Agona East records nine pregnant BECE candidates

Nine pregnancies were recorded at seven centres at the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Agona East District of the Central region.

Two of the nine girls who got pregnant after registering as candidates with the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) had given birth and could not write the examination.

The rest of the pregnant girls were able to write the examination, without any according to the supervisors of the centres.

This came to light when Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, Agona East District Chief Executive (DCE) and Mrs Vida Amoah-Mintah, Agona East District Director of Education toured seven BECE centres in the district.

The centres were Kwanyarko Senior High Technical School, Swedru Senior High School, Agona Asafo ‘A’, Namawura Community Senior School, Mankrong-Junction and Nsaba Presbyterian SHS ‘A’, and Nsaba Presbyterian SHS ‘B’.

The DCE was accompanied by Nana Kwao Ponsi, Presiding Member of the Agona East District Assembly, Ms Hannah Asamoah, Assembly woman for Agona Asafo and Mr Albert Quainoo, Assemblyman for Agona Fawomanye /Kwesitwikrom Electoral Area.

A total of 87 schools are participating in the examination comprising 65 public schools and 22 private schools.

The number of candidates who registered for the examination in the district, were 2,176 out of which 1,116 were boys and 1060 were girls with 90 supervisors and invigilators.

Mrs Amoah-Mintah in an interview expressed satisfaction about the general conduct of the examination, especially on the part of the candidates, supervisors and invigilators.

She also expressed joy about the early arrival of examination materials and other logistics, which helped the examination to begin within the stipulated time of the WAEC and Ghana Education Service.

On the reported pregnancies, Mrs Amoah-Mintah expressed disappointment about the figures, though she did not disclose that of last year records among BECE candidates, but said everything possible would be done to curb the menace.

The District Director said she would engage School Management Committees, Parent Teacher Association, the Girl–child Unit of the District, Chiefs and other stakeholders in education in communities to find antidote to the problem.

Mr Armah-Frempong charged the Education Directorate, chiefs, opinion leaders, and stakeholders in education to form think tank to help find lasting solution to the teenage pregnancy in the district.

He said the Assembly would provide the necessary assistance to the education directorate, teachers and circuit supervisors to work to ensure effective teaching and learning.