‘Pass well, there are more SHSs to accommodate you all’-Dep. Edu. Minister Assures BECE candidates

Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour has encouraged candidates writing the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to do their best and pass well as more secondary schools are awaiting to accommodate them all.

According to the minister, there are over 900 Senior High Schools (SHS)/Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions waiting to admit all the 600,714 candidates undertaking the final examination.

Rev. Fordjour added that it is his concern to see to it that every Junior High School graduate benefits from the government’s Free Senior High School policy which has been implemented to cushion parents and guardians.

“Free High School (FSH)/ Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (FTVET) await you so work hard to benefit from the novel policy to shape your future dreams,” he said.

The Deputy Minister for Education disclosed this on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, when he paid a visit to some candidates writing their exams at the St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School in Accra.

The Assin South MP reminded the candidates to focus on what they can do and desist from any form of examination malpractices.

He also refuted claims indicating that the ongoing examination will be cancelled at the end of the exam.

“There has not been any discussion or policy to terminate BECE today or tomorrow, the notion should be disregarded”, he noted while addressing the media.

Again he explained that “the West African Examination Council (WAEC) remains our partner in education development. We will keep resourcing WAEC so it would continue to discharge its mandate as required of them.”

Mr Ntim Fordjour recounted the supportive role WAEC has played over the years towards the development of education in the country, indicating, “Once in a while, we remit them depending on their needs and the programme they are running”.

The minister moreover announced that all those who have been arrested, both teachers and students will be punished severely to serve as a deterrent to others.

The BECE which commenced on Monday August 7, 2023 will come to an end today August 11, 2023 acrosss the nation.