The 2010 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) on Monday took off smoothly in Tema with an advice to candidates to justify themselves.
Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater-Accra Regional Minister who gave the advice, said the examination was the opportune time for the candidates to justify the tuition received from their teachers, in addition to the money invested in them by parents.
Nii Ashitey, who toured some centres in Tema, added that the candidates must take the examination seriously as that was an opportunity for them to prepare and move a step ahead towards the future.
He was accompanied by Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mrs Ernestina Afosah-Anim, Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, Tema Metropolitan Education Director, and other dignitaries.
The Minister and his entourage visited the Tema Manhean Senior High and Technical School, Chemu and Tema Senior High Schools centres.
He urged the candidates to observe all rules and regulations governing the examination, to avoid the cancellation of their papers.
The Regional Minister entreated the candidates not to panic, but rather patiently read and understand the questions before answering them, to enable them pass well and bring honour to the region.
At the Tema Manhean Sec-Tech, the Minister presented GH¢20 to Miss Nancy Donkor, a student of the Christian Divine Complex School, for being able to mention his name after others gave the wrong answer to his question "Who is the Greater-Accra Regional Minister?"
A total of 11,256 candidates made up of 5,483 boys and 5,773 girls are sitting for the examination at 38 centres in the Tema Metropolis and the Ashaiman Municipality.