Accra, June 22, GNA - The Private Universities Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has said any official of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) found liable over the leakage of this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) questions must be punished.
The Association said the leakage threatened to undermine the credibility of the nation’s educational system.
Showing posts with label WAEC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WAEC. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2015
GNAT appeals for long preparation time for BECE candidates
Accra, June 20, GNA – Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to West African Examination Council to give the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates ample time to overcome the psychological trauma to prepare for the re-scheduled examination.
GNAT is advocating enough and better time than June 29 and June 30 given by the Council for preparation because the nation does not have enough counsellors in the school system to offer the necessary support systems that would bring the affected students back to normalcy.
A statement in Accra and signed by Mr V. V. K. Demanya, Acting General Secretary of GNAT, indicated that it is the conviction of the Association that the Bureau of National Investigations which has been assigned the duty to earthen the culprits would live up to expectation.
“GNAT hopes that all persons in the chain of the examination processes will avail themselves to the investigators for a thorough work to be done.
“All those found to have compromised their positions in this year’s BECE should bow down their heads in shame for causing unwarranted mess in the country.”
The statement noted that the perpetrators caused the problem because of their selfish ends and the law should deal with them appropriately.
It said the Association one of the reasons for this kind of behaviour might be the moral breakdown which has resulted in all manner of corrupt practices.
Members urged the Government to start looking at the educational system again to find lasting solutions to it.
“The number of papers written in BECE is too many and we need to take another look at this situation.”
The Association noted that it is the hope of members that the pupils and teachers would be strengthened as they go through the challenging times.
Source: GNA
GNAT is advocating enough and better time than June 29 and June 30 given by the Council for preparation because the nation does not have enough counsellors in the school system to offer the necessary support systems that would bring the affected students back to normalcy.
A statement in Accra and signed by Mr V. V. K. Demanya, Acting General Secretary of GNAT, indicated that it is the conviction of the Association that the Bureau of National Investigations which has been assigned the duty to earthen the culprits would live up to expectation.
“GNAT hopes that all persons in the chain of the examination processes will avail themselves to the investigators for a thorough work to be done.
“All those found to have compromised their positions in this year’s BECE should bow down their heads in shame for causing unwarranted mess in the country.”
The statement noted that the perpetrators caused the problem because of their selfish ends and the law should deal with them appropriately.
It said the Association one of the reasons for this kind of behaviour might be the moral breakdown which has resulted in all manner of corrupt practices.
Members urged the Government to start looking at the educational system again to find lasting solutions to it.
“The number of papers written in BECE is too many and we need to take another look at this situation.”
The Association noted that it is the hope of members that the pupils and teachers would be strengthened as they go through the challenging times.
Source: GNA
GES Director-General calls for team work
Accra, June 19, GNA - Mr Jacob A.M. Kor, Acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has called for teamwork among stakeholders in education so as to achieve the aspirations of the sector.
Speaking at his maiden meeting with heads of educational institutions and stakeholders in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, Mr Kor said to achieve the aims of education, stakeholders, including the leadership of the GES, teachers, students, and labour unions, must play their roles effectively.
This, he said, should be done with the best interests of the children and the various stakeholders, while striving to serve them to the best of their ability.
He said leaders must have excellent interpersonal relations with their colleagues if they are to be successful in their roles.
Mr Kor said the most effective way to address some challenges in the sector such as declining performance, was not to apportion blame but to collectively work to address them.
He said there was the need to tackle teacher professionalism by addressing issues of teacher absenteeism, lateness and unpreparedness for teaching since these factors contribute to the student’s poor performance.
Mr Kor urged teachers to desist from the use of indecent language in the classroom and branding of children as their words had an effect on the children saying they should rather encourage the students to succeed.
“We cannot do anything without the support of the stakeholders” he said and tasked the District Directors of Education and heads of schools to respect the inputs of stakeholders like Parent-Teacher Associations, labour unions and community members.”
He said parents as first teachers played an important role in their children’s education and entreated parents to dialogue with teachers and other officials on issues affecting their wards’ education.
“Teaching is a calling like that of reverend fathers or Imams and if we serve the children with love, we will receive blessings and live long on earth. Our reward will be on earth, not in heaven,” Mr Kor said.
He urged students, as stakeholders in education, to be prepared to study with zeal to be able to pass their examinations without having to resort to cheating.
With reference to the cancellation of some papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), he noted that examination malpractices had become a canker in the sector and signalled the need to re-strategise.
Speaking at his maiden meeting with heads of educational institutions and stakeholders in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, Mr Kor said to achieve the aims of education, stakeholders, including the leadership of the GES, teachers, students, and labour unions, must play their roles effectively.
This, he said, should be done with the best interests of the children and the various stakeholders, while striving to serve them to the best of their ability.
He said leaders must have excellent interpersonal relations with their colleagues if they are to be successful in their roles.
Mr Kor said the most effective way to address some challenges in the sector such as declining performance, was not to apportion blame but to collectively work to address them.
He said there was the need to tackle teacher professionalism by addressing issues of teacher absenteeism, lateness and unpreparedness for teaching since these factors contribute to the student’s poor performance.
Mr Kor urged teachers to desist from the use of indecent language in the classroom and branding of children as their words had an effect on the children saying they should rather encourage the students to succeed.
“We cannot do anything without the support of the stakeholders” he said and tasked the District Directors of Education and heads of schools to respect the inputs of stakeholders like Parent-Teacher Associations, labour unions and community members.”
He said parents as first teachers played an important role in their children’s education and entreated parents to dialogue with teachers and other officials on issues affecting their wards’ education.
“Teaching is a calling like that of reverend fathers or Imams and if we serve the children with love, we will receive blessings and live long on earth. Our reward will be on earth, not in heaven,” Mr Kor said.
He urged students, as stakeholders in education, to be prepared to study with zeal to be able to pass their examinations without having to resort to cheating.
With reference to the cancellation of some papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), he noted that examination malpractices had become a canker in the sector and signalled the need to re-strategise.
Source: GNA
GES recommends counselling for BECE candidates
Accra, June 19, GNA - Mr Jacob A.M. Kor, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has directed Heads of Basic Schools to organise counselling sessions for candidates in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
In a statement confirming the cancellation of five papers of the BECE due to the mass leakage of the questions, Mr Kor said the counselling was necessary as some of the candidates may suffer psychological effects due to the cancellation.
He stressed that: “The move would ensure that their confidence does not wane as they continue to write other papers.”
Mr Kor also tasked teachers to ensure that the new dates for re-writing of the cancelled papers - 29th and 30th June - were well communicated to the students and parents in order to avoid any absenteeism.
He also entreated teachers to educate parents on the need to support their children to take away any fears they might be harbouring.
“GES takes the opportunity to apologise to all parents, guardians and candidates for the unfortunate incidence and the inconvenience caused,” he concluded.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of five papers in the ongoing BECE, citing massive leakage of examination papers.
The affected papers are English Paper Two, Mathematics Paper Two, Integrated Science, Religious and Moral Education (RME) Paper Two and Social Studies.
In a statement confirming the cancellation of five papers of the BECE due to the mass leakage of the questions, Mr Kor said the counselling was necessary as some of the candidates may suffer psychological effects due to the cancellation.
He stressed that: “The move would ensure that their confidence does not wane as they continue to write other papers.”
Mr Kor also tasked teachers to ensure that the new dates for re-writing of the cancelled papers - 29th and 30th June - were well communicated to the students and parents in order to avoid any absenteeism.
He also entreated teachers to educate parents on the need to support their children to take away any fears they might be harbouring.
“GES takes the opportunity to apologise to all parents, guardians and candidates for the unfortunate incidence and the inconvenience caused,” he concluded.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of five papers in the ongoing BECE, citing massive leakage of examination papers.
The affected papers are English Paper Two, Mathematics Paper Two, Integrated Science, Religious and Moral Education (RME) Paper Two and Social Studies.
Source: GNA
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Intense competition cause of BECE leakage – Prof Dominic Fobih
Former Education Minister Prof Dominic Fobih has attributed the leakage of the Basic education Certificate Examination papers to intense competition between schools to outperform each other.
According to him, because most schools don’t want to score zeros or low marks during the BECE examination, they do anything to ensure that their students pass.
This encourages the leakage of the papers.
Prof Fobih’s comment follows the leakage and subsequent cancellation of five subjects in the ongoing BECE supervised and conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination administration body Wednesday.
Signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, the statement listed the following papers are having been "compromised".
Prof. Dominic Fobih was Minister of Education in the erstwhile Kufuor administration.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show ‘Dwaso Nsem” Thursday, Fobih believes there is no way students should be blamed for the leakage adding that it was simply a leadership problem.
But he did not spare the teachers and education authorities of blame.
Prof Fobih fears that this form of corruption, if not dealt with immediately will affect the integrity and moral judgment of the students in the long term.
He called on government and the stakeholders in the education sector to, as a matter of urgency, modify the
objectives of the BECE.
The former Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency said pupils do not have to qualify to go to SHS.
He said it is important to make SHS the mandatory terminal point, instead of using the BECE to terminate some pupils’ education.
Former Education Minister Dominic Fobih is calling for the complete restructuring of the BECE because “it lacks depth”.
According to the Professor, BECE should be an exam that seeks to identify the strengths of pupils and place them in their various preferred programmes like business, science, visual and arts at the Senior High
School (SHS) level.
In his view,” it is necessary to change the focus of the BECE” from its current selective system to a placement system which will be more beneficial to the student.
There is no need to sift through the candidates and take the supposed brilliant ones to SHS, every student’s strength in a particular subject or programme should be the standpoint for SHS education.
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba
Akwa
BECE leakage: NAGRAT calls for immediate resignation of WAEC boss
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has asked for the head of the Ghana Office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Sam Ollennu to step down.
This follows the massive leakage and cancellations of five papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate
Examination (BECE).
The Association also wants the dissolution of the WAEC Board.
Joy News’ Michaela Anderson was at a news conference and reports that NAGRAT is blaming WAEC for the leakage.
The group said it was necessary for the Rev Ollennu to step aside because his continuous presence as the Council’s head will influence the investigation process.
Vice President of NAGRAT, Angel Kabonu said “the results that students churn out is a reflection of our competence or otherwise and if people are adamant to our call…because our call does not stem from only what has happened this year, we have series of historical developments that we will present to the table, if that is not done we will have to reconsider our relationship with that examination body.
“Don’t forget the questions are from us, the assessment and marking of the examination is from us, we invigilate the examination and without us the examination cannot go on”, he added.
He indicated that examination body should be blamed for the leakage and no one else.
“When papers leak and the questions are on the internet, whatsApp and students could email them, then we will have to ask ourselves the question ‘where is it coming from’, definitely it is coming from WAEC”.
Angel Kabonu says students should not be made to pay for the incompetence of the Council.
Founder of Ashesi University, Patrick Awuah agrees with NAGRAT.
He is angry about how this canker continues to fester adding that the first step in dealing with cheating during examinations is for leadership of WAEC to be dismissed.
“We need to get beyond announcing the leakage and cancelling papers and really get into a process of house cleaning at WAEC, they really need to clean their house because clearly, individuals within that organisation are causing these leakages”.
These individuals according to him, need to be identified and sanctioned and “if we are unable to find these individuals who are doing this, I would say they need to look at the leadership of WAEC because at the end of the day the buck has to stop somewhere”.
Patrick Awuah said the leakages are occurring as a result of a weak leadership at WAEC and “that leadership must be changed”.
He added that the situation will not change unless tough measures and decisions are taken.
Source: Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa
School heads found culpable in BECE leakage will be sanctioned – GES
The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Jacob Kor says there will be tough sanctions for teachers and headteachers who may be found culpable in the leakage of examination papers and other examination malpractices.
Speaking to journalists in the Volta Regional capital, Ho on the sidelines of a meeting with District Directors,
he indicated that teachers and headteachers who assist students during examinations cannot be left
unpunished.
He said a teacher in the Eastern region has already been sanctioned for helping a student to cheat in an examination.
The said teacher, according to him will face the regional disciplinary committee of the GES and as soon
as investigations are concluded, the appropriate action will be taken.
Jacob Kor said those who indulge in this act must be punished, adding that “let’s teach our generation the right thing, the truth nothing but the truth.
“If we encourage them to engage in examination malpractices, they will end up killing us the hospitals as quack doctors because they have not learnt enough”, he added.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) Wednesday June 17, cancelled five papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after a massive leakage was noticed.
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination body Wednesday.
Signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, the statement listed the following papers as having been "compromised".
Meanwhile, some of the candidates say they are struggling to come to terms with the news that five papers they have written have been cancelled.
Some of them who spoke to Joy News’ Hannah Odame today at their examination centers say this will affect their preparation for the last two papers.
“I feel so bad. I couldn’t eat last night, some of my friends have fainted and are on admission at the hospital currently”, one student told Hannah when she was asked how she felt about the cancellation.
Some of the students who had gone to their various examination centres to write the French paper scheduled for this morning said they had no idea the papers had been cancelled.
Others pleaded with the Council to allow them write their papers because they had no hand in the leakage neither did they have any idea about it.
Source: Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa
WAEC: We accept responsibility for paper leakage
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has accepted responsibility for the leakage of some of the BECE examination papers.
WAEC cancelled 5 papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after they realized the questions have been leaked and was circulating on various social media platforms especially Whatsapp.
Agnes Tei Cudjoe, Head of Public Relations at WAEC told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Thursday’s edition of ‘Kokrokoo’, that as a government body in charge of exams, “we take ultimate responsibility” for the leakage and we are conducting investigations to find out where the leakage came from.
She said even though the re-take of the cancelled papers is going to be difficult for the students, “we appeal to teachers and parents to support them to prepare for the papers. We pledge to ensure that it doesn’t happen again”.
Source: peacefmonline.com
BECE leakage: I paid ₵200 - Parent confesses
Following a massive leakage of BECE questions, a parent has told Joy News he paid ₵200 to authorities in the school where his ward is a student.
A parent, Yaw Owusu, in the Ashanti Region was told it was for the BECE exams.
Yaw Owusu also explained that some invigilators emptied the pockets of all the monies belonging to the students in the examination room before exams began.
According to him, the teachers and invigilators claim the money was to help them in the BECE.
A nationwide probe is already underway as WAEC comes under fire for failing to stop the leakage.
Ghana Education Campaign Coalition's Bright Appiah believes “the whole system is responsible for this” and that every step of the process of examination administration can be faulted.
"It is unfortunate that we have to go through this again", he told Joy News Wednesday.
The West African Examination Council on Wednesday, cancelled five papers and postponed the writing of two papers following widespread leakage in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
A statement confirming the cancelation was released by the examination administration body.
The leakage was displayed on social media Wednesday.
It has left parents, candidates and the education ministry fuming after what has been called one of the most embarrassing examination leakages in the history of the West African Examination Council.
Source: myjoyonline.com
BECE candidates blame WAEC for leakage
Some distraught candidates in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination have blamed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the leakage of some of the examination papers.
According to them, they believe there was a breach in the security of the examination organisers, hence the leakage.
WAEC on Wednesday cancelled five papers, including Social Studies, which was to be taken on Thursday following leakage of the papers.
But some of the candidates are angry over the decision and argued that WAEC should have allowed the examination to continue while they investigate the schools and those found culpable, punished.
One of the candidates who spoke to Citi News said “ I think WAEC has a big role to play in this action. It was a bad action and the decision they took, it was not everyone who got the questions so they should have gone through and investigate the schools who got the questions and cancel their papers or penalise them for
that.”
Another candidate alleged, “It was the people guarding the papers that deceived them and took photos of the questions and shared them on social media. Their security was not that tight and the person who took the photograph of the question was from WAEC.”
“They set the question and it must not get out of their offices unless it was time so it’s their fault because the security must be tight. How do you set the paper and allow it to leak?” another candidate asked.
WAEC to be sued
Meanwhile a parent of one of the candidates in the Brong Ahafo region, has threatened t o sue WAEC for the cancellation.
The parent, Johnson Owusu Tawiah argued that reasons for the cancellation were not enough, hence his resolve.
He has thus given WAEC a 24-hour ultimatum to give reasonable explanation or face him in court.
WAEC under investigation
The Ministry of Education has further directed the country’s security agencies to investigate circumstances leading to the leakage and subsequent cancellation of some Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) papers.
A Deputy Minister of Education in charge of pre-tertiary education, Alex Kyeremeh said the news of the cancellation came as a surprise to the Ministry, hence the decision to seek an intervention from the security agencies.
Source: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com
Parent to sue WAEC over cancelled BECE papers
A parent of one of the candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has threatened to drag the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to court for the cancellation of some papers.
The parent, Owusu Tawiah Johnson who resides in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region said his son did not benefit from the said leaked exam papers and is therefore demanding an explanation from WAEC within 24 hours or else he will head to the court.
Five papers have been cancelled by WAEC in the ongoing BECE following a leakage of the questions.
The subjects are English Language 2, Religious and Moral Education 2, Science 2, and Mathematics 2 and Social Studies 2.
The Social Studies paper scheduled to be written on Thursday will not take place.
The Examination Council explained that it cancelled the papers to protect the integrity of the examination after questions from the cancelled papers had gone viral on social media after it was leaked by some unknown persons.
The cancelled papers will however be written on June, 29 and 30, 2015.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr. Johnson said his son is distraught and so he is unsure if he will be in the right frame of mind to write the remaining papers.
“I don’t understand why they should do that and I want to ask WAEC; have they thought of the psychological problems that will come on the children? As it is now, I don’t even know whether my ward can write the examination which is yet to come because he is really down,” he disclosed.
He said it is important for him to sue WAEC because they must be forced to take full responsibility for the leakage.
“I have to go to court because if you say there was an examination leakage, who caused that? It is your fault which means that somebody at WAEC must be blamed and not the candidate.”
An angry Mr. Johnson added that, “in Ghana, the candidates are always blamed. Why? Anytime there is a problem, it is the candidate that suffers…if WAEC doesn’t come out and give us a very vivid explanation as to what they are doing, in 24 hours, I will go to the court and then show them.”
Source: Efua Idan Osam/ citifmonline.com
National Security to investigate leakage of BECE papers
The National Security has been tasked to conduct thorough investigations into the leakage of the 2015 Basic Education Certificate Examination question papers.
Deputy Education Minister, Alex Kyeremeh, said the investigation will be independent of what the West African Examination Council has begun doing.
Five papers including Mathematics 2, religious and moral education, English Language 2, and Science 2 have all been cancelled.
Social Studies will also not be taken tomorrow, whilst French and ICT will be written as scheduled.
The widespread leakage has left the country shocked as WAEC struggles to explain the circumstances under which the leakage occurred.
WAEC says it will not shield anybody found culpable for the scandal.
The Head of WAEC, Very Rev. Samuel Nii Nmai Ollennu told Joy News' Kwetey Nartey an investigation has begun to unravel how the papers were leaked.
But even before WAEC concludes its investigation, the Education Ministry has ordered a parallel investigation to be undertaken by national security.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Basic Education Alex Kyeremeh said the ministry has given WAEC all the resources it needs and wondered why such a leakage would occur.
This is not the first time examination papers have been leaked in recent times.
Last year, a police officer at Atiwa, Lance Corporal Prince Opoku was indicted for breaking a seal on WAEC examination papers, taking photographs of the examination questions with his phone and subsequently leaking them to students.
He was allegedly contracted by a school proprietor to leak the papers and was paid 4,000 cedis for his work, the police report said.
One year on, the docket is yet to be sent to the Attorney General's department for prosecution.
Rev Ollenu had, prior to the 2015 leakage raised concerns about the failure of the police to prosecute the officer.
He is disappointed with the latest leakage, promising the Council will get to the bottom of the matter.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
WAEC cancels 5 BECE papers
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has cancelled 5 papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) after discovering to its dismay the papers have been compromised.
The papers involved are:
English Language 2,
Religious and Moral Education 2;
Integrated Science 2;
Mathematics 2;
Social Studies 2
The June 2015 BECE started only on Monday, June 15 and were expected to be completed on Friday, June 19.
As many as 438,030 candidates were registered to write the examinations in 1,446 centres across the country.
WAEC said investigations were underway to unearth the full facts of the malpractice and assured it is determined to follow the case to its logical conclusion and will not shield any person, including its own, who will be found culpable.
A statement issued by WAEC Wednesday confirming the cancellation said the compromised papers will be re-administered on 29th and 30th June, 2015 and a time table for the tests would be circulated shortly.
“In addition to other sources, the papers have gone viral on social media especially WhatsApp Messenger ,” the statement, signed by Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, said.
“In pursuance of its quest to demonstrate its abhorrence for examination malpractice of any sort, safeguard the sanctity of its examinations and integrity of certificates issued, the Council has CANCELLED the listed papers.
“As such, Social Studies 2 & 1 tests
slated for tomorrow, 18th June, 2015 will not be administered. However, the remaining papers, that is, French and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will be taken as scheduled.”
“The Council regrets any inconvenience caused stakeholders and, in particular, candidates who did not involve themselves in the malpractice.
It further calls on stakeholders to appreciate that the re-administration of the tests is in the interest of the candidates and to restore public confidence and credibility in the outcome of the examination.
Candidates and stakeholders are hereby assured the all the necessary measures are being put in place to forestall the recurrence of the malpractice.”
Source: Isaac Yeboah, Graphic.com.gh
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Invigilators to boycott BECE over unpaid transport fares
Some invigilators and supervisors of the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ashanti Region are threatening to boycott the exercise.
According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes them transportation fares from last year and until that is settled, they will withdraw their services as invigilators.
The Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates for the week long examination.
A total of, 87,815 made up of 45,197 boys and 42,618 girls.
The supervisor of the invigilators, Owusu Sakyi told Citi News, the money owed them from last year is just GHC 50 but after taxes, their take home is GHC 33
He stated that the invigilators say they will invigilate until 3pm on Wednesday and if “the government does not release the money, they will go back to their classrooms and teach on Thursday and Friday.”
Mr. Sakyi pointed out that the teachers are aggrieved because they commute from their various stations to the examination centers therefore, it is important that their transportation fares are paid.
Meanwhile following reported cases of female student absenteeism in the examination, the Education Ministry is promising to investigate the matter.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, such developments affect government’s quest to bridge the gender parity gap, hence, their resolve to investigate and bring an end to such happenings.
“If you look at the general statistics for this year, we are bridging the gender parity gap and those absent, I don’t think it’s so much but we’ve also asked the supervisors at the various centres to do their own investigations since headteachers were not there for further interrogation,” he said.
According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes them transportation fares from last year and until that is settled, they will withdraw their services as invigilators.
The Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates for the week long examination.
A total of, 87,815 made up of 45,197 boys and 42,618 girls.
The supervisor of the invigilators, Owusu Sakyi told Citi News, the money owed them from last year is just GHC 50 but after taxes, their take home is GHC 33
He stated that the invigilators say they will invigilate until 3pm on Wednesday and if “the government does not release the money, they will go back to their classrooms and teach on Thursday and Friday.”
Mr. Sakyi pointed out that the teachers are aggrieved because they commute from their various stations to the examination centers therefore, it is important that their transportation fares are paid.
Meanwhile following reported cases of female student absenteeism in the examination, the Education Ministry is promising to investigate the matter.
Deputy Education Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, such developments affect government’s quest to bridge the gender parity gap, hence, their resolve to investigate and bring an end to such happenings.
“If you look at the general statistics for this year, we are bridging the gender parity gap and those absent, I don’t think it’s so much but we’ve also asked the supervisors at the various centres to do their own investigations since headteachers were not there for further interrogation,” he said.
Source: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Candidates Abandon BECE For ‘Galamsey’
Four male candidates writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Mensonso D/A Basic School Centre in the Adansi-South District of the Ashanti Region, have abandoned the exams to engage in illegal mining (Galamsey).
This came to light when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Peter Anarfi Mensah, paid a working visit to the area, on Monday, as part of his tour of some centres to inspect how the exams was being conducted. The candidates, who had absented themselves for the Religious and Moral Education (RME) and English papers were said to be at the mining site when the Minister visited the centre.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that in all, 253 candidates were supposed to have written the exams at the centre. Mr. David Amore Atura, the Supervisor at the Centre, said apart from the four candidates, one female candidate also absented herself because she was pregnant.
The Minister, who appeared worried, urged the School Management Committees of the affected candidates to take pragmatic measures to ensure that the candidates take the rest of the papers in due course of the exams.
In all, six centres have been officially designated as venues for the exams in the District.
Source: GNA
This came to light when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Peter Anarfi Mensah, paid a working visit to the area, on Monday, as part of his tour of some centres to inspect how the exams was being conducted. The candidates, who had absented themselves for the Religious and Moral Education (RME) and English papers were said to be at the mining site when the Minister visited the centre.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that in all, 253 candidates were supposed to have written the exams at the centre. Mr. David Amore Atura, the Supervisor at the Centre, said apart from the four candidates, one female candidate also absented herself because she was pregnant.
The Minister, who appeared worried, urged the School Management Committees of the affected candidates to take pragmatic measures to ensure that the candidates take the rest of the papers in due course of the exams.
In all, six centres have been officially designated as venues for the exams in the District.
Source: GNA
BECE Invigilators In Volta Region Threaten Boycott
Some invigilators overseeing the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Volta Region are threatening to boycott the examination if last year’s invigilation fees were not paid by Wednesday, June 18.
They said the value of the allowance, owed them by the Ghana Education Service, was depreciating and they could not wait forever. The invigilators expressed the sentiment when Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, with some officials from the Regional Education Directorate, visited some examination centres in the region.
The invigilators said though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) paid their travel and transport fees, the GES, which was to pay the invigilating allowance was yet to do so.
The supervisors at the centres confirmed the threat of boycott but said they were encouraging the invigilators to consider the future of the pupils.
Madam Olivia Enyonam Kwawukume, a Supervisor at Dzodze Centre “B”, said the Centre suffered in recruiting invigilators because of the delay in paying invigilation fees, explaining that, many were not prepared to do the work anymore.
Meanwhile, three pregnant candidates defied all odds and joined their mates at the Awudome Senior High Centre to write the examination.
They said irrespective of taunts from some of their colleagues, they were determined to write the examination and further their education after child birth.
Mr Ganyaglo urged the candidates to remain focused and pass with flying colours. He asked parents and teachers to encourage the candidates and said the Region believed in them and was hopeful this year’s results would be good.
About 31,267 candidates, made up of 13,916 females and 17,351 males are taking part in the examination in the 26 districts of the Region.
Source: GNA
They said the value of the allowance, owed them by the Ghana Education Service, was depreciating and they could not wait forever. The invigilators expressed the sentiment when Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, with some officials from the Regional Education Directorate, visited some examination centres in the region.
The invigilators said though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) paid their travel and transport fees, the GES, which was to pay the invigilating allowance was yet to do so.
The supervisors at the centres confirmed the threat of boycott but said they were encouraging the invigilators to consider the future of the pupils.
Madam Olivia Enyonam Kwawukume, a Supervisor at Dzodze Centre “B”, said the Centre suffered in recruiting invigilators because of the delay in paying invigilation fees, explaining that, many were not prepared to do the work anymore.
Meanwhile, three pregnant candidates defied all odds and joined their mates at the Awudome Senior High Centre to write the examination.
They said irrespective of taunts from some of their colleagues, they were determined to write the examination and further their education after child birth.
Mr Ganyaglo urged the candidates to remain focused and pass with flying colours. He asked parents and teachers to encourage the candidates and said the Region believed in them and was hopeful this year’s results would be good.
About 31,267 candidates, made up of 13,916 females and 17,351 males are taking part in the examination in the 26 districts of the Region.
Source: GNA
Late arrival of materials delays BECE in Cape Coast
Cape Coast, June 16, GNA – The late arrival of examination materials delayed the start of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in almost all the centres in the Cape Coast Metropolis on Monday, according to Ghana News Agency (GNA) checks.
Some of the examination centres were St. Augustine’s College, Adisadel College, Mfantsipim School and Holy Child School.
The English Language paper, which was the first of the week-long examinations, was supposed to start at 0900hrs prompt, but due to the delay, it started as late as 40 minutes after 0900hrs at some of the afore-mentioned centres.
According to sources at the examination centres and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Directorate of Education, the delay was as a result of inadequate vehicles to convey the examination papers to the seven centres in the Metropolis.
At a point, the Mfantsipim School had to release its pick-pp vehicle to support the distribution of the examination papers.
A source at the Metro Education Directorate revealed that many of the vehicles were broken down.
When the GNA arrived at the St. Augustine’s College Centre at 0930hrs, candidates were already seated waiting for the arrival of the papers.
The Centre Supervisor, Mr. Henry Arthur-Gyan, told the GNA that a total of 357 candidates, made up of 195 males and 162 females with no recorded absentees, were ready to write the papers at that centre.
At Adisadel College, which had a total of 587 candidates, made up of 325 males and 262 females, Mr. John Kofi Sam, Centre Supervisor, said the English Language paper was delayed for about 20 minutes.
The situation was not different at the Mfantsipim School centre as the paper, started 41 minutes late, according to Mr. Hiob Howusu, the Assistant Centre Supervisor.
He indicated that out of a total of 615 candidates, made up of 263 males and 352 females, expected to write at the centre, one male and one female from the Jacob Wilson Sey Basic School, were absent. They reportedly stopped schooling shortly before the BECE.
The examination was delayed for 40 minutes at the Holy Child School, where 442 candidates, were expected to sit for the paper.
Also writing the paper at the centre were 30 hearing-impaired candidates, made 15 males and 15 females from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf.
Mr. Alex Mensah, Centre Supervisor told the GNA that eight candidates were absent, with one reportedly pregnant, while the others dropped out of school before the examinations.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Metropolitan Director of Education, Ms. Florence Nkum, to explain the delay was not successful.
In all 3,211 candidates, comprising 1,603 males and 1,608 females from 94 schools in the Metropolis, are writing the papers at seven examination centres.
At the regional level, a total of 45,587 candidates, made up 23,911 males and 21,676 females, from 1,622 schools, are writing the papers at 134 examination centres.
Source: GNA
Some of the examination centres were St. Augustine’s College, Adisadel College, Mfantsipim School and Holy Child School.
The English Language paper, which was the first of the week-long examinations, was supposed to start at 0900hrs prompt, but due to the delay, it started as late as 40 minutes after 0900hrs at some of the afore-mentioned centres.
According to sources at the examination centres and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Directorate of Education, the delay was as a result of inadequate vehicles to convey the examination papers to the seven centres in the Metropolis.
At a point, the Mfantsipim School had to release its pick-pp vehicle to support the distribution of the examination papers.
A source at the Metro Education Directorate revealed that many of the vehicles were broken down.
When the GNA arrived at the St. Augustine’s College Centre at 0930hrs, candidates were already seated waiting for the arrival of the papers.
The Centre Supervisor, Mr. Henry Arthur-Gyan, told the GNA that a total of 357 candidates, made up of 195 males and 162 females with no recorded absentees, were ready to write the papers at that centre.
At Adisadel College, which had a total of 587 candidates, made up of 325 males and 262 females, Mr. John Kofi Sam, Centre Supervisor, said the English Language paper was delayed for about 20 minutes.
The situation was not different at the Mfantsipim School centre as the paper, started 41 minutes late, according to Mr. Hiob Howusu, the Assistant Centre Supervisor.
He indicated that out of a total of 615 candidates, made up of 263 males and 352 females, expected to write at the centre, one male and one female from the Jacob Wilson Sey Basic School, were absent. They reportedly stopped schooling shortly before the BECE.
The examination was delayed for 40 minutes at the Holy Child School, where 442 candidates, were expected to sit for the paper.
Also writing the paper at the centre were 30 hearing-impaired candidates, made 15 males and 15 females from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf.
Mr. Alex Mensah, Centre Supervisor told the GNA that eight candidates were absent, with one reportedly pregnant, while the others dropped out of school before the examinations.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Metropolitan Director of Education, Ms. Florence Nkum, to explain the delay was not successful.
In all 3,211 candidates, comprising 1,603 males and 1,608 females from 94 schools in the Metropolis, are writing the papers at seven examination centres.
At the regional level, a total of 45,587 candidates, made up 23,911 males and 21,676 females, from 1,622 schools, are writing the papers at 134 examination centres.
Source: GNA
6 Pregnant Girls in Ellembelle district and Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality Write BECE
Six pregnant girls, four in the Ellembelle district and two in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality, are among the candidates currently writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Western Region.
In the Ellembelle district, the total number writing is 1,441, out of which 805 are boys and 636 are girls.
The candidates are writing the examination in five (5) centres, namely, Bonzo Kaku Senior High School (SHS), Nkroful Agricultural SHS, Esiama Secondary Technical, Anyinase Methodist Primary and Atuabo Methodist Primary.
At Bonzo Kaku SHS, 413 candidates—comprising 203 females and 210 males—were present for the examination. One male candidate was absent.
At Anyinase Methodist Primary, a total number of 234 candidates, out of which 134 were boys and 100 were girls, were writing the examination.
The Atuabo Methodist Primary examination centre had 143 candidates, out of which 81 were boys and 62 were girls.
Nkroful Agricultural SHS centre also had 324 candidates writing the exams; 184 were males and 142 were females. At the Esiama Secondary Technical centre, 327 candidates—196 males and 131 females—were writing the examination at the time this paper visited the centre.
In the Tarkwa municipality a total of 2,008 candidates from 52 schools are taking the examination. Two of the female candidates are pregnant.
JHS Two Girl Deceives Mother
In a related development, a JHS 2 student of Ketan Methodist Junior High School, who had allegedly been deceiving her mother that she was in JHS, was exposed yesterday.
According to sources, the girl went to her mother at the market yesterday when the examination was ongoing.
When the mother asked her what she was doing at the market at the time of the exams, the girl, Mabel Jaspa, lied that she had been denied access to the examination hall because she had bushy hair.
Her mother, who allegedly believed what the daughter told her, became worried and started granting interviews to journalists.
However, a visit to the school by journalists revealed that the girl was not a candidate.
Speaking on the issue, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, Franklin Dzigbede, noted that the girl in question was a form two girl and was therefore not taking part in the examination.
He admitted that the girl had bushy hair, indicating that the guidance and counselling teacher had constantly spoken against it.
Meanwhile, Mr Patrick Sumaila Wayoe, Sekondi Controller of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), revealed that a total of 44,094 candidates are writing the examination in the region.
Out of the number, 23,602 are males and 20,492 are females.
Source: Daily Guide
In the Ellembelle district, the total number writing is 1,441, out of which 805 are boys and 636 are girls.
The candidates are writing the examination in five (5) centres, namely, Bonzo Kaku Senior High School (SHS), Nkroful Agricultural SHS, Esiama Secondary Technical, Anyinase Methodist Primary and Atuabo Methodist Primary.
At Bonzo Kaku SHS, 413 candidates—comprising 203 females and 210 males—were present for the examination. One male candidate was absent.
At Anyinase Methodist Primary, a total number of 234 candidates, out of which 134 were boys and 100 were girls, were writing the examination.
The Atuabo Methodist Primary examination centre had 143 candidates, out of which 81 were boys and 62 were girls.
Nkroful Agricultural SHS centre also had 324 candidates writing the exams; 184 were males and 142 were females. At the Esiama Secondary Technical centre, 327 candidates—196 males and 131 females—were writing the examination at the time this paper visited the centre.
In the Tarkwa municipality a total of 2,008 candidates from 52 schools are taking the examination. Two of the female candidates are pregnant.
JHS Two Girl Deceives Mother
In a related development, a JHS 2 student of Ketan Methodist Junior High School, who had allegedly been deceiving her mother that she was in JHS, was exposed yesterday.
According to sources, the girl went to her mother at the market yesterday when the examination was ongoing.
When the mother asked her what she was doing at the market at the time of the exams, the girl, Mabel Jaspa, lied that she had been denied access to the examination hall because she had bushy hair.
Her mother, who allegedly believed what the daughter told her, became worried and started granting interviews to journalists.
However, a visit to the school by journalists revealed that the girl was not a candidate.
Speaking on the issue, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, Franklin Dzigbede, noted that the girl in question was a form two girl and was therefore not taking part in the examination.
He admitted that the girl had bushy hair, indicating that the guidance and counselling teacher had constantly spoken against it.
Meanwhile, Mr Patrick Sumaila Wayoe, Sekondi Controller of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), revealed that a total of 44,094 candidates are writing the examination in the region.
Out of the number, 23,602 are males and 20,492 are females.
Source: Daily Guide
Don’t Rely On Apor – BECE Candidates Warned
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Kwadwo Osei Assibey, has admonished candidates writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to refrain from examination malpractices.
Addressing candidates at various examination centres in the region during a tour on Monday, Mr Osei Assibey urged the candidates to be courageous and not panic since the exams is like the normal school examination they write.
However, he warned them not to resort to cheating because the law will deal drastically with anyone found indulging in examination malpractices.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Augustine Kusi, said the atmosphere was serene in all the centres visited by the regional directorate of education.
According to him, they have so far not recorded cases of mature students or pregnant female candidates writing the examination, indicating that there was minimal absenteeism in all the centres they visited.
41,026 candidates, made up of 22,278 males and 18,781 females, are writing the 2015 BECE examination in 155 centres in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The examination which started yesterday will end on Friday, June 19. In all, 438,030 candidates, made up of 229,724 males and 208,306 females, are expected to write the examination in 1,546 centres across the country.
Source: Daily Guide
Addressing candidates at various examination centres in the region during a tour on Monday, Mr Osei Assibey urged the candidates to be courageous and not panic since the exams is like the normal school examination they write.
However, he warned them not to resort to cheating because the law will deal drastically with anyone found indulging in examination malpractices.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Augustine Kusi, said the atmosphere was serene in all the centres visited by the regional directorate of education.
According to him, they have so far not recorded cases of mature students or pregnant female candidates writing the examination, indicating that there was minimal absenteeism in all the centres they visited.
41,026 candidates, made up of 22,278 males and 18,781 females, are writing the 2015 BECE examination in 155 centres in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The examination which started yesterday will end on Friday, June 19. In all, 438,030 candidates, made up of 229,724 males and 208,306 females, are expected to write the examination in 1,546 centres across the country.
Source: Daily Guide
Clergyman urges students to take lessons seriously
Accra, June 15, GNA - Overseer Isaac Kwabia, Nii Boiman Acting District Pastor of The Apostolic Church, has advised students to draw closer to God and study hard, in order to achieve academic laurels, instead of resorting to foul means to pass examinations.
He said the situation where some students resorted to consulting occults and other means to pass examinations, did not augur well for them, and in the end ruined their lives.
Overseer Kwabia gave the advice when the church held special prayers for students who are taking this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in Accra on Sunday.
He pointed out that there was no human endeavour that could be achieved without intervention by the Almighty God.
The Acting District Pastor reminded the candidates that the BECE was the beginning of a journey into real life, and encouraged them to take this first step with hard work, respect and submit to the word of God if they wanted to be successful.
‘’At this time, you should preserve yourselves as worthy vessels to be used by God, in order that you can become useful to society””, he added.
He expressed the hope that with God on the side of the candidates, success will surely crown their efforts, and they would come out with flying colours.
Source: GNA
He said the situation where some students resorted to consulting occults and other means to pass examinations, did not augur well for them, and in the end ruined their lives.
Overseer Kwabia gave the advice when the church held special prayers for students who are taking this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in Accra on Sunday.
He pointed out that there was no human endeavour that could be achieved without intervention by the Almighty God.
The Acting District Pastor reminded the candidates that the BECE was the beginning of a journey into real life, and encouraged them to take this first step with hard work, respect and submit to the word of God if they wanted to be successful.
‘’At this time, you should preserve yourselves as worthy vessels to be used by God, in order that you can become useful to society””, he added.
He expressed the hope that with God on the side of the candidates, success will surely crown their efforts, and they would come out with flying colours.
Source: GNA
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