‘Dumsor’ affecting BECE candidates

Irregular power supply known in the local parlance as “dumsor” which is currently facing the country is affecting candidates writing the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), especially those living at Madina, a suburb of Accra, Today can report.

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) started the nationwide BECE on Monday, June 15, 2015 and it is expected to end on Friday, June 19, 2015.

The concern of the parents of these candidates who spoke to Today was the fact that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) was not following the scheduled timetable which situation was affecting their studies in the night.

“These power cuts are not in conformity with the timetable from the ECG and were rendering these candidates helpless with no option and choice but to study with torch lights, candles and lanterns,” the distressed parents intimated.

For students who could not use any of the above items, their parents disclosed to Today that they leave home early to study in places where they could get generators.

"It’s really affecting my health. Last Sunday, there was no light from 4:00 P.M., till dawn and I had to use an old lantern which smoke was bad for my eyes,” Sarah, a helpless candidate, lamented.

A worried parent who spoke on condition of anonymity pleaded with ECG to consider the plight of these pupils and do something about the loading at this time.