Mentoring programme organized for BECE candidates

Accra, April 1, GNA -A mentoring programme to adequately prepare candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations has been held for pupils within the Osu Doku educational circuit on Thursday. Insight Foundation Ghana (IFG), a human development oriented Non Governmental organization (NGO), organised the programme, under the theme "Ensuring a Successful BECE".

Mr Cater Kofi Osafo, Deputy Registrar at the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), assured the pupils of the Council's readiness to ensure that the 2010 BECE was devoid of the usual acrimonies that had characterized it for years.

He appealed to the pupils to be conversant with all the rules governing their impending exams slated for the 19th of April this year, in order not to do the wrong things that could lead to some having their results cancelled.

"I will urge you a ll to know all the rules that go with the exams you are about to take since WAEC will not spare anyone who misconducts him or herself, he cautioned them".

He expressed worry about the high level of negative reports that WAEC receives about examinations and urged all invigilators and teachers not to condone with pupils to cheat, since the WAEC would definitely find out. Mr Osafo called on teachers to educate their candidates on the differences between 'Define', Explain and Discuss, since most pupils did not understand the three words very well.

"Students often only give the definitions to questions they have been asked to explain or discuss, for which they lose valuable marks," he said. Mrs. Stella Abbey, Circuit Supervisor, Osu Doku Educational Unit, urged the pupils to be focused and not to be lured by the numerous entertainment activities that go on at Osu and its environs. She cautioned them against taking foreign material to the exams room as well talking during the exams, adding that, "it could have consequences on your results when you are caught".

She advised them to have enough rest, the day before the exams, so that they would be refreshed and ready on the exam day. Miss Patience Dowuona Hammond, Head of Administration and Human Resource, Donewell Insurance, advised the pupils to resist peer pressure and avoid the negative aspects of the Internet such as pornography. She also urged them to obey their teachers, be content with what their parents give them and also choose their friends carefully since they could be very influential.

The Executive Secretary of IFG Mrs Thomasia Brown said the programme was initiated in 2008, to fill a vacuum, which had been created in the educational curriculum, due to the absence of such mentoring programmes. She said the situation had negatively affected the development of pupils, resulting in many social vices and poor academic performance particularly in public school.

Mrs. Brown said the programme would be an annual event, which would be extended to other basic school in the Greater Accra Region, in order to enhance performances in public schools.