Three pregnant candidates write BECE in Agona East

Three pregnant candidates are among the 1,963 candidates writing this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the seven centers in the Agona East District as against the seven recorded in 2018.

This came to light when Prof. Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education accompanied by Mr. Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive (DCE) and Mrs. Vida Mintah-Amoah, Agona East Director of education toured the centers.

The centers visited were Mankrong-Junction, Agona Kwanyako, Agona Asafo, Swedru, Nsaba Presbyterian and Agona Namawura Senior High Schools where total candidates comprised of 1,000 boys and 963 girls from the 87 public and private basic schools in the District.

At the Mankrong-Junction Center it emerged that seven girls were absent and Mr. Carlos Anku, Supervisor of the Center told the team that no tangible reasons were given by their head teachers.

Mr. Armah-Frempong said the Assembly had given logistical supports to the Education Directorate to equip the girl Child- Unit while Assembly members, Chiefs, School management Committees and stakeholders in education also sensitized school girls on the need to abstain from premarital sex, hence, the reduction of the pregnancy cases.

He was of the hope that the District, which scored 44 percent in the 2017 BECE, would perform better this year due to adequate preparations made by the candidates.

The DCE commended the teachers, District Director of Education, stakeholders and opinion leaders for the tremendous roles played to raise educational standard in the Area.

Prof Yankah cautioned the candidates to desist from examination malpractices, which may affect their results and derail their dreams.

Government he assured was poised to improve educational structures at basic and secondary schools to enhance quality teaching and learning.

He took the opportunity to inspect the construction work of a new boy’s dormitory at Nsaba Presbyterian SHS and a new school block for Presbyterian Basic School at Agona Asafo.

Mrs. Mintah- Amoah cautioned the Supervisors to refrain from acts that would compromise the on-going Examination and warned students against sending foreign materials to the examination halls since it was against the rules and regulations governing the examination.