Teachers supervising the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been warned to avoid aiding pupils in any form during the examination.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Gertrude Mensah, pointed out that the rules governing all examinations must be abided by, pointing out that last year two teachers were interdicted for examination malpractice. A total of 44,749 pupils are writing the BECE in the Eastern Region.
The Education Director and the Eastern Region Minister with other officials have been touring examination centres to monitor and wish pupils well. At about 8:47am at the Ofori Panin Senior High School, pupils were being searched before entering halls to sit for the examination. A handful of pupils were yet to turn up at the two centres visited. Ms Mensah warned teachers not to aid pupils in any form of examination malpractice.
She asked them to be vigilante and go by the rules of the exams. “In last year’s WASSCE, two teachers were interdicted. I am cautioning my teachers to avoid giving any form of help to the pupils. They must abide by the rules governing all examinations. The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye-Darfour, encouraged pupils to pass the examinations to enable them enjoy the free senior high school policy government intends implementing in the 2017/2018 academic year. He explained that government would not change the status quo being perceived, hence only those who qualify will enjoy the policy.
“You need to qualify. All those who qualify will enjoy the free senior high school education policy. I believe going forward, the BECE would cease to become a selection stage. We may move directly into senior high school without any impediment of examinations.”
By Yvonne Neequaye