BECE proceeding smoothly in Sunyani

Sunyani (B/A), April 24, GNA - Supervisors at a number of centres for this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Sunyani Municipality have described the conduct of the examination so far as very smooth and devoid of malpractices and irregularities. They described the level of preparedness of candidates for this year's examination, which started throughout the country on Monday, as very satisfactory as compared to previous years, as candidates had maintained their cool, confidence and were relaxed.

A tour of some of the centres by the Ghana News Agency showed that security officials and invigilators were alert to check any malpractices or misdemeanour by the candidates.

Mr Okum Julian, Assistant Headmaster of Odomaseman Secondary School and Supervisor at the centre said 348 students were registered to write the examination there.

He told the GNA the students were asked to pray and have confidence in themselves shortly before the start of the first paper, English Language, on Monday.

Master Adagnasa Emmanuel and Ms Asantewaa, candidates at the Odomaseman Methodist JSS centre, said the paper was a "bit difficult" and complained about the time allotted for the paper, which they explained could not allow them to answer all the questions. At the Sunyani Secondary School Centre A, 313 students comprising 159 boys and 153 girls were registered to take the examination. One girl, however, absented herself from the examinations.

Mr Afful Yeboah, Supervisor, said no foreign materials were found on any of the candidates before the start of the papers. He said one pregnant girl was allowed to write the examination since she was in normal health and there was no law disallowing a pregnant candidate from taking the examinations.

At Centre B, 185 candidates made up of 82 girls and 103 boys were registered for the examinations but there were two absentees. Mr Sie Kwesi, Centre Supervisor said there had not been any problems.

At the Twene Amanfo Secondary Technical School Centre A, 352 candidates were listed to write the examinations but there were four absentees and no reasons were given.

Mr Isaac Agyapong, the centre supervisor, said candidates had generally comported themselves this year as compared to previous years. "This time things have drastically improved", he said, adding "WAEC has also separated the two sections on the question papers in such a way that one can hardly outsmart officials by turning over to look at questions at the other end of the question booklet".

Centre C at the same school had 414 registered candidates but four of them, comprising two girls and two boys were absent.

Mr Emmanuel Nsiah, supervisor at the centre, explained that one of the absentee girls was sick, while the other had registered with another school. One of the absentee boys was said to have travelled to Accra.

"Everything is going on smoothly as both the candidates and the officials are cooperating", he said. 24 April 07