URSULA Cautions Ablekuma West BECE Candidates Against Malpractice

To ensure a smooth start to the 2024 edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), all 3000 candidates from the Ablekuma West Constituency in the Greater Accra Region have been gifted a free mathematical set, sanitary pads and other stationery.

The gifts were presented by the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

During the presentation of the mathematical sets and other supplies, Ursula said the gesture was her way of contributing to the improvement of education in the constituency.

“Education is very key and we have our students starting the exams so I thought it is necessary to donate these to help them prepare for the exams. To this end, I’m giving one math set each, a pen, pencil and a rule. This is for the entire public and private school candidates. Per my data, the total number of students writing the exams in Ablekuma West is about 3, 000 but I have brought everything”, she said.

In a bid to motivate the BECE candidates to excel in the exams, Hon. Ursula pledged a special prize for the best performing students in the examination.

In a social media post, she explained, “Thursday, July 4, I donated about 3000 mathematical sets to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in my constituency (Ablekuma West). The donation forms part of my well-wishes to the candidates to motivate them ahead of their final exams.

“I, however, cautioned the candidates against examination malpractices. I also urged them to thoroughly read the instructions on the exam papers before answering them. I wished them recollective memory as they sit their first major exams. The female candidates received hygiene packs in addition.”

BECE Starts Today

A total of 570,461 candidates from both basic and private schools across the country comprising of 282,648 males and 386,447 females are set and ready for the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which begins today, Monday, July 8.

The examination is conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

This follows the release of GHC55,873,689.87 to the Council by the government of Ghana.

Mr. John K Kapi, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC National Office, who announced this at a press conference said, the government was making arrangement for the release of the remainder of the examination fees to the Council

The press conference was to update stakeholders and the public on the upcoming BECE for public schools and private candidates.

Mr. Kapi said candidates are expected to write English Language on July 8, and finish the examination with Arabic by Monday, July 15, 2024.

“This figure represents a decrease of 5.29 per cent compared to the 2023 entry figure of 600,900. As part of arrangements for the smooth conduct of the examination, the Guidelines, Scheme and Structure of the examination with same questions were developed and circulated to all heads of school. Interested stakeholders can also visit our website to have access to them,” he said.

Touching on the preparations the Council had made for the successful conduct of the examination, Mr. Kapi said a sensitization programme on the rules and regulations had been organised for all candidates and other stakeholders across the country.

He said the Council had also distributed examination stationery such as objective answer cards, answer booklets, pencils, among others, to District Education Offices throughout the country.

He added that, WAEC had also made provisions for candidates with social educational needs, and it was making sure that no candidate was left out.

“We have also done distribution of examination stationery items such as objective answer cards, answer booklets, pencils to the district education offices throughout the country,”

Mr. Kapi cautioned stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, invigilators and supervisors, to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations for the conduct of the examination.

He stressed that while parents must ensure that their children did not send mobile phones to the examination centres, invigilators, teachers and supervisors needed to be sure that they did not create any room for cheating and other malfeasance.

“Proprietors of schools, parents, head teachers, teachers and all other persons not involved in the conduct of the examination are not allowed at the centres,” he said.