledge and skills rather than cheating, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.

Accompanied by the Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Bernice Ofori, Ms Bright offered some words of hope.

Reflecting on the words of the National Anthem, Ms Bright encouraged the learners to approach the examination with true humility and fearless honesty, reminding them that their performance in the examination was not just about themselves, but also about their nation, parents, teachers and peers.

In all, a total of 3,820 registered candidates are sitting for the 2025 BECE across 14 examination centres in the metropolis.

Out of the number, 2,345 candidates are from the public schools, while 1,4,75 candidates are from private schools.

A total of 1,974 girls and 1,846 boys registered for the examinations in the Tema Metropolis.

Tamale

From Tamale, Mohammed Fugu reports that 35,893 candidates from 769 schools are sitting in this year's BECE in the Northern Region.

They comprise 18,647 boys and 17,246 girls, who will be writing at 128 centres across the region.

The candidates are drawn from both public and private Junior High Schools (JHS).

The Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access at the GES, Dr Issahaque Munawaru, led some officials of the service to monitor a number of centres in Tamale yesterday to interact with the candidates.

Dr Munawaru advised the candidates and invigilators against any form of malpractice, saying anyone found culpable in such acts would face the full rigours of the law.

For his part, the Northern Regional Education Director, Alhassan Alidu Jnr, appealed to parents to create a calm, supportive and nurturing home environment during this critical period. 

Wa

In the Upper West Region, 15,029 candidates are taking part in the BECE, reports Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor from Wa.

The number is a four per cent improvement of last year’s figure, out of which 3,767 are from the Wa metropolis alone.

The candidates from the Wa Municipality represent a quarter of the regional number of candidates who are writing in 12 centres.

Tour

The Upper West Regional Director of Education, Abdul Razak Korah, who toured some of the examination centres with the Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, said the directorate had engaged the teachers and the heads of the centres on examination malpractice and warned that anyone caught would not be spared.

He said if any teacher was caught aiding candidates, aside from WAEC dealing with the person, the GES would also apply its code of conduct to sanction the culprits.