Tamale, April 21, GNA - This year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), has commenced smoothly in the Northern Region with a total of 26,942 candidates expected to take part in the examination. Out of the number, 16,499 are males and 10,443 are females and 62 examination centres have been sited in the region with the Tamale Metropolis alone having 20 centres.

Mr. Jerry Naavure, the Region Examination Officer, made this known to GNA when he and the Regional Director of Education, Madam Elizabeth A. Desuza and Mr. Stephen Sumani Nanyina, the Regional Minister visited some examination centres in Tamale.

The Regional Minister was conducted round centres including Vettim Secondary/Technical, Ghana Senior High School, Business Senior High School, and Tamale Senior High School. Mr. Naavure said last year 14,462 candidates sat for the examination while this year over 21,662 candidates were taking part. He said the increase in the number of candidates for this year was due to the introduction of the Capitation Grant that had helped to retain students in school. Mr. Naawure said at the centres visited, question papers were provided to the candidates while supervisors and invigilators were seen closely monitoring the examination. At the Business Senior High School examination centre, it was reported that a female candidate could not write the examination because she was delivered of a baby.

Mr. Nanyina expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination and commended the supervisors and invigilators for their commitment to work.

He also praised the candidates for so far conducting themselves well in this year's examination. Mr. Naayina said more males absented themselves from the examination than girls and attributed this to sensitization of girls by the Ghana Education.