Some students writing exams
A total of 468,053 final-year Junior High School (JHS) students across the country commenced the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) yesterday.
About 241,148 males and 226, 905 females would sit for the BECE from Monday, June 5 to June 9, 2017.
A visit by DAILY GUIDE to some of the examination centres revealed that the students were busily writing their papers.
Education authorities in Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region were worried about the turnout in the area, as candidates reportedly fled the town in fear over the presence of military men in the area following the recent lynching of the army officer, Captain Maxwell Mahama in the town.
Boycott
Invigilators in the Agortime-Ziope District of the Volta Region had earlier threatened to boycott the exams over the reported non-payment of their accrued allowances by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
GES, in a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations, Rev. Jonathon Bettey, Head of the examinations, indicated that it shall work with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and security agencies to ensure that the candidates write the examinations in a secure environment free from all forms of intimidation and malpractices.
In the statement, the GES pledged to ensure that this year’s BECE was conducted in all 1,702 centers in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The statement noted that the management of GES would not countenance any acts of connivance involving candidates, teachers, officials and members of the general public which has the propensity of casting doubts on the integrity and relevance of the examinations.
Tighten Security
As it has been the norm over the years for students to engage in malpractices during the BECE, the Christian Council of Ghana and other well-meaning Ghanaians, have asked WAEC and the police to tighten security to prevent any examination malpractices.
According to the General Secretary of the Christian Council, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, “WAEC and others must spare pupils the painful experience of writing a paper, only to be recalled to write again because someone was irresponsible.”
He also warned parents not to attempt to ‘purchase’ the papers for their children, saying “the parents and others, who are going around looking for questions to buy for their children, must allow their children to work from a solid foundation; let’s teach them integrity.”
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region, Gilbert Ken Asmah, in a message to wish all candidates in the constituency well in their examinations, said “we would also admonish the entire WAEC officials, including the invigilators, security personnel and everyone, to be professional and vigilant in the execution of their duties.”
“We also advise students to undo all forms of examination malpractices to ensure a peaceful five-day exercise, the MCE said.
“This moment of your life requires you to gather the utmost courage, honesty, the spirit of hard work and dedication to achieve the height you so want because you are the master and determinant of your own faith and destiny.”
By Melvin Tarlue & Ashiagbor Patricia