Wishing all BECE students good luck
The time for final-year students in junior high school (JHS) to give account of their stewardship is here. From yesterday, 391,079 candidates from across the country began writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
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About a month ago, final-year students of the three and four-year batches of the senior high schools (SHS) gave account of themselves at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as a prelude to their selection to pursue higher education.
The BECE is the foundation of academic pursuits by all schoolchildren in the country. This year, the time for writing the examination was changed from April to June to give the candidates ample time to complete the basic school syllabus.
Whatever the challenges in the educational sector, final-year JHS students must go through the examination process at the basic level.
The BECE has been part of our educational system for some time now but the teething problems still persist.
These include the gap between rural and urban schools, inadequate facilities at the second cycle level to admit all qualified students from JHSs and the lack of opportunity for those who do not do well at the BECE to resit the examination.
Populations in our schools are growing very fast, as is evident from the statistics on the number of students writing the BECE this year, which is said to represent an increase of 14.2 per cent over last year’s number of 376,859.
We think the challenges in education are taking too long to resolve, although the biggest part of our national budget is spent on education. The government alone should not be left to shoulder the responsibility of educational financing.
Parent-teacher associations (PTAs) have been contributing by way of providing school infrastructure and incentives for teachers, but looking at the educational budget, this can only be a token.
The Daily Graphic calls on all stakeholders in education, such as the government, parents, religious bodies and communities, to pay more attention to education by providing more infrastructure and motivating teachers to put in their best in the formation of the character of our youth.
Whatever the challenges in education, BECE candidates are expected to give a good account of themselves in order to set the tone for their future academic pursuits.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has spent time to educate the candidates and the educational authorities on the dos and don’ts of the BECE.
Just for a reminder, candidates are not allowed to carry foreign materials, including mobile phones, into the examination hall. They are also prohibited from comparing notes in the examination hall. They must act independently in answering the questions.
Although the examination has begun, the candidates still have the opportunity to prepare for the rest of the papers. They know that WAEC will not ask questions beyond the prescribed syllabus.
Therefore, instead of relying on ‘apo’ from unauthorised sources, which would eventually land them into trouble by way of cancellation of their results and a ban from the BECE, they should make the books their companion.
The WAEC is very particular about examination malpractices, and it is for this reason that the Daily Graphic appeals to BECE candidates to abide by the rules of the examination. It is our belief that success will crown the efforts of all candidates who work very hard.
The Daily Graphic wishes all BECE candidates the best of luck.