The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is fully prepared to commence this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) starting from Monday, July 8.
The government has disbursed GH¢55.9 million to WAEC for the smooth conduct of the examination.
A total of 570,461 candidates, including both school and private candidates, are scheduled to participate. Among them, 569,095 school candidates—consisting of 282,648 males and 386,447 females—will take part.
Additionally, 1,366 private candidates, comprising 735 males and 631 females, have registered for the exam.
John K. Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, announced these details during a media briefing in Accra, noting that candidates are drawn from 19,506 schools across the country and will sit for the exam at 2,123 designated centers.
The examination will kick off with English Language on Monday, July 8, and will conclude with Arabic on Monday, July 15.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the exam, WAEC has engaged 2,123 supervisors, 1,889 assistant supervisors, and 19,973 invigilators.
School candidates will be evaluated based on the newly introduced Common Core Curriculum, while private candidates will adhere to the old syllabus, according to Mr. Kapi.
In terms of preparation, WAEC has conducted a sensitization program on examination rules and regulations for all stakeholders nationwide.
Additionally, Mr. Kapi highlighted that WAEC has inspected all depots storing confidential materials to ensure adherence to security protocols.
Distribution of examination stationery items, such as objective answer cards, answer booklets, and pencils, has been completed across district education offices nationwide.
Mr. Kapi also underscored WAEC’s efforts to accommodate candidates with special educational needs, including providing braille papers for visually impaired candidates and large print papers for candidates with low vision.
Further accommodations include additional time allowances for candidates with hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders.
Mr. Kapi issued a caution to stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, invigilators, and supervisors, emphasizing strict adherence to the rules and regulations governing the examination.
He emphasized that parents must ensure their children do not bring mobile phones to the examination centers. Additionally, he urged invigilators, teachers, and supervisors to maintain vigilance and prevent any form of cheating or misconduct.
“Proprietors of schools, parents, head teachers, teachers, and unauthorized individuals are strictly prohibited from accessing the examination centers,” Mr. Kapi stated.
Addressing irregularities, Mr. Kapi expressed concern over instances where candidates wrote phone numbers or phrases like “help me” or “just call my mom” in answer booklets, or inserted money seeking assistance from examiners.
He clarified that such actions constitute seeking external assistance, which is a punishable offense.
“We want to make it clear that these actions are classified as seeking external assistance and are punishable,” he emphasized.
Mr. Kapi highlighted that WAEC, along with partners such as the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Ghana Police Service, National Security, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and external monitoring agents, would monitor the examination.
He urged supervisors to verify the identity of any person claiming to be a monitor by requesting their identification card.
Seeking support from all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the examination, Mr. Kapi assured that WAEC would vigorously combat any form of examination malpractice.
He cautioned candidates to be cautious of rogue website operators circulating fake questions to lure them into subscribing.
