A nursing teen mother (student) and 12 pregnant teenagers took part in this year’s annual Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The BECE that took place in eight centres within the municipality saw a total of 1,864 candidates participating. This number was made up of 986 boys and 878 girls. With 15 absentees across the centres; those who wrote the exams included the 12 pregnant teenagers and one teen nursing mother. A major reason accounting for the absenteeism has been attributed to relocation of the parents with the candidates from the communities. Three of these absentees stated in an interaction with the ISD that, they did not take part in the exams because they were not ready.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Assembly, Matina Appiah Nyantakyi together with the Municipal Director of Education Mrs Grace Oppong Agyapong and some staff of both Municipal Assembly and the Education Service toured all the eight examination centers to interact with the candidates. Addressing these candidates, the MCE encouraged the students to free themselves from fear and panic, and to put in their best to come out with flying colours. Amidst her good words of encouragement, she also cautioned the students to stay away from all kinds of examination malpractices as such act has a tendency of tarnishing their image that of their respective schools and the municipality at large.

Speaking to the ISD in Tepa, the Municipal Director of Education, stated that, this years’ examination atmosphere has been very conducive and calm as compared to the previous years where some issues were recorded in the municipality. According to her, throughout the tour, one thing she realized candidates were talking about most was the Integrated Science paper. She stated, most of the candidates complained that, the paper was voluminous and difficult. Aside that, the candidates were ok with the rest of the papers; she said.

The examination centres that the BECE took place in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality is made up of two centers in Tepa Senior High School and a center each at Maabang, Anyinasuso, Betiako, Twabidi, Manfo and Subriso. Meanwhile, the 7th -11th August 2023 BECE that took place nationwide has ended.

In a related development, the Director General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Nana Agyemang Prempeh, last week donated mathematical sets each to all the candidates.

Receiving the items, both students and teachers expressed their profound gratitude towards the kind gesture from the Director General.