TIG Post

Tag: BECE

  • Over 1,700 students in Ada East to sit for 2023 BECE

    The Ada-East District has successfully registered a total of 1,772 students from Junior High Schools in preparation for the upcoming 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    The examination is scheduled to commence on Monday, August 7th, 2023.

    Mr. Moses Tetteh Pornortey, the District Education Director, provided insights in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

    The examination is being organized within a single district, housing seven examination centers. These centers include Ada Foah Methodist Basic School, Big Ada Presbyterian Junior High School, Ocanseykope District Assembly Basic School, Bedeku District Assembly Basic School, Tamatoku Presbyterian Basic School, and Kasseh Number One District Assembly, among others.

    To prepare the students adequately, a combination of measures has been implemented. Durbars were conducted at circuit centers to orient and familiarize the candidates with the examination process. Additionally, holiday classes were arranged to ensure comprehensive preparation for the impending examination.

    The students have also undergone a series of mock examinations, culminating in a significant grand durbar event. This event saw the involvement of various stakeholders, including the District Chief Executive, who collectively provided encouragement and motivation for the candidates prior to their examination.

    The candidates’ mindset and readiness for the task ahead have been effectively nurtured and cultivated.

    The local Member of Parliament, Ms. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, has pledged her support by providing mathematical sets for the candidates.

    Furthermore, she is anticipated to continue her annual tradition of providing meals for the candidates, further bolstering their confidence and preparedness for the examination.

  • 2023 BECE candidates advised to desist from exam malpractices

    2023 BECE candidates advised to desist from exam malpractices

    The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has issued a statement on August 3, urging candidates preparing for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to refrain from engaging in malpractices or any other misconduct that could hinder their aspirations.

    In the message, GNAT encouraged the candidates to give their best effort to achieve success in the upcoming BECE.

    They emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and not indulging in any act that may tarnish their future prospects.

    The statement expressed GNAT’s confidence in all the candidates and wished them the best of luck in their endeavors.

    GNAT looks forward to welcoming them into the realm of higher education soon.

    The 2023 BECE is scheduled to take place from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2023.

    Read below a statement by GNAT

  • Registration of unqualified BECE candidates to be cancelled – WAEC

    Registration of unqualified BECE candidates to be cancelled – WAEC

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced its decision to cancel the registration of unqualified candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    According to WAEC, it has come to their attention that some parents are transferring their wards from private schools at the Basic Stage Six, JHS 1, 2, and 3 levels to public schools to enable them to register for the examination.

    This practice goes against the regulations set by the Ghana Education Service and WAEC. As a result, WAEC is currently investigating these cases, and any candidates found to be involved in such actions will have their registrations annulled.

    In a press briefing held in Accra, John K. Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, urged parents not to subject their wards to such distressing situations.

    He said: “Council is investigating a number of such cases and the registration of such candidates would be annulled.”

    “Parents are urged not to traumatise their wards by such actions,” he cautioned.

    “A total number of 600,714 candidates, comprising 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,993 participating schools entered for the school examination,” he added.

    He emphasized that the BECE for schools and private candidates will take place from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2023, nationwide.

    A total of 600,714 candidates, consisting of 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,993 participating schools, have been registered for the school examination.

    This year’s figure represents an 8.8% increase compared to the 2022 entry figure of 552,276 candidates.

    “This is made up of 889 males and 854 females. This year’s figure is 5.4 per cent higher than the entry figure of 1,132 for 2022.”

    As for the BECE for private candidates, there are 1,743 candidates registered, comprising 889 males and 854 females. This figure is 5.4% higher than the 2022 entry figure of 1,132 candidates.

    The increase in the number of candidates is attributed to the rise in school enrollments across the country.

    The BECE for school candidates will be conducted at 2,137 examination centers nationwide, while 15 centers, mainly located in regional capitals, will be used for the BECE for private candidates.

  • BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality receive support

    BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality receive support


    BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, Ashanti Region, have been provided with educational materials to support their exam success.

    John Kwame Duodu, the Atwima Nwabiagya South Constituency First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), generously donated 4,200 mathematical sets and pens to assist the candidates in their upcoming examinations.

    The educational materials were presented to the municipal educational directorate for distribution to all candidates across the municipality taking part in this year’s BECE.

    Motivation
    At a brief ceremony to present the items, Mr Duodu, popularly known as Sir John, said the items were to support the candidates and boost their morale as they prepare for the exams.

    “You know we are in trying times and in such situations, not all parents can afford such materials for their children, especially as they prepare to write such an external exam.

    “So, upon consultation with the party hierarchy including the Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Agyei Anwhere, I decided to make this donation to help boost their confidence,” he said.

    Sir John, who is also the Tertiary Education Students’ Confederacy (TESCON) patron in the region, said the gesture was in line with the commitment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure that every student progresses on the education ladder to the secondary level, which had been made free under the free SHS policy.

    “I sincerely believe the government has done its part to make education, especially tuition, boarding, feeding and others free but we as citizens can contribute to making pupils and schools feel relief by providing some basic items they would need,” Sir John appealed.

    Timely intervention
    The Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Juliana Essel Cudjoe, who received the items, commended Mr Duodu for the donation, describing it as timely.

    She encouraged the pupils to let the gifts motivate them to do well in the examination.

    “I want to thank Sir John for this gesture and ask others to learn from it and support the educational efforts of the directorate so that together, we can give our pupils and students the best of education”, Madam Essel-Cudjoe stressed.

    For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Atwima Nwabiagya South, Michael Amoah Awuku, commended the donor for the gesture, which he said would encourage the candidates to offer their best.

    He called on other residents to emulate the example of Sir John to help uplift education in Atwima Nwabiagya.

    Beneficiary
    For 14-year-old, Ursula Amoh Mensah, the mathematical instruments had come at the right time and thus, expressed gratitude to their benefactor for the donation.

  • WAEC receives GHS50.5M for BECE and WASSCE exams

    WAEC receives GHS50.5M for BECE and WASSCE exams

    The government has allocated GH¢50.5 million to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the smooth execution of the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    Of this amount, GH¢40 million is dedicated to the successful conduct of WASSCE, covering approximately 30 percent of the total expenses required for the exams.

    Additionally, GH¢10.5 million has been set aside for the BECE, which represents almost 15 percent of the necessary funds for its smooth administration.

    In response to concerns about exam security, WAEC has taken several measures. They have increased the number of depots for exam papers, reducing the distance from these depots to the examination centers (schools).

    Moreover, question papers will not be released until 45 minutes before the start of the examinations, minimizing the chances of leaks.

    WAEC has also made improvements to the depots to ensure they are secure and cannot be accessed illegally. All depots must have concrete structures or metal-grade ceilings to fortify them against unauthorized entry.

    The WASSCE began with Visual Arts practicals, while the BECE for both school and private candidates will take place from August 7 to 11. Subsequently, the General Business Certificate Examination and Advanced Business Certificate Examination will start from August 21.

    To ensure credibility and reduce malpractice, all examination officials will undergo comprehensive briefings throughout the country.

    WAEC has also conducted sensitization programs in various schools to educate students on exam preparation and what is expected of them during the exams.

    The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Wendy Addy-Lamptey, emphasized that credible examinations are a collective responsibility, and all stakeholders, including headteachers, GES officials, depot keepers, and security agencies, must play their part in ensuring fair and credible exams.

    To enhance monitoring, WAEC will engage monitoring agents who have received training to complement their own staff in effectively covering all examination centers.

    “This time around, we do not accept depots with ceilings. All depots must have either concrete or if they don’t have concrete, then we will do a metal grade on the ceiling to fortify them so that nobody can enter through the ceiling.

    “Again, we are not going to move our question papers in bulk to the depots; they would be moved in bits so that at any time, the question papers that are needed for a particular week or few days would be the only papers that are at the depots,” Mrs Addy-Lamptey explained.

    Schools that have been involved in institutional cheating have been cautioned and, where necessary, faced sanctions to serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in syndicate cheating.

    The HNO warned candidates and the public about rogue websites and WhatsApp platforms that claim to provide WAEC confirmed topics. These are fraudulent websites, and candidates are advised not to download any material or share their telephone numbers on such platforms.

    WAEC is taking the necessary steps to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examinations and seeks the cooperation of all stakeholders in this endeavor.

  • NPP Vice Chair donates maths set, pens to Nwabiagya South BECE candidates

    NPP Vice Chair donates maths set, pens to Nwabiagya South BECE candidates

    The First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Atwima Nwabiagya South constituency of the Ashanti Region, John Kwame Duodu has donated 4,200 sets of mathematical instruments to the education authorities in the area.

    This donation was made with the purpose of ensuring that all candidates taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have access to the essential learning tools they need.

    The presentation of the mathematical sets was carried out free of charge and was part of an initiative to support the preparedness of the candidates.

    Mr. Duodu, also known as Sir John, emphasized that these are challenging times, and not all parents can afford such materials for their children, particularly when preparing for an external exam like the BECE.

    Therefore, in consultation with the party leadership, including the Member of Parliament, he decided to make this donation to boost the confidence of the students.

    During a brief ceremony at the Municipal Education Directorate in Nkawie on Monday, July 31, Sir John highlighted the achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration in the education sector.

    He also reminded the candidates that they would benefit from the Free Senior High School policy if they perform well in the exams.

    The Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, Juliana Essel Cudjoe, gratefully received the donated items. She praised Mr. Duodu’s kindness and described the gesture as timely.

    She also mentioned some of the interventions implemented by her office to support the students before, during, and after the elections. With the upcoming BECE scheduled to take place from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2023, she expressed hope that these learning materials would greatly aid the candidates in the municipality to perform excellently.

    For 14-year-old Ursula Amoh Mensah, one of the JHS final-year students in the country, the timely arrival of the mathematical instruments will undoubtedly be of immense help.

  • GES bars BECE candidate from entering exams hall with socks, watches

    GES bars BECE candidate from entering exams hall with socks, watches

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released a set of guidelines and directives for candidates participating in the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    These measures are put in place to maintain proper conduct during the examination and to address the issue of examination malpractice, which has become a national concern.

    Among the directives issued, candidates are prohibited from wearing socks during the exam. Instead, they are required to wear only flat open sandals without socks.

    Additionally, candidates are not allowed to wear wristwatches or carry any electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, into the exam hall.

    The 2023 BECE is scheduled to take place from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11.

    These guidelines are to be adhered to by all public and private schools within the municipality.

    By implementing these measures, the education office aims to ensure a fair and secure examination environment, fostering a level playing field for all candidates and upholding the integrity of the BECE.

  • Allocate resources to clear WAEC debts – Clement Apaak to govt

    Allocate resources to clear WAEC debts – Clement Apaak to govt

    The Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Builsa South constituency, Clement Apaak, has urged the government to promptly settle the outstanding dues owed to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WAEC).

    This payment is essential to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    The Minority in Parliament had previously issued a warning, stating that the timely organization of the 2023 WASSCE and BECE is in jeopardy unless the government clears all debts owed to WAEC.

    The Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has expressed concern that WAEC requires over GH₵‎50 million urgently to fulfill its financial obligations and conduct the examinations without any hitches.

    In an interview with the media, Mr. Apaak stressed that the government must allocate the necessary resources to settle its debts with WAEC.

    “Government ought to be able to find the resources to defray its indebtedness to WAEC so that WAEC and the people WAEC recruits to help execute this very important national exercise which has to do with the future of this nation clearly does not become jeopardised,” he added.

    This step is crucial to ensure that WAEC can carry out its vital national duty without any disruptions.

    The success of these exams is pivotal to the future of the nation, and it is imperative that the government prioritizes institutions like WAEC and other critical agencies involved in human resources to avoid unnecessary challenges and difficulties faced by the country.

  • Govt provides WAEC GHS55m to conduct WASSCE, BECE

    Govt provides WAEC GHS55m to conduct WASSCE, BECE

    Government has paid GH¢55 million in arrears owed to WAEC. This payment was confirmed in an interview with Citi FM on July 27, 2023, according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Winifred Ampiaw.

    The received funds, which amount to GH¢10.5 million for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and GH¢40 million for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), will be used to facilitate the organization of both exams this year.

    The total budget allocated for the BECE and WASSCE for this year is approximately GH¢18 million and GH¢63.5 million, respectively, leaving around GH¢7.5 million in remaining funds after the received payment.

    Ms. Ampiaw assured the public that the amount received from the government is sufficient to successfully carry out both exams. WAEC has already put necessary resources in place for the smooth execution of these examinations as planned.

    “I can say that we have received some amount of money that will enable us to conduct the exams, for both WASSCE and BECE.

    “However, there’s a payment plan to pay the rest. So far we have received GH¢10.5 million to be able to conduct BECE, and for WASSCE, we have received GH¢40 million.

    “This amount will enable us to take care of the pre-exams activities and the conduct of the exams itself. We’ve received GH¢55 million in total, I know for a fact that we have received the money”.

    “The payment is for this year’s exams, we are supposed to spend a rough estimate of GH¢18 million for BECE.

    “For WASSCE, the total cost for just the pre and the conduct of the main will take us to GH¢63.5 million. We are left with about GH¢7.5 million.

    “However, I want to assure the public that yes, we are in the position to conduct both exams for this year,” she stressed.

    The Minority in Parliament has issued a warning regarding the 2023 WASSCE and BECE examinations, expressing concerns that these exams could face setbacks if the government does not settle its arrears owed to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).

    During a media briefing in Parliament, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Minority Spokesperson on Education, stated that WAEC requires approximately GH₵‎50 million to clear its outstanding debts. He pointed out that in the previous year, the government managed to pay only GH₵‎50 million out of the GH₵‎83 million owed to WAEC, which was meant to address the arrears for the 2020/2021 period.

    “Now the examinations are about to start again or they have even started with the orals and practicals and the WAEC is not having money to pay for last year’s services. If care is not taken, the persons or the teachers who gave us the service may not be ready to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators.”

    But responding to the Minority’s claims, Deputy Education Minister, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, affirmed that the government is actively working to fulfill the outstanding financial requirements to support WAEC in conducting the exams without any disruptions.

  • 2023 WASSCE, BECE may not happen due to govt debt – Minority warns

    2023 WASSCE, BECE may not happen due to govt debt – Minority warns

    The Minority in Parliament has raised alarm regarding the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana.

    They have expressed concerns that these crucial examinations are in jeopardy unless the government resolves all outstanding debts owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

    According to citinewsroom.com, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Minority Spokesperson on Education, voiced deep worries over WAEC’s pressing need for over GH₵50 million to fulfill its financial obligations and ensure the smooth organization of the upcoming 2023 examinations.

    He pointed out the current challenges faced by WAEC, citing the government’s failure to release funds for compensating individuals who provided services during the 2022 WASSCE. This includes allowances owed to supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and other personnel involved in the examination process.

    “The challenge for WAEC now is the government’s inability to release funds to them to perform their functions. Those who worked for WAEC last year, 2022, in the conduct of the WASSCE have not been paid the allowances due to the supervisors, the invigilators, the examiners, and all other persons. So, WAEC is unable to raise funds to meet its obligations,” he said.

    With the 2023 examinations approaching, WAEC finds itself unable to cover the expenses incurred during the previous year’s services.

    The minority spokesperson on education said that if swift actions are not taken, teachers and individuals who provided services as supervisors and invigilators may be reluctant to participate again in the future.

    “Now the examinations are about to start again, or they have even started with the orals and practicals and the WAEC is not having money to pay for last year’s services. So, we don’t know what the government is doing and if care is not taken, the persons or the teachers who gave us the service may not be ready to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators,” he added.

    Drawing attention to the practices in other countries, Nortsu-Koto, questioned why the same cannot be done here in Ghana.

    “I know of a country, a member country, that by the end of the first quarter, all the budget of WAEC is released to them for national and international examinations. Why can’t we do the same in Ghana?”

    “This is the challenge WAEC is facing and if we don’t help them to get what is due them, I don’t know how the exams for this year will be conducted. For now, they need about GH₵50 million to clear the previous year’s arrears. Those who print their scripts for them, those who print booklets, they owe all of them. So, if you don’t pay, how will they provide those materials for you?”

  • Government’s debt posing risk on 2023 WASSCE, BECE – Minority

    Government’s debt posing risk on 2023 WASSCE, BECE – Minority

    The Minority in Parliament has issued a warning that the smooth conduct of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is at risk unless the government promptly clears all outstanding debts owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

    Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, expressed concern that WAEC urgently requires over GH₵‎50 million to settle its financial obligations and ensure the seamless organization of the 2023 examinations.

    He highlighted the current challenges faced by WAEC, citing the government’s failure to release funds for compensating individuals who provided their services during the 2022 WASSCE, including allowances owed to supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and other personnel involved in the examination process.

    Due to the government’s inability to release funds to WAEC for last year’s services, there is a risk that teachers and personnel may not be willing to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators for the upcoming exams.

    The Minority emphasized the need for prompt payment to WAEC and pointed out that in another member country, the entire budget of WAEC is released by the end of the first quarter for national and international examinations.

    For now, WAEC needs about GH₵‎50 million to clear the previous year’s arrears, including payments to those involved in printing scripts and booklets for the exams.

    Failure to settle these debts could potentially disrupt the smooth conduct of the 2023 exams.

    “The challenge for WAEC now is the government’s inability to release funds to them to perform their functions. Those who worked for WAEC last year, 2022, in the conduct of the WASSCE have not been paid the allowances due to the supervisors, the invigilators, the examiners, and all other persons. So, WAEC is unable to raise funds to meet its obligations,” he said.

    “Now the examinations are about to start again or they have even started with the orals and practicals and the WAEC is not having money to pay for last year’s services. So we don’t know what the government is doing and if care is not taken, the persons or the teachers who gave us the service may not be ready to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators.”

    “I know of a country, a member country, that by the end of the first quarter, all the budget of WAEC is released to them for national and international examinations. Why can’t we do the same in Ghana?”

    “This is the challenge WAEC is facing and if we don’t help them to get what is due them, I don’t know how the exams for this year will be conducted. For now, they need about GH₵‎50 million to clear the previous year’s arrears. Those who print their scripts for them, those who print booklets, they owe all of them. So if you don’t pay, how will they provide those materials for you?”

  • MP asks parents to excuse their wards from domestic chores during BECE period

    MP asks parents to excuse their wards from domestic chores during BECE period

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda Constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has entreated parents and guardians in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region, to excuse their wards from domestic chores during exam period, especially during the Basic Education Certificate Exam (BECE).

    This will enable them focus and prepare adequately for the impending exam.

    Mr Acquah urged parents to, if possible, spare their wards who are BECE candidates from partaking in household chores or activities that will impede their studies.

    About 1,670 Junior High School candidates from 41 private and public schools in the Birim Central Municipality took part in this year’s mock exam.

    Addressing the students in their respective schools, Akwasi Acquah said he is very passionate about education in the area.

    He urged students to take the mock exams seriously in order to pass the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

    The Akyem Oda legislature further advised parents to give these candidates ample time to prepare for every exam with all the attention and concentration it needs.

    He also touched on the need to desist from any act of exam malpractice.

    On his part, the chairman of the Akyem Oda MPs Educational Committee, Aaron Donkor,
    challenged the pupils not to joke about the exam ahead and urged them to put up their best to qualify for the next academic ladder in life.

    He also called on parents to play their roles in monitoring the learning of their children.

  • Sammi Awuku sponsors mock exams for BECE candidates in Akuapem North

    Sammi Awuku sponsors mock exams for BECE candidates in Akuapem North

    CEO of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has funded a mock examination for approximately 2,400 BECE candidates in Akuapem North Municipality, Eastern Region.

    The sponsorship covers students from both public and private schools.

    Sammi Awuku, in his sponsorship of the mock examination, covered the printing of question papers and answer booklets, as well as procuring 2,400 mathematical sets for the candidates.

    He also provided financial support for the supervision of the examination. During the handover of the items to the Akuapem North District Directorate of Education, Sammi Awuku emphasized the significance of the mock examination in boosting candidates’ confidence and helping teachers identify their strengths and weaknesses for targeted interventions.

    As someone aspiring to the parliamentary seat in the area, he highlighted the importance of educational support in the community.

    “We expecting that this mock examination will prepare the candidates well, build their confidence into the main exams to impact and improve upon the results even though last year was impressive we expect this year to be of greater impact. What I personally seek to achieve is to build confidence of the people before they take the exams because for many of them they may get to experience how to use the mathematical set on the day of their exams and it will be new to them how to use the compass and all those things,” said Sammy Awuku

    He added that “the tension alone in exams room can let you fail at the sight of of these mathematical instruments but once they have their confidence built ,practice on how to use this mathematical set and with the mock exams on all subjects that they are going to be examined on it will help know their strength.This mock exams are questions set by their own teachers and external examiners so these are standard questions they may end up facing it in the BECE.”

    Sammi Awuku, prioritizing education in Akuapem North, has undertaken various interventions such as constructing sports facilities, providing generator plants, school buses, and roofing support, as well as recommending schools for government initiatives.

    The sponsorship of the mock examination was commended by Lawrence Dzah, the Akuapem North municipal Education Director, who expressed plans to organize a simulation mock in the future.

    The performance of BECE candidates in the municipality has been historically poor, with a significant number of failures and low aggregate scores. Although there was improvement in the pass rate in 2022, it still fell short of the municipality’s target of 70%.

  • Alhassan Suhuyini organises free extra classes for Tamale North 2023 BECE candidates

    Alhassan Suhuyini organises free extra classes for Tamale North 2023 BECE candidates

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale-North, Alhassan Suhuyini is organising free extra classes for the 2023 BECE candidates in the constituency.

    According to him, this is to enable the candidates prepare adequately for their examinations. The classes which started on Saturday, June 10, will continue until the students are done with their exams.

    The subjects to be taught include Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science and Social Studies.

    The centres for the classes are Bishop R/C, Choggu, Kanviller R/C, St Augustine, Nyanshegu and Fou Matariya JHS. Mr Suhuyini in a media interview said education is key on his transformation agenda of the constituency.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker recently made donations to some artisans in the constituency. The items donated included vulganizing machine, industrial sewing machines, welding machines, carpenter tools and machines.

    Other items were glass cutting machines, masonry tools, steel bending tools, car washing machines, grass mowing tools.

    He also commissioned an ultra-modern ten-seater public toilet facility for the people of Kalpohini, a community in the Tamale-North Constituency.He also donated two brand new motorbikes to selected persons in the constituency.

  • GES denies reports on cancelling BECE

    The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for junior high school students is not going to be canceled, according to the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    GES explained that it is moving from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, which is likely to change the nature and form of the BECE.

    Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the grading system by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Director General of GES, Dr. Eric Nkansah, said reports of the purported cancellation of the BECE are untrue.

    “We are not cancelling the BECE. What is confusing people or some of our people is that we are now moving away from the old objectives-based curriculum to the standards-based curriculum, and it does not mean that those on the standards-based curriculum will not write BECE. They will also write but perhaps the nature and form may change. So please don’t communicate that we are not writing BECE.”

    The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is conducted by WAEC and serves as a standard exam for junior high school graduates who are about to enter senior high school.

  • BECE Performance poor in Sissala East -MCE

    BECE Performance poor in Sissala East -MCE

    Mr Yakubu Fuseini Batong, the Sissalla East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has bemoaned the low performance of students at the BECE and WASSCE in the Sissala  East Municipality despite sustained interventions in the education sector. 

    Mr Batong said the performance of the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results were disturbing and called on all education stakeholders to work harder to reverse the trend.  

    He explained that the BECE results for 2021 saw a decrease in performance from 44 per cent in 2020 to 24 per cent in 2021, whilst the WASSCE results from Tumu Senior High Technical School also saw a decrease from 28.9 per cent in 2020 to 20.7 per cent in 2021. 

    Mr Batong expressed the concern in Tumu during the 66th Independence Day celebration where school children and voluntary organizations marched to observe the day under the theme: “Our Unity Our Strength, Our Purpose.” 

    Mr Batong enumerated 10 educational infrastructural projects being carried out, including the construction of four 3-Unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities in Dimajang, Sentie, the Tumu Midwifery and, Gbenebisi. 

     He also mentioned the provision of dual desk to selected schools, the construction of KG block at Kowie, maintenance of the Ghana Education Office and rehabilitating teacher’s Quarters at Nabulo, among others. 

    However, it is disheartening to note that despite these government investments, parents, and teachers’ contributions towards developing children, their performance is still below average, and this must change, he said. 

    Mr Batong appealed to parents to take advantage of the interventions in the infrastructure and make sure that no child within the school-going age was left behind. 

    The MCE said as part of the effort to change the trend, the Municipal Education Oversight Committee was instituting measures to reverse the poor academic performance with the writing of two Municipal wide Mock Examinations and organizing seminars for BECE candidates whilst reading competitions at the lower primary had also been introduced to improve academic performance.  

    The MCE appealed to the public to make it an individual policy to clean their frontages both at home and at the workplace. 

    The MCE urged parents to be responsible in providing the basic needs of the girl child as the canker of elopement of school girls and teenage pregnancy was bedeviling the Municipality. 

    Ten public and seven private schools, Tricycles riders, GNAT LAS ladies, NAGRAT, Tailors, Boys and Girls Cadets and Camfed ladies participated in the marching, which was reviewed by Inspector Erebung Lieta Bismarck of the Ghana Police Service who was assisted by Cadet Major Engineer Samuel Osei Asare, Northern Sector Cadet Corps of the National Cadet Corps Ghana.  

  • Northern Region recorded 183 pregnant girls during 2022 BECE, WASSCE

    Northern Region recorded 183 pregnant girls during 2022 BECE, WASSCE

    During the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the Northern Region, a total of 183 teenage pregnancies were documented.

    In his statement at Ghana’s 66th Independence Day celebration on Monday, March 6, 2023 in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Regional State, concerned Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu revealed this.

    The circumstance, which does not bode well for effective learning among the students who should take their education seriously, was lamented by the minister.

    “This does not auger well for us. As stakeholders, we need to critically assess the current situation looking at the gaps in existing interventions in order to achieve coherent and sustainable interventions for eliminating teenage pregnancies in our schools,” Hon. Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu said.

    The Minister further made a clarion call for peace and unity since they are the bedrock of development.

    “I call for closer collaboration among us all stakeholders to achieve the desired goals for peace. Let us remember that the dividends of progress and development can only be achieved if we have the required. Despite our diverse socio-economic structure, let us put aside our differences and create a united front for Mother Ghana’s progress.’

    Meanwhile, the Independence day anniversary parade was attended by contingents from the various security agencies, cadet corps from second cycle institutions, and pupils from basic schools in the Tamale metropolis under the theme “Our Unity Strength, Purpose”.

    Awards and certificates were presented to 16 schools in the metropolis for their performance in the parade. Although the parade began early, some school contingents suffered severe dehydration which nearly undermined the celebration’s beauty.

  • School Placement: Switching from regular school to technical school easier – MoE

    School Placement: Switching from regular school to technical school easier – MoE

    The Education Ministry is encouraging candidates who wish to change from what it refers to as ‘grammar’ to technical school to do so.

    The move, according to the Ministry, is intended to broaden the technical and vocational space for national development.

    Speaking to Joy Prime’s Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning, on Tuesday, the Deputy Public Relations Officer at the Ministry indicated that this will also help reduce the pressure on the ‘grammar’ schools.

    Mr. Yaw Opoku-Mensah further added that TVET education is key to dealing with the bulging unemployment situation in Ghana.

    “We need to understand it from the sociological perspective of how the education system has always been. Way back to the introduction of formal education. So you realise that the over 700 senior high schools are all within the grammar space. How many technical schools do we have, and how many people are motivated to find themselves within the technical education space? So we’ve had enough of grammar school,” he explained.

    The Deputy PRO also stated that the move will not only broaden the technical and vocational space for national development, but will gradually help alleviate unemployment in the country.

    “I believe you do have complaints about job seekers, and the question is what technical skills you are bringing on board. So therefore, we need to train our manpower within the technical space for the transformation and growth of the economy that we all seek. So that is why we are expanding that space. That is why we are motivating and encouraging people to find themselves within the technical space,” the Deputy PRO added.

    Mr. Mensah noted that the major reason school placement controversies arise is because the students do not arrange their schools in the right order.

    He also said that parents’ absence during the school-choice process, which tends to mount pressure on the teachers, is also the cause of the school placement debacle.

    “Someone with a good grade will probably be pushed to the third, fourth, or fifth choice, depending on the arrangement of schools that you have done… so you are pushed out of the spot with your good grade and raw score. That is why school organisation is critical, and it breaks my heart when our staff from headquarters and the regional base go into the district, in the cluster in the community, to educate parents, and when you call, the schools tell you that even if you call parents for a meeting, only a small percentage are actual parents, and the majority just send people to stand in for them.”

    The Deputy Public Relations Officer, the Education Ministry, Dr. Yaw Opoku, further urged that parents take an active part in the school selection process and collaborate with teachers to avoid future challenges.

    He also encouraged students considering entering the SHS system to consider technical schools, as they will provide them with more practical knowledge and skills.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Mother wants Aburi Girls, Mfantsiman for daughter with aggregate 35

    Mother wants Aburi Girls, Mfantsiman for daughter with aggregate 35

    A worried mother is calling for her daughter to be assigned to a Senior High School through the Computerized School Selection & Placement System.

    While her classmates with lower grades have been assigned to schools, her daughter, who took the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and received an aggregate of 35, is not in school.

    The BECE applicant selected Aggrey Memorial, Mfantsiman, and Aburi Girls but was unsuccessful in getting any of them.

    Her mother entered the GNAT Hall seeking aid after becoming concerned about the situation. She gave off the impression of being irritated and angry in a viral video shared on social media.

    “We are here to change it. Since the results were results, my daughter has not been happy. She told me that she was going to excel in the 2022 BECE.

    She says she understand how she landed that results. Her friend with aggregate 39 has even been placed,” she said.

    According to the Ghana Education Service (GES), “Out of the 547,329 candidates who sat for the examination, 538,399 qualified for school placement. out of these, 372,780 candidates have automatically been placed into various schools.”

    Social medial reactions:

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Hundreds of parents assemble at GNAT hall over school placement

    Hundreds of parents assemble at GNAT hall over school placement

    The GNAT Hall in Accra is crowded with parents and students who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2022 to get placement.

    The center was set up by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to help with both self-placement and replacement of students in available schools in all categories, excerpt category ‘A’ schools.

    According to the GES, “Out of the 547,329 candidates who sat for the examination, 538,399 qualified for school placement. out of these, 372,780 candidates have automatically been placed into various schools.”

    This leaves a total of “165,601 candidates who will have to do self-placement because they could not be matched to their school of choice.”

    Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the Deputy Coordinator for Free SHS, Nana Afrah Sika Mensah said “the exercise is going to run for six weeks.”

    “We are doing the placement into secondary schools, TVET schools and the new STEM schools” she added.

    Hundreds of parents troop GNAT hall for school placement

    According to one parent, Meshach Fred Mintah, her daughter who got aggregate 9 could not get placement into her first choice school, Holy Child SHS.

    “She was rather offered her 4th choice Suhum SHS. She has worked hard so I want a better school for her to study General science.”

    Meanwhile, another parent who got a boarding school for his child said, he wants a Day School for her instead.

    Hundreds of parents troop GNAT hall for school placement

    Reacting to the activities of middlemen, Nana Afrah Mensah warned parents against dealing with such persons.

    “The only accredited people you can approach are the people wearing tags. If you are a parent and anyone approach to take money from you and place you in any school, report them to us ” she warned.

    The GES has also set up help centers in all 16 regional offices to assist with placement issues across the country.

    Hundreds of parents troop GNAT hall for school placement

  • 372,780 BECE candidates placed; 165, 619 to do self-placement

    372,780 BECE candidates placed; 165, 619 to do self-placement

    A total of 538,399 of the 547,329 candidates who took the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) qualified for the Computerised School Selection Placement (CSSPS) in Senior High and Technical and Vocational Schools this year.

    A total of 372,780 students, representing 69.24 per cent of the qualified students have been automatically placed in one of their school choices, while 165, 619 candidates, representing 30,76 per cent, who could not be matched with any of their choices, are to do self-placement to select from available schools.

    Candidates for the self-placement module are to select a school from the portal by providing their region, residential preference, school, and programme of choice, click on submit, print the form, and visit the school to begin the admission process.

    The candidates are to note that schools selected on the self-placement portal can be changed as many times as the candidate wishes on the portal until they enrol in a school.

    Dr Eric Nkansah, the Director General, GES, announced this at a press conference in Accra and said, in line with the 2023 academic calendar, the first-year students were to report to school on February 20, 2023, for registration and orientation for academic work to start on February 27, 2023.

    Touching on grievance mechanisms, Dr Nkansah said “solution centres” had been set up at the national level at the Ghana National Association of Teachers Hall, Adabraka, and all the Regional Education Offices across the country to address concerns of students.

    “Our social media handles are available for individuals to report any grievances, and our staff will respond as soon as practicable.

    “Students or parents can call the toll free number- 0302987654, for their concerns to be addressed,” he said.

    Dr Nkansah cautioned parents and guardians to report unscrupulous people, who may approach them to pay any amount of money for placement, to the police.

    As part of measures to curb placement infractions, Dr Nkansah said the Service had strengthened its internal controls to double check the integrity of the system.

    The Director-General advised heads of all schools to stick to the approved prospectus and urged parents to cooperate with the school authorities during and after the admission processes.

    He said the Service, in collaboration with the Regional Directors of Education, had developed one homogeneous prospectus for the schools.

    Mr David Prah, Deputy Director General, Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service, said 36,000 candidates had been placed in technical and vocational schools to train their creative skills for the country’s development.

    The candidates are to obtain a placement pin code from an approved vendor, log onto www.cssps.gov.gh, enter the 10-digit index number and add 22 as the year of completion, enter the serial number and pin code details, click submit, print the forms, and visit the school to begin the admission process.

    The 2022 BECE commenced on Monday, October 17, and the West African Examination Council released the results on January 25, 2023.

    The CSSPS became operational in September 2005, to address challenges from the manual system of selection and placement.

    The system places students transiting from the Junior High Schools to Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools and Technical and  Vocational Institutes.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • GES sets February 20 as reporting date for SHS freshers

    GES sets February 20 as reporting date for SHS freshers

    Qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who have received placement into various Senior High Schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutions are expected to report to school on February 20, 2023.

    This is part of the timetable the Ghana Education Service (GES) has released for the academic year for all SHSs and also basic schools.

    The timetable comes ahead of the release of the placements by the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

    The SHS timetable is in two categories — that for schools under the double-track system and that for those that will run a single stream.

    Under the double-track system, freshers are expected to report to school on February 20 and stay in school until April 13 when the first part of the first semester is expected to be over.

    They will, however, be required to return to school on June 9, 2023 and stay until August 10, when they will take a second break.

    The last lap of the first year begins on September 18 and ends on November 30, 2023, when the students would have completed the second semester of the first year.

    For freshers going to schools running the single track, the timetable is slightly different.

    For instance, even though they will report on the same day as their counterparts in the double-track schools, they will break on April 5, resume on April 17 and stay until September 15 when their academic calendar will end.

    Meanwhile, Form Two students in the double-track system will head home on February 18 and return to school on April 11 till June 1, 2023 for yet another break.

    They will be expected to return to school on August 14 until November 30, when the academic year will be over for them.

    Meanwhile, their counterparts in the single track, who reported to school on the same date, January 10, will go home on April 6, resume on April 17 and remain until August 25, 2023, when the academic year will end for them.

    Final-year students of both the double track and the single stream who reported to school on January 10 will take an 11-day break from April 6 to 16 and return to school on April 17 until June 1 for yet another seven-day break, before going back on June 9 until they complete writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on September 15, 2023.

    Transitional calendar

    The academic calendar, described as a “transitional”, has been scheduled in such a way that there are two cohorts of students in school at any given time for the double-track schools.

    Explaining, the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of Quality and Access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, said the timetable was designed to ensure that over the years, “all students will complete a minimum of 3,134 hours, averaging 1,134 hours per year”.

    On the calendar for kindergarten, primary and junior high schools (JHSs), the first term spans January 10 to March 24, while the second term begins from April 3 to June 15.

    The third term begins from June 27 to September 14, 2023, while for JHS Three students, the third term begins from June 27 until the end of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which will be written in September this year.

    Directive

    A letter signed and issued by Dr Tandoh to all regional directors of education asked them to ensure that all heads of basic and second-cycle schools in their respective regions took note of the calendar and complied accordingly to facilitate the smooth running of the academic year.

    The letter, titled: “2023 Academic calendar for all Ghana Education Service schools”, wished all staff a successful and productive 2023.

    Source: Graphic

  • WAEC explains BECE grading system

    WAEC explains BECE grading system

    The Head of the Legal Department of the West African Examinations Council, Rev. Victor Brew, has clarified the grading system used for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    According to him, the performance of students at various schools determine their grades. The grades awarded to students from various schools are dependent on their performance.

    Speaking to Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning, Monday, Rev. Victor Brew explained that students who may be the best in their schools may not meet the first 4% range targeted by the WAEC grading system as it is a nationwide competition.

    “…it’s the grading system and also the performance of their candidates, because mind you, if you’re a local champion where you keep getting 80s, know that if someone else has been getting 99, then you pray that your 80 falls within the 4% otherwise, you’re going to get a grade 2, and that doesn’t mean you’re not good. You’re good, but others are better,” he explained.

    For the purpose of the variation of the grading system, he urged school managers to avoid comparing cohorts of their institutions, as the “Norm-Referenced Grading System” used by WAEC varies yearly.

    Rev. Victor Brew further revealed that the implementation of the grading system is done in collaboration with the government, thus making grade 9 the lowest and not a failure in the BECE system.

    Explaining how the grading system is done, he said, “If the first 4% are to get grade 1, what it means is that if you took mathematics, unlike English, someone can get 100% in mathematics. So, what happens is that your candidate or the champion of your school in math gets 80% during your mock trials or 89%, but then when you join forces with the candidates across the country, the question is whether your champion in math in your school can beat all the champions across the country such that your champion falls within the first 4%.”

    For this reason, he said WAEC is not to be blamed for the failure of candidates, as a particular batch may not fall within the range of the national grading system for the year.

    Meanwhile, he thinks a coalition of a total number of candidates acquiring a grade in each subject across the country within a year will inform policy-making so as to help improve the system.

    Addressing the issue of the cancellation of the exams for some candidates, he said it is done based on the rules and regulations provided for the year groups before and during the exams.

    He has also notified parents whose children’s papers have been cancelled that they are permitted to appeal for remarking.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • WAEC releases 2022 BECE results

    WAEC releases 2022 BECE results

    Provisional results for candidates who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for both school and private in 2022 have been made public by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

    A press statement dated January 25, 2023, said that candidates can access their results at the council’s website www.waecgh.org.

    The statement added that the subject results of 416 school candidates and 3 private candidates have been cancelled for the offence of either sending foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with candidates.

    In addition, the examination body has also cancelled the entire results of 73 school candidates and 2 private candidates for the offence of examination malpractice.

    “Cancellation of the subjects results of 416 school candidates and 3 private candidates for the offence of either bringing foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with other candidates.

    “…cancellation of the entire results of 73 school candidates and 2 private candidates for the offence of sending mobile phones into examination halls,” part of the statement read.

    Read the full statement below;

  • WAEC to release 2022 BECE results on January 25

    WAEC to release 2022 BECE results on January 25

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has announced that the results of the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be released on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

    The council in a press statement dated January 19, 2023, said that investigations are ongoing into examination irregularity cases detected during and after the conduct of the examination.

    “Having successfully conducted the examination at 2,023 centres and completed coordination and marking exercises, the council is far advanced with post-examination activities.

    “Investigations are ongoing into examination irregularity cases detected during and after the conduct of the examination. For a quick resolution of malpractice cases, the council appeals to affected school authorities and candidates to respond with dispatch to its invitation. Candidates are informed that their refusal to honour such invitation shall not impede the council from making a final determination on the cases in question…

    “The target date for the release of results for the BECE for both school and private candidates, 2022 is Wednesday, 25th January 2023,” part of the statement read.

    The statement added that parents and candidates should remain calm as the council works towards the release of the results.

    Read the full statement below;

  • 2022 BECE starts today

    This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) is expected to begin today, October 17, 2022, for both public and private schools.

    The five (5) day examination process will conclude on October 21, 2022, according to a statement issued by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

    A total of 552,276 candidates from 18,501 schools across the country are expected to partake in the exams this year at 2,023 centres nationwide.

    WAEC, in their statement, noted that out of the total number of prospective candidates, 1,132 private candidates have registered for the exams and will take the papers at 15 selected centres.

    Additionally, out of the total number of registered candidates, 276,988 are males, with 275,288 females.

    The private candidates are made up of 634 males and 498 females.

    WAEC further indicated that there has been a 3.48% drop in the total number of candidates who will participate in the exam, compared to last year’s figures.

    Measures in place for a successful exam

    Speaking on the readiness of the Council to ensure a successful examination, WAEC noted that all appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure a successful examination.

    “The Council is advising candidates to be focused and be on the alert for the activities of “examination social media racketeers” whose primary aim is to make money through deception,” WAEC said in a statement on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

    The Council, however, warned candidates against any malpractice, insisting that candidates found engaging in any illegal act during the exam, will not be let off the hook.

    “Candidates are reminded that collusion can be detected in their scripts during marking and that the penalties for examination malpractice include cancellation of Subject/Entire Results.”

    While wishing candidates success in the exam, WAEC reminded examination officials, including supervisors, invigilators, and distributors, to comply with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination and refrain from being facilitators of malpractice.

    Selection of SHS schools for BECE candidates to commence October 31

    Meanwhile, the selection of Senior High Schools for candidates in the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will commence across the country, effective October 31, 2022.

    The exercise is expected to end on November 18, 2022. This was announced by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Mr Kwasi Kwarteng, in a statement.

    In the statement, Mr Kwarteng further disclosed that the Ministry has produced a video explaining the school selection guidelines for candidates, parents, guardians, and the public.

    He noted that the video will be broadcast on various radio and television platforms across the country for five days, effective October 24, 2022.

    It can also be assessed via www. freeshs.net.

    Additionally, the Ministry, through the statement, reiterated its commitment “to ensuring a smooth and effective school selection and placement process.”

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • 2022 BECE begins today; over 500,000 candidates to sit for the exams

    Over 500,000 candidates will sit for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) which begins today, October 17, 2022.

    The examination which will last for one week will be written in 2,033 centres across the country.

    The students are expected to start with social studies and ICT papers.

    The Ghana Education Service ahead of the examination is entreating all students and other key stakeholders at the various examination centres to desist from any form of examination malpractices.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Teachers  (GNAT) is urging supervisors and invigilators of this year’s examination to comply with all the rules of invigilation.

    The General Secretary of the Association, Thomas Musah, said, “we all know the implication of the rules of engagement. Nobody will go and supervise and say he or she doesn’t know the rules of engagement.”

    “So to the extent that you have been invited to assist in the conduct of the exam requires each one who is having that opportunity to live up to expectations,” Mr. Musah said.

    Source: Citinews

  • 2,986 candidates to write 2022 BECE in Agona West

    A total of 2, 986 candidates are expected to write the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Agona West Municipality of the Central region.

    The candidates are made up of 1, 526 girls and 1, 460 boys from 110 schools both public and private respectively.

    The examination, which commences on Monday, October 17, 2022, has 11 centres in the Agona West Municipality.

    This was in a statement signed by Mr Bismark Offei, the Agona West Municipal Director of Education and copied to the Ghana News Agency at Swedru.

    In a good will message, Mr Offei wished all the 2022 candidates’ better luck while commending them for their hard work, perseverance and dedication throughout their study period.

    He advised the candidates not to lose hope in the face of the expected challenges but should rather stay focused to achieve good results for their future endeavours.

    The Director of Education entreated them to comply with all the laid down rules and regulations guiding the examination so as to avoid the cancellation of their papers and other unforeseen circumstances.

    “All qualified candidates must ensure that they abstain from sending any foreign material into the examination hall to avoid cancellation of their results,” he stated.

    Mr Offei urged parents, teachers and other stakeholders to offer best form of motivation to the candidates throughout the examination period.

    He called supervisors and invigilators to be cautious of examination malpractices and thus strictly adhere to all rules and regulations guarding the conduct of the examination.


    “The Agona West Municipal Directorate will not shield any teacher caught in engaging in practices that flout the rules and regulations pertaining to their work as supervisors,” he warned.

    He expressed gratitude to all basic school teachers for their dedication, commitment and willingness in grooming the candidates for the examination.

    Source: GNA

  • BECE commences for both private and public schools on October 17

    The Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) has been slated for October 17, 2022, for both public and private schools.

    This was announced by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in a statement.

    The BECE is a mandatory examination for students in the ninth year of their basic education class and third year of the Junior High School (J.H.S).

    It is administered by the West African Education Council (WAEC) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    B.E.C.E is also for certification and selection into Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes in Ghana. The 2022 edition is the first both the private and public are taking the exam simultaneously, according to WAEC.

    Number of candidates

    This year, a total of 552,276 candidates from 18,501 schools across the country are expected to partake in the exams. The exam is expected to take place at 2,023 centres across the country.

    Out of the total number of prospective candidates, a total of 1,132 private candidates have registered for the exams and will take the papers at 15 selected centres. Out of the number of school candidates, 276,988 are males, with 275,288 females. The private candidates are made up of 634 males and 498 females.

    WAEC further indicated that there has been a 3.48% drop in the total number of candidates who will participate in the exam, compared to last year’s figures.

    Speaking on the readiness of the Council to ensure a successful examination, WAEC noted that all appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure a successful examination.

    “The Council is advising candidates to be focused and be on the alert for the activities of “examination social media racketeers” whose primary aim is to make money through deception,” WAEC said in a statement on Thursday.

    The Council, however, warned candidates against any malpractice, insisting that candidates found engaging in any illegal act during the exam, will not be let off the hook.

    “Candidates are reminded that collusion can be detected in their scripts during marking and that the penalties for examination malpractice include cancellation of Subject/Entire Results.”

    While wishing candidates success in the exam, WAEC reminded examination officials, including Supervisors, Invigilators, Distributors, to comply with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination and refrain from being facilitators of malpractice.

    Meanwhile, the exam is expected to end on October 21, 2022.

    Source: The Independent Ghana|

  • 552,276 pupils to write 2022 BECE – WAEC

    A total of 552, 276 candidates from 18,501 schools will on Monday, October 17, start this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    A statement issued by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Accra on Thursday said this year’s examination would be run for both school and private candidates at 2,023 centres throughout the country.

    The statement said, “the entry figure is made up of 276,988 males and 275,288 females. The number of candidates that registered for this year’s BECE is 3.48 per cent less than the 2021 entry figure of 572,167.

    In respect of the BECE for Private Candidates (PC), 1,132 candidates made up of 634 males and 498females entered the examination.”

    According to the statement, the examination would be taken at 15 selected centres in the regional capitals.

    It said the number of registered candidates for the 2022 BECE was 6.09 per cent higher than the 2021 figure of 1067.

    The Council assured the public that all appropriate measures had been put in place to safeguard test security and the successful conduct of the examination.

    Source: GNA

  • BECE candidates undergo orientation on WAEC’s rules, regulations

    All junior high school candidates, who will write this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region, have undergone orientation on the rules and regulations of the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) regarding the BECE.

    It was to prepare them adequately for the BECE for improved performance.

    This year’s BECE would begin on October 17.

    The orientation was organised by the Sagnarigu Municipal Directorate of Education with support from the Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development, a non-governmental organisation, based in Tamale.

    During the event, the students sought clarifications on issues regarding the BECE.

    Mr Bob Basharu, Examinations Officer at the Sagnarigu Municipal Directorate of Education, who spoke during the event in Tamale, urged the candidates to avoid health risks and prepare themselves psychologically ahead of the examinations.

    He urged them to psych themselves as individuals, who would write the examinations independent of others.

    Mr Bashiru encouraged them to seek their teachers’ assistance for clarity on topics they deemed difficult to enable them to prepare well for the examination.

    He urged them to set goals for themselves in terms of desired grades and aggregates to serve as motivation to work hard towards achieving them.

    Madam Linda Amoah, Northern Regional Girl-Child Education Coordinator, encouraged candidates, who were pregnant or nursing babies, not to boycott the examination and appealed to their mates to give them the needed support.

    Madam Zelia Mahamadu, Sagnarigu Municipal Guidance and Counseling Coordinator took the candidates through career sessions, and encouraged them to manage examination anxiety well to perform creditably during the BECE.

    Source: GNA

  • Scrap of WAEC, it has outlived its purpose – National Council for Private Schools to government

    The government has been urged by the Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS)  to abolish the West African Examinations Council  (WAEC) examinations.

    They argue that WAEC has outlived its usefulness and that failure in various disciplines has truncated the dreams of many students

    “Every government or every minister who is really ahead of time will collapse WAEC; because it is rather rendering our resources and retiring our youth.

    “Somebody goes to school for 9 years, 12 years, sits in WAEC exams let’s say WASSCE or BECE and then they will come and tell you that you have failed in Mathematics, you have failed English and because of that your line is truncated you can’t develop anymore,” 3news.com quoted the association.

    Their call is in reaction to a report by WAEC, which revealed that over 20 individuals have been arrested in various exam centres at private schools for allegedly impersonating candidates in the ongoing WASSCE.

    National Executive Director for GNACOPS, Obengfo Kwesi Enoch Nana Gyetuah said the claim lacks evidence as he called on WAEC to implore scannable machines to identify impersonators.

  • I knew I wouldn’t pass, so I skipped getting my BECE results – Obaapa Christy

    Ghanaian gospel musician Obaapa Christy has revealed that she did not go for her Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) results because she was confident she wouldn’t do well.

    In an interview with Rainbow Radio’s mid-morning show, the gospel minister admitted she wasn’t a good student and that she was aware from the outset she wouldn’t excel in her BECE.

    “However, I have come to discover that education is important. You need a positive mindset to succeed. If I had that positive mindset, I think I would have made it. But it is not too late. I will be going back to school. It is not too late to go back to school.”

    She told Sokoohemaa Kukua that, despite her lack of higher education, God has used her to touch lives, transform homes, and bring joy to many others through her powerful songs.

    “If God had blessed people because of their higher education, I would not be where I am today. God gave me something, and that is what I have done all these years.”

    Obaapa Christy, who is celebrating 20 years in the industry, expressed gratitude to God for bringing her this far.

    The musician also revealed Mathematics and drawing were her best subjects.

    “Mathematics was my best subject because God knew I would be wealthy and be counting money,” she said amidst laughter.

     

     

     

  • Young student branded a witch for earning aggregate 30 in BECE – Activist

    An activist for women’s rights, Margaret Brew-Ward, has revealed that a young student who scored 30 in her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was branded a witch.

    She added that the girl resided in a rural area where no one had earned the necessary grades to enroll in a Senior High School.

    “Recently, there was a case we heard when we visited one of the communities that a girl who got around aggregate 30 in the BECE was [branded a witch]… meanwhile you know in the cities people are striving for aggregate 8, eight 1s and what not.

    “Just because in that community, no girl had passed to go to the secondary school, so for a girl to do that, she [must have been a witch]” she explained on JoyNews.

    Brew-Ward further mentioned that the scope of persons to become victims of such attacks is very wide. Referencing the girl’s story to underpin her submission, she said the young student was tagged a witch after she surpassed expectations in the BECE.

    The manager of the Action Aid campaign finds this discouraging.The activist claims that in order to secure the aid she need, a partnership between her group and a few state agencies was required.

    Mrs. Brew-Ward mentioned additional demographic categories that are frequently labeled as such and stressed the importance of developing a roadmap for its eradication.

     

     

    Source: Yen.com

     

     

  • Nationwide self-placement exercise for over 187k BECE candidates ongoing

    A nationwide self-placement exercise under the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) started on Monday.

    The exercise, which is being done in all the 16 regions across the country for 187,542 candidates, will enable the affected candidates select new schools since they could not get placed during the automatic placement.

    Nationwide self-placement exercise for over 187k BECE candidates ongoing

    Briefing the media in Accra on Tuesday, the Deputy Coordinator for the Free Senior High School (FSHS), Nana Afrah Sika Mensah, said a total of 75 personnel of the FSHS Secretariat have been trained on good customer service skills to assist parents and students with any challenges they may have with placement.

    The Coordinator said the 75 trained personnel will assist parents and other guardians to resolve various admission issues such as change of school, correction of sex, change of programme among others.

    She urged parents to take a keen interest in resolving issues at their various regional resolution centres themselves instead of engaging agents or people at internet cafés who would not get them the right answers to their questions.

    Nationwide self-placement exercise for over 187k BECE candidates ongoing

    Nana Afrah Sika Mensah also cautioned parents not to pay money to anyone who comes to them to offer such a service at a fee since the CSSPS does not charge for it.

    Background
    The Ministry of Education through the FSHS Secretariat over the weekend announced the release of the school placement for qualified candidates who will be attending either SHS or any TVET institution in the country.

    A total of 571,892 candidates wrote the 2021/2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), after which 555,353 candidates qualified to pursue further education at the second cycle level.

    Out of the number who qualified, 367,811 were automatically placed in their schools of choice, leaving only 187,542 to do self-placement.

    The establishment of national and regional resolution centres across the country is helping to offer a face-to-face opportunity to parents, students, the media and other stakeholders to meet the technical team from the CSSPS and Free SHS Secretariat to address their peculiar issues, instantly.

    Apart from the national teams, four-member teams have been formed at each of the centres in the 16 regions to Collate and send to the National technical team issues compiled for redress.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • SHS postings out: GES announces confirmation of school selection for 2021 BECE candidates

    The Ghana Education Service has announced confirmation of school selection for 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.

    In a release signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the GES stated that the candidates can verify and confirm school choices through bulk SMS, USSD and online.

    “As part of measures to ensure smooth placement this year, the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Secretariat has made available the choices of schools selected by the 2021 BECE Candidates through bulk SMS, USSD messaging and online for verification and confirmation,” the release noted.

    SHS postings out: GES announces confirmation of school selection for 2021 BECE candidates

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Nsawam-Adoagyiri tops 2020 BECE, MP commends students

    The Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region has been ranked first in 2020 BECE performance out of the schools in the region.

    Further, 72% of students with an aggregate of 6 in the region were from the municipality, as it recorded the highest passes among the candidates presented with an 80.8% pass rate.

    A total of 27,561 candidates representing fifty-six percent (56%) of candidates failed.

    Students who obtained an aggregate of 6 in the region were 247 made up of 110 boys and 137 girls. 178 out of the total number of candidates who obtained an aggregate of 6 in the Eastern region were from Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality.

    2,834 candidates obtained aggregate 7 to 15 while 8,636 had aggregate 16 to 24. A total of 9,979 had an aggregate of 25 to 30.

    The Majority Chief Whip, also a Member of Parliament for Nsawam / Adoagyiri Constituency, Frank Annoh – Dompreh who was excited about the student’s performance on his behalf congratulates them for learning hard and scoring higher.

    He noted that “we are determined to do more together with all the stakeholders. This is refreshing”.

    The Majority Chief Whip through his efforts has been organizing free extra classes for the students annually as there is another ongoing extra class for the WAEC examination this year.

    According to him, his constituency ranked first in the Eastern Region and third national, and they are hopeful to do better this time.

    “We plan to perform better this year through impactful interventions such as this”, he stated.

    Frank Annoh – Dompreh said the private classes are meant to keep the students busy and provide an opportunity for them to have a better understanding of areas they might be having challenges with.

    Meanwhile, Statistical analysis of the performance of the candidates commissioned by the Eastern Regional Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) indicates that only 21,655 candidates out of total 49,216 candidates who wrote the exams passed by securing an aggregate of 6 to 30. This represents 44%.

    Other Municipal and Districts such as; Birim North has been placed second with a 65.1% pass rate, Atewa East followed in third with a 60.8% pass rate while Kwahu West, Birim South, and Atewa West and New Juaben South followed with 60.6%, 53.8%, 50.5%respectively.

    The New Juaben South Municipality placed sixth with a 50.1% pass rate while Kwahu Afram Plains South recorded 49.7% to place seventh.

    Denkyembuor, Suhum, Upper Manya Krobo, Akyemansa, and Akuapem-North followed with 48.6%, 47.5%, 47.5%, 45.8%, and 45.1% respectively.

    New Juaben North placed 14 with 44.9% while Birim Central place 15th with 44.6%.

    Kwahu Afram Plains North, Fanteakwa North, and Ayensuano languished at the bottom of the performance in the 2020 BECE in the region with 24.9%, 19.7%, and 19.0% pass rates respectively.

    Twenty-four (24) schools in 13 districts/Municipalities in Eastern Region recorded Zero percent (0%) during the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    The rest of the schools that recorded zero percent and the number of schools are; Kwaebibirim (4), Akyemansa (4), Abuakwa South (3), West Akim(3) Asene Manso -Akroso (2), New Juaben North (1), Yilo Krobo(1), Upper West Akyem (1), Kwahu South (1), Achiase (1), Fanteakwa South(1), Afram Plains North (1), Kwahu South (1), and lastly Okere (1).

    Source: Daniel Bampoe, Contributor

  • 2021 WASSCE to be written in Sept/Oct; BECE in Nov GES

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said it is in discussions with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the 2021 West African Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to be moved to September/October.

    It has also recommended that the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) take place in November.

    The Director-General of the GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, said the proposal is to allow students to prepare adequately for the exam.

    “Per our arrangements, we expect that the next exams will be written in September/October, and we have already started discussions with WAEC on that,” he said at a press conference in Accra on Monday, 4 January 2020.

    He added: “We needed to make provision for marking and release of exam results and reopening, so, if we decide on October/November, it will be difficult for WAEC to release the exam [results] early enough for admissions to take place in January.”

    “So, per our calculation, we have proposed September /October, and we noticed that when we use these dates, we would have covered 1,700 hours and will only be short of one-hour contact period which we can always make up for,” he added.

    Professor Opoku Amankwa also expressed optimism that the exit examination timetables would revert to their normal dates by 2023.

    “Looking into the future, WASSCE will be held in July/August and BECE in September for 2022. In 2023, WASSCE will then come back to our normal date which is May/June and then BECE will follow suit,” he said.

    Source: Class FM

  • Selection of BECE candidates into SHSs begins

    The selection of junior high school candidates who just completed their Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE) into senior high schools (SHSs) began yesterday.

    It will end on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

    A statement from the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the 2020 SHS register was available in all schools and education offices.

    The statement urged parents and guardians to take active interest in guiding their wards to choose schools based on their performance.

    It advised parents to seek for explanations and clarifications from the school management “if you do not know what to do”.

    Source: thefinderonline.com

  • 57-year-old JHS leaver who walked 3 miles to school every day celebrated

    The determination by a 57-year-old ‘mother of four’ Elizabeth Yamoah, to get some basic education, drove her to walk three miles to school every day.

    Apart from the long trek, it was confirmed to CTV by Mrs Yamoah’s headteacher on Monday, 21 September 2020, that the 57-year-old also suffered lots of abuse and scorn during her three-year journey at school.

    Being the oldest JHS graduate in Ghana, Elizabeth was among hundreds of thousands of pupils who recently sat the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    According to Mrs Yamoah, she nearly gave up at a point because she could no longer handle trolls from some women in her village.

    “They kept scorning and asking me what I was going to school for at my age. It nearly got to me at a point and I almost gave up. In fact, I stopped schooling for a while because of the scorn but the headteacher intervened and I resumed,” she said.

    Source: Class FM

  • Three pregnant candidates write BECE in Tarkwa-Nsuaem

    Three pregnant students are sitting for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

    Charles Cobbinah, the Western Regional Minister’s special aid and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Western Regional Coordinating Council, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview after he visited some examination centers to monitor the progress of the examination on behalf of the Regional Minister.

    He said 30 candidates, comprising 11 girls and 19 boys failed to report for the examination.

    A total of 3,531 candidates made up of 1, 712 boys and 1, 819 girls are participating in the 2020 BECE in the municipality, Mr Cobbina added.

    In all, 96 basic schools involving 62 public and 34 private schools are taking part in the examination.

    Mr Cobbina commended the candidates, invigilators, supervisors, security personnel and West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) officials for comporting themselves during the examination period.

    The seven centers visited include; Tarkwa Senior High School (SHS), Fiaseman SHS, Tarkwa Catholic Boys, Atuabo Community Basic School, Dadwen School Complex, Dompim Methodist Basic School and Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) Basic School -Nsuaem.

    Source: GNA

  • Arrested BECE supervisors aided in malpractice not leakage – WAEC clarifies

    Authorities at the West African Examination Council (WAEC) have disclosed that the circumstances that led to the arrest of some supervisors in the ongoing Basic Examination Certificate Examination (BECE) as an act of examination malpractice and not an examination leakage.

    There have been reports that the 2020 BECE is not credible because most of the questions have been leaked to candidates writing the exams.

    However, Head of Communications at WAEC, Agnes Tei Cudjoe, in an interview with Starr FM, revealed that the argument of leakages in the BECE does not merit since no authority of WAEC has been identified as giving out questions.

    According to her, the actions taken by the supervisors who were arrested are acts of examination malpractice, also known as external assistance. The supervisors, she said, take screenshots of the questions in the examination hall then go out and solve the questions for candidates.

    “This is not a leakage of questions. This is what we call helping students to gain external assistance because questions will be taken then answers will be brought to students for them to copy,” Agnes Teye Cudjoe told Starr FM.

    She added, “This is an examination malpractice and not an examination leakage. When a candidate brings in a phone into an examination hall it is an examination malpractice.”

    She noted that due to the strict protocols guarding examination questions, people have devised ways to get ahead of the examination council.

    However, she indicated that assisting candidates to cheat in exams does help students prove themselves.

    She said, “This is similar to examination malpractice because this does not allow the students to prove themselves. That is why when we release results, we can say that we have withheld candidate results because we can detect collusion in the scripts of candidates because sometimes when they are copying answers that are brought to them they copy with all errors.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 12 pregnant girls, 7 nursing mothers write BECE

    A total of 12 pregnant girls and seven nursing mothers are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Akontombra District of the Western North Region.

    Forty-three candidates, comprising 30 males and 13 females were absent.

    This was contained in a release signed by Mr Thomas Koffie, Akontombra District Education Director and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

    According to the releases, 1,606 candidates out of 1,649 registered candidates from 38 public and 18 private schools are sitting for the examination in five centres.

    Of the candidates present, 924 are males and 682 females.

    Mr Koffie expressed satisfaction with the conduct of both candidates and invigilators.

    Meanwhile, a visit to the Nsawora and Nkwadum centres by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on day three of the examination saw candidates and invigilators in nose masks.

    There were veronica buckets at the entrance of the examination halls in compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    Source: GNA

  • BECE invigilators urged to be professional

    Madam Amina Achiaa, Ejisu Municipal Director of Education, has asked invigilators in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to do their work professionally.

    They should create a good atmosphere for the candidates to write their examination peacefully.

    Madam Achiaa made the call during a tour of some examination centres in the Ejisu Municipality.

    A total of 3,666, made up 1,767 males and 1,899 girls are writing the examination in fifteen centres in the area.

    Mad Achiaa advised the candidates to be focused and desist from any immoral act that could create problems for them during and after the examination.

    She commended the supervisors for ensuring that both the candidates and the invigilators were obeying the COVID-19 protocols at all the centres.

    Source: GNA

  • BECE candidate goes into labour at examination hall

    A candidate sitting the ongoing Basic Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region went into labour Monday few minutes after the arrival of the first Examination paper.

    The candidate was rushed to the Maame Krobo Health Center but was referred to Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital where she delivered a baby boy.

    The Afram Plains South District Director of Education Mustapha Haruna Appiah confirmed the incident to Nkawkaw based Agoo FM.

    The Education Director said, three pregnant candidates and three nursing mothers are taking part in the exams in the district.

    He said these candidates are being provided special attention and support to enable them write the exams.

    About 1039 candidates are writing the ongoing BECE exams in Kwahu Afram Plains South District. There are 13 absentees made up of 4 boys and 9 girls.

    Teenage Pregnancy is prevalent in the District due to high rate of poverty.

    The District Chief Executive for Kwahu Afram Plains South, George Ofori told Starr News on Wednesday that the exams has been smooth so far but worried over cases of teenage pregnancy.

    The DCE assured of investing more to tackle the teenage Pregnancy menace in the district.

    He however charged parents to be more responsible.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Ellembelle MP donates 2,000 mathematical sets to BECE Candidates

    Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle in the Western Region has donated 2,016 pieces of mathematical sets to this year’s Basic Education Examination Certificate (BECE) candidates in the area.

    The gesture was to motivate and encourage them to successfully write their final exams. Before the gesture, the Ellembelle Lawmaker also organised a Mock Exam to prepare them for the final exams.

    In all, 1,815 candidates are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Examination Certificate Examination in the Ellembelle District with six centers and seventy-one schools. Making the presentation, Mr Kofi-Buah wished the candidates well and urged them not to be afraid of the exams.

    “I am here this morning to encourage you that you should not be worried at all. I want you to know that what you are about to write is not different from what you have been writing in school”, he said.

    He urged them to relax and write the papers since the exams was not about life and death. He cautioned them against examination malpractices and urged them to respect all the rules and regulations associated with the examination.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the schools, the Ellembelle District Examinations Officer, Mr Denis Bansah expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament for the kind gesture and gave the assurance that they would motivate them to write their exams with flying colours. Some of the candidates also expressed their appreciation towards the Member of Parliament and promised to learn hard to achieve their aim.

    “We are very excited and happy today for these mathematical sets and we say God should continue to bless him for always supporting students in this District, we will also learn hard to pass well”, they stated

    Source: GNA

  • BECE takes off smoothly in Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality

    This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) took off smoothly in the Sefwi-Waiwso Municipality with a total of 3,266 candidates from 67 public and 42 private schools writing the examination in 16 centers.

    At the English and Arabic center at Sefwi-Asawinso, Mr kwabena musah, supervisor told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that all the COVID-19 pandemic protocols were being observed and that 205 candidates from five schools are writing at the center.

    He indicated that all materials were received and the exams started on a good note.

    At the Sefwi- Waiwso senior high school center, the supervisor Mr peter kyeremateng said a total of 132 candidates from five schools wrote the the exams at the center with one candidate each from Dwenase Presbyterian Junior high and Anglican Junior high schools absent.

    At the time Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited Waiwso R/C center, Madam Georgina Amissah, supervisor said the center received all materials and that a total of 219 candidates from seven schools were sitting for the examination at the center with two candidates absent.

    Mr Edmond Ababio, Sefwi- Waiwso Municipal examination coordinator expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination.

    He said the necessary measures have been put in place to check leakages.

    Source: GNA

  • Two pregnant girls, nursing mother sit for BECE in Sissala East

    Two pregnant girls including; a nursing mother are participating in the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West Region.

    The nursing mother who delivered only a day to the examination displayed high level of determination when she managed to join her colleagues to write the English Language paper.

    This was observed during a monitoring visit by Mr Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Karim Nanyua, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Mr Cornelius Langsintuo, the Exams Officer for the Municipal Education Directorate.

    According to the Exams Officer, a total of 1,101 candidates comprising 562 girls and 539 boys were writing the 2020 BECE in the Municipality.

    He reported that so far the exam process was smooth as no incident was recorded.

    Mr Issahaku who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2020 Parliamentary candidate for Sissala West constituency advised the candidates to concentrate on their books and eschew any exam malpractice.

    The Deputy Regional Minister again advised the candidates to endeavour to observe all the COVID-19 protocols in order to stay safe throughout the exam period.

    Mr Nanyua said government would provide them with all that was needed to comfortably write their papers safely and without any challenges.

    Meanwhile, GNA observed that nosemasks and sanitizers were distributed to all the candidates who had them placed by their side as they sit for the exam.

    Earlier, the Sissala Youth Forum, an umbrella body of the Sissala Union issued a statement wishing the candidates well in the examination.

    “The Sissala Youth Forum further encouraged all stakeholders to play their respective roles more responsibly taking into account the rules and regulations of this important academic exercise”, the statement said.

    Source: GNA

  • Heads of basic schools confirm receipt of PPEs for 2020 BECE

    General Secretary of Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS), Alex Ackah has confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPEs) for 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates have been delivered to the various regions for distribution.

    In an interview with UniversNews, Mr. Ackah, who is also the Headteacher of Dunkwa Methodist JHS in the Central Region, mentioned that the PPEs were received about a week ago and have since been distributed to candidates.

    He was quick to add that nose masks were yet to be part of the distribution, explaining that they would not want students to come to the exam hall with excuses that they left them at home.

    Mr. Ackah indicated that face masks would rather be distributed to the students at the exam centre.

    “Currently all schools have received their PPEs for the upcoming BECE. For my district, I took it last week and I have distributed it among the students, other districts have called to confirm that they have received their PPE”

    Mr. Ackah added that although the students were writing the exam during the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, he is confident that the students have been adequately prepared.

    “The children are prepared, they are gingered, they are prepared to write the exams because we have been with them since the reopening and tuition has been going on. Although, it may not be as it was when school operated for full hours; since it is an examination period, we teach for a while and allow them to also practice on their own”

    The 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) would be conducted from 14-18 September 2020 with a total of 531,705 candidates comprising 269,419 males and 262,286 females.

    Candidates are from 17,440 schools and they will write the Examination at 2007 centres.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Over 1,000 candidates sit for BECE in Ellembelle under tight security

    A total of 1,815 candidates are writing the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

    The nationwide exams which commenced today, September 14, 2020, is expected to end on Friday, September 18, 2020.

    In Ellembelle District, 927 boys and 883 girls are taking part in the exams.

    Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, the Ellembelle District Exams Coordinator, Mr. Denis Bansah, he disclosed that six centers have been created for the exams.

    “We have six centers, one is at Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School, another one at Esiama Technical and Senior High School and the rest are Atuabo Methodist Primary School, Aiyinasi Holy Child School, Aiyinasi Methodist Primary School, and Bonzo Kaku Senior High School.

    “In all, we are having 1,815 candidates taking part in this year’s BECE. Nkroful for instance we have 16 invigilators, 2 assistant supervisors and one supervisor who are taking charge of the examination from Monday to Friday”, he told GhanaWeb.

    He added that the examination will be in two sessions – morning and afternoon – in all centers across the country. The morning session begins from 9 am and ends somewhere 10:45 am and the second session starts from 1pm to 3 pm.

    He, therefore, took the opportunity, to advise the candidates to report to the exams center at least 8am every morning and also go through all the Coronavirus safety protocols.

    “So what we are telling our candidates I’d that by 8am since we are no more in normal times, we want them to be around 8 o’clock so that we can take them through COVID-19 protocols, checking of temperature, washing of hands and those things so we want them to report early to the center before the start of the exams,” he urged.

    Security

    Mr. Denis Bansah told GhanaWeb that the security is tight and emphasized that the security will deal with any teacher who will flout the rules and regulations governing the exams.

    “Security too is tight, as we speak,..the police is taking charge, we have security vehicles that will be doing the distribution and also at the various centers we have security personnel.

    “So what we are telling the teachers is that you come, you bring your students or candidates to the center, you register them, write your name and other details then they go away because we don’t want any teacher roaming around if you do that the security personnel will deal with you,” he stressed.

    Examination malpractices

    He said they have cautioned the candidates not to engage in any form of examination malpractices and cheating to prevent cancellation of their results.

    “For examination malpractices, we have been telling them that they shouldn’t engage in any form of examination malpractice…And one thing that we are telling them is that bringing mobile phone into the examination hall is not allowed, it is never allowed, when you bring it and we get you, your entire result will be canceled for a while you will not be permitted to take any WAEC examination. So we are urging them that they should not come to the exams hall with any form of mobile phone even mathematical set we don’t want it, we will be allowed you to use the maths set when maths and science papers and apart from these two subjects we don’t want them to bring them to the exams hall”, he said.

    Previous BECE performance

    He revealed, “considering last two years results, I may say that last year’s one was encouraging and we are hoping that this year’s one will be better off than the two years we had so we hope that we the District have a target that is 100 per cent pass for the District so we are hoping to get there”.

    Mock Exams

    The Ellembelle District Exams Coordinator used the opportunity to commend the Member of Parliament MP for the area Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah and the Ellembelle District Assembly for sponsoring two Mock Exams to prepare the candidates adequately for this week examination.

    “Yes the District organised Mock Exams for the candidates, we got the support from the MP for the area and then the District Assembly so the first we wrote was sponsored by the MP and then the second one was sponsored by the Ellembelle District Assembly so in all we wrote two mocks, he ended.

    In all, seventy-nine (79) invigilators and supervisors have been engaged in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ellembelle District.

    However, 531,705 registered candidates are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) across the country.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com