Let avoid acts which can mar this year’s BECE
This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commenced yesterday with over 600,000 candidates participating across the country.
The figures, 297,250 males and 306,078 females represent a five per cent increase over last year’s cohort, highlighting not only the growing population of school-age children but also the nation’s commitment to basic education.
In addition, 1,661 private candidates, made up of 858 males and 803 females, are also sitting for the examination.
As students take their seats in 2,237 centres nationwide, they are being examined on 11 subjects, with each student expected to take at least nine, including seven core subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Career Technology.
For many, the BECE is more than just an academic exercise. It is a critical bridge between basic education and the transition to secondary education.
In the spirit of national solidarity, goodwill messages have poured in from all corners. From the Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to Members of Parliament and community leaders the messages have been profound.
These messages, urging students to remain calm, focused, and honest, serve as both encouragement and moral guidance.
The Ghanaian Times joins the chorus of well-wishers in extending our best wishes to the candidates. However, as we encourage our students, it is equally important to underscore the role of exam officials and institutions.
The examination environment must be conducive and free from distractions, enabling students to concentrate fully. Examinations, while primarily a test of knowledge, also reflect character, discipline, and readiness for greater academic challenges.
The last thing our students need is unnecessary psychological pressure from avoidable disturbances. It is therefore heartening to note that the GES has implemented a raft of measures to maintain order and minimise interference during the exams.
That said, one cannot ignore reports of certain officials engaging in malpractices, including the collection of money from candidates to facilitate cheating. Such behaviour not only undermines the credibility of the examination but places innocent students at a disadvantage.
Against this backdrop, we commend the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, for his strong stance at a recent press briefing.
His warning that any official caught aiding or abetting malpractice would face severe consequences, including dismissal, is timely and necessary.
Integrity in our education system must be non-negotiable. Equally critical is the role of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The Council must take all necessary precautions to prevent leakages of examination questions, which have in the past led to the unfair cancellation of results or forced rewrites thus punishing students through no fault of their own.
In the final analysis, ensuring the success of the BECE is a collective responsibility. From government and examination bodies to parents, teachers, and the general public, we must all play our part in upholding the sanctity of the process.
Let us provide our younger brothers and sisters the peace, fairness, and confidence they need to excel. Only then can we guarantee that the doors of Free Senior High School remain open to all who earn their place through hard work and honest effort.