A total of 36 male prison inmates across the country are participating in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The candidates include 18 juveniles from the Senior Correctional Centre (SCC), seven from Nsawam Medium Security Prison, six from Ho Central Prison, and five from Kumasi Central Prison.
Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Chief Superintendent Adamu Abdul Latif, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, stating that the inmates had been thoroughly prepared by qualified teachers from both the Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Education Service.
He expressed confidence in their performance, adding that the inmates were registered at centres near their respective prisons and were transported under heavy security to and from the exam venues.
The BECE, a pivotal national examination, marks the transition from Junior High School to Senior High School and technical/vocational institutions in Ghana.
The Ghana Prisons Service introduced formal education within prisons in 2007, aimed at equipping inmates with literacy skills and qualifications to aid in their reintegration into society. The first batch of 21 inmates sat for the BECE in 2009, recording a 100% pass rate—a trend the Service has maintained to date.
Examination Malpractice: 16 More Officials Arrested
In a worrying development, 16 additional examination officials have been arrested in connection with malpractice during the ongoing BECE. This brings the total number of suspects to 25 within just three days.
Those arrested include two headteachers, one supervisor, and several invigilators. Two of the suspects are reported to have absconded, while the remaining are in police custody pending further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to the Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), John Kapi, most incidents occurred in Atebubu and Kintampo (Bono East Region), with others reported in the Eastern, Greater Accra, Bono, and Ashanti Regions.
“Out of the 25 suspects, only three are not teachers. Two headteachers were caught distributing materials in the examination hall,” Mr. Kapi revealed.
WAEC has assured the public that monitoring and investigations are ongoing to safeguard the credibility of the examination.
Tragedy Strikes: Two Candidates Die
In a tragic turn of events, two BECE candidates have been reported dead. One of the deceased was a 14-year-old girl from Kwahu Praso in the Eastern Region, and the other case occurred in Assin Amoakrom in the Central Region.
Circumstances surrounding their deaths are yet to be fully disclosed.
Credit: graphic.com.gh
