This year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commenced yesterday with over 600,000 candidates participating across the country.The figures, 297,250 males and 306,078 females represent a five per cent increase over last year's cohort, highlighting not only the growing population of school-age children but also the nation's commitment to basic education.In addition, 1,661 private candidates, made up of 858 males and 803 females, are also sitting for the examination.Mr Anyetei (left) and Ms Sowah at one of the Centers in La Photo Victor A.
BuxtonMr Haruna Iddrisu (middle),Minister of Education and his entourage at some exams centre in the Bono East RegionSome candidates at the Accra Girls Senior High School centre Photo: Stephanie BirikorangDANIEL DZIRASAH reports from Kintampo that the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged candidates to believe in themselves and approach the ongoing examination with confidence and integrity by eschewing examination malpractices.The Education Minister was accompanied by the Director General of Ghana Education Service, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi and the Regional Director of Education, Ms Kugbeadzo Batakeyi among other officials.He urged the candidates to remain calm and avoid exam malpractices saying "Believe in your abilities to succeed and you can succeed through honest means.
Remember that this examination is not a test of memory but a reflection of your growth, character and potential for discipline for the future," Mr Iddrisu said.In the Bono Region, 24,170 registered candidates made up of 12,345 girls and 11, 774 boys are expected to write the examinations in the Bono RegionFrom Ayawaso West and Central in Accra, LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU reports that 1445 candidates from 38 public and private basic schools are writing the examination from six centres in the two municipalities.The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Dr Michael Mensah, after a tour of the examination centres urged the candidates not to panic when given the question paper but rather take their time to go through and understand before attempting to answer.The Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso Central, Rudolph Collingwood-William, who was accompanied by officials of the assembly pledged his support to award the overall best student at the end of the examination.The Chief Executive Officer (MCE) for La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), Afredos Nii Anyetei and the Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon Consistency, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah in the company of the Municipal Education Director for LaDMA, Habiba Kotomah, yesterday paid a visit to some examination centres in the municipality where a total of 3,359 candidates making up of 1,598 boys and 1,761 girls are wrting at 12 examination centres, reports VICTOR A.
BUXTONFROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, Tamale, 35,893 candidates from 769 schools across the 16 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Northern Region are writing the paper.The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Alhassan Alidu, called on parents to motivate and encourage their children to study hard to come out with flying colours at the end of the final.SAMUEL AGBEWODE reports from Ho that 39,667 candidates from government and private schools are writing the exams.The Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Francis Yao Agbemadi, after visiting various examination centres in the Ho Municipality, commended the candidates for abiding by the rules and regulations of the examination.FRANCIS DABRE DABANG reports from Bolgatanga that 19,523 candidates, drawn from 744 basic schools, are sitting this year's BECE in the Upper East Region.The Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bolgatanga, Roland Atanga Ayoo, and the Regional Director of Education, Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, visited some centres in Bolgatanga.At the Zamse Senior High/Technical School (ZAMSTECH), the Regional Minister warned the candidates to steer clear of examination malpractices, and instead, do independent work as they sat the final exams.The MCE, Mr Ayoo, on his part, said exam malpractices could pose serious consequences on culprits, including the disruption of the academic progress of the individual in question, and asked the candidates to 'seriously' avoid it.STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG reports from the Accra Girls Senior High School that a total of 224 candidates from 12 schools turned up on Monday morning to begin BECE examination at the centre, with one male candidate recorded absent.
