Some SSSCE candidates unhappy with Oral English paper

Accra, July 4, GNA - Some students of Labone Secondary who wrote their maiden paper in Oral English in this year's Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) on Monday complained about "clarity" of questions on the tape.

They pointed out that the audio-recorded pronunciations of words had foreign accent, lacked clarity and were different from what they were taught.

"We are used to pronunciations taught in the classroom as well as the flow of language," They said.

Approximately 112,511 candidates throughout the country are writing the examinations, which began today.

Out of the number, 48,893 are female, 63,618 are male and 25 being visually impaired candidates.

At about 0900 hours when the Ghana News Agency visited some of the centres, candidates had started writing English Language Paper three, an oral drill.

At the Presbyterian Boys Secondary Schools, 672 candidates are writing the examination. Two students were absent. The same centre was hosting 151 students from the Madina Secondary School.

Nii Amonketey, the Supervisor in-charge, said all the materials required for the take-off of the examination arrived in time and added that the students had so far put up good conduct.

At Accra Girls Secondary School, 405 candidates are taking the examination while Labone Secondary School has 740 students. Mr Lord Hugie, a student of Presbyterian Boys Secondary, who spoke with the GNA, said the NAGRAT strike did not have any serious impact on the examination since the major topics were treated in the second term and that all that they needed was a brush up.

A student of Labone, Ms Abigal Okyere-Darko, expressed optimism about her chances saying, "I will surely make six As. All the examination centres in the Metropolis GNA visited did not record any incident.

Supervision is tight to forestall examination malpractices that have rocked the country of late. 4 July 05