Mr. David Oppong, the Education Director of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, has added his voice to the growing call for a change in the scheduling of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Currently, BECE candidates are required to sit for two papers each day, a practice that has led to requests for both the government and the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to reconsider the format and reduce the pressure on the candidates during the examination period.
While visiting various examination centers where the BECE is being administered, Mr. Oppong expressed his support for the proposed alteration in an exclusive interview with Class News’ Elisha Adarkwah.
He commended the idea of having candidates complete only one paper daily, considering it a highly valuable suggestion.
He underlined that this adjustment in the examination timetable would not only provide candidates with more suitable rest but also alleviate the stress and anxiety that often accompany the examination process.
Given these advantages, Mr. Oppong strongly encouraged both the government and WAEC to seriously contemplate implementing this change.
He emphasized the potential positive influence it could have on the candidates’ performance and overall well-being.
The BECE for this year commenced on Monday, 7 August 2023.
The over 600,000 candidates taking part in the BECE mark a notable increase of 5.4% compared to the previous year.
WAEC disclosed that the candidates consist of approximately 300,323 males and 300,391 females, originating from both private and public Junior High Schools.
A total of 18,993 educational institutions will partake in the examination, with 2,137 centers designated to accommodate the candidates.
For Private Candidates, there will be an entry figure of 1,743 candidates, comprising 889 males and 854 females. This demonstrates a significant surge compared to the 1,132 candidates in 2022.
The examination will be carefully overseen by a well-prepared team, including 2,023 supervisors, 1,816 assistant supervisors, and 19,384 invigilators.
To ensure seamless conduct, fifteen centers, primarily situated in regional capitals, have been selected for the BECE for Private candidates.
The students embarked on their journey with the Religious and Moral Education and English Language papers. In the ensuing days, they will tackle other subjects, culminating in the French paper on Friday.
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