A total of 22, 569 candidates from both public and private Junior High Schools are writing this year’s 5-day Basic Education Certificate Examination, (BECE) in the Bono region.
The candidates are coming from 808 schools in the region.
The examinations, which start today, July 8, 2024 will end on Friday, July 15, 2024 across the country.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says a total of 569,095 candidates would sit for this year’s examinations.
The candidates are writing English Language this morning, and finish the examination with Arabic by Monday, July 15, 2024.
Out of the total number of candidates sitting for the BECE nationwide, 282, 648 are males and 286,447 are females with 19,506 schools participating in the examinations.
“This figure represents a decrease of 5.29 per cent compared to the 2023 entry figure of 600,900”, according to WAEC.
The examinations are taking place in 2,123 locations across the nation with 2,123 Supervisors, 1,889 assistant Supervisors and 19,973 Invigilators.
The WAEC has stated that the candidates would be examined based on the newly introduced Common Core Curriculum, while private candidates would be examined on the old syllabus.
The Bono Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Luke Mensah, told The Chronicle in Sunyani that 790 Invigilators and 157 Supervisors have been deployed for the examinations at 81 centers in the Bono region.
Districts data
According to Mr Mensah, the Sunyani East Municipal area has the highest number of candidates of 4,166 made of 1,973 males and 2,193 females.
The Banda District has the least candidates of 542, comprising 268 males and 274 females.
Berekum East – 2,405 candidates (1,198 males and 1,207 females), Berekum West – 895 candidates (439 males and 456 females), Dormaa Central – 2,107 candidates (1069 males and 1,038 females), Dormaa East – 1,168 candidates (590 males and 578 females) and Dormaa West-729 candidates (375 males and 354 females).
The rest are; Jaman North-1,952 candidates (987 males, 965 females), Jaman South-1,124 candidates (1,082 males, 2,206 females).
Others are; Sunyani West – 2,431 candidates (1,226 males, 1,205 females), Tain – 1,736 candidates (884 males, 852 females) and Wenchi – 2,225 candidates (1,082 males, 1,143 females).
GOODWILL MESSAGES
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, has extended her best wishes to all candidates participating in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with a special focus on those in the Bono region.
The Minister advised candidates to refrain from any form of malpractice during the exams. She reassured them that the questions are based on the syllabi they have already studied, encouraging them not to fear but to trust in their preparations.
Madam Owusu Banahene emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge and skills imparted by their teachers and adhering to all examination rules. She reminded the students that they are part of a long tradition of learners taking the BECE and urged them to rely on their many years of basic education.
She also called on parents to play active roles in their children’s exam preparation. She stressed that, “now is the time for students to focus on revising their books rather than relying solely on prayers and fasting”.
Madam Owusu Banahene urged parents to ensure that their children eat well before heading to the examination hall and reminded them to make sure those on medications take them as prescribed.
She warned teachers against any attempts to assist candidates improperly during the exams, noting that such actions are illegal and punishable by law if caught.
The General Manager for Key Media Solutions, Madam Stella Dabia Asare, in a goodwill message, copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani, said in part that: “I write to convey heartfelt best wishes from Key Media Solutions to all candidates who will be sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“As you start your examination today to mark another milestone in your lives, I trust in your abilities to put in your best and come out with flying colours.
“I hope you know that the best way to do well in your examination is to believe in yourself and never give room for doubt.
“Let the preparations you have put in, manifest as you write each paper. Conduct yourselves very well, present what is required of you and write the examinations to make yourselves and the rest of us proud”, the message said.
Madam Dabia Asare also commended staff of the GES for preparing the candidates for the examinations
“I would like to express my gratitude to the District Directors of Education and staff of the GES, head teachers, subject teachers and all stakeholders who played various roles in making sure that our candidates were prepared well to write this examination”, Madam Dabia Asare said.
She further cautioned the candidates to shun all forms of examination malpractices before, during and after the exams and further called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to take all the necessary security measures to ensure leakage free of examination papers to avoid unnecessary cancellation of papers which affects candidates negatively.
