A total of 531,705 final year students in Junior High School (JHS) have began their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Out of the total number of candidates, 269,419 males and 262,286 females from 17,440 public and private schools are sitting for the examination.
According to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the examination which lasts till September 18, is being conducted at 2,007 designated examination centers throughout the country.
In the Greater Accra Region, 94,443 students comprising 45,172 males and 49,271 females are sitting for the exit examination.
Some 49,993 students made up of 25,749 males and 24,244 females in the Eastern Region, and 58,105 students comprising 29,467 males and 28,638 females in the Central Regional are also taking part in the examination.
A total of 54,432 students made up of 28,059 males and 26,373 females in the Western and Western North regions, and 106,857 students comprising 54,025 males and 52,832 females in the Ashanti Region are also sitting for the examination.
In the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions, 25,800 male and 23,925 female students totaling 49,725 are taking the examination.
The Oti and Volta regions have 20,015 male and 18,177 female students making 38,192 and 23,375 male and 20,125 female students making 43,500 from the Northern, North East and Savannah regions sitting for the examination.
The Upper East and Upper West regions have 10,757 male and 11,775 female students totaling 22,532 and 7,000 male and 6,926 female making 13,926 students that are taking the examination respectively.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) in a press statement signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, wished the candidates well.
“Management of GES sends its wishes all candidates scheduled to write the BECE and congratulate them for their hard work and fortitude so far,” the statement read.
GES also expressed gratitude to everyone who played a role in helping the candidates prepare for the examination and assured the candidates that the examination will be conducted smoothly and in strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols.
“We wish to remind all candidates, investigators and supervisors to appreciate the fact that the basis of success in life is honesty and hard work and therefore urges all candidates and stakeholders to eschew all forms of examination malpractices during the period,” the statement urged.
The statement also advised unauthorized persons to stay away from the examination centers while encouraging the security agencies to help deal decisively will all those who attempt to undermine the integrity of the exercise and to jeopardize the future of the candidate.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri