Some candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Zebilla in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, were on Monday forced to write their examination on barefoot.
Except candidates who wore sandals to the Zebilla Senior High Technical School Centre ‘A’, all others were made to remove their shoes before they were allowed entry to write their English paper.
The Exam Officer at the Centre, Mr Ayeribire Charles, justified the decision, indicating it would make their supervision and invigilation easy.
He argued that that the decision was primarily to prevent the candidates from using their shoes to smuggle foreign materials, popularly known as ‘apor’, into the examination hall.
A total number of 1,717 candidates comprising 889 males and 828 females registered for the examinations and 13 candidates were absent at six centres in the district.
The absentees were made up of 5 males and 8 females and no reasons were given for their absence.
At Zebilla SHTS Centre A, three candidates were absent. One of them was deceased while the other two girls had married.
At Centre Zebilla “B” one person was absent but no reasons were assigned while four persons were absent at Kusanaba Centre. Two of them had been impregnated while the other two were indisposed.
Of the two absenteeism recorded at Sapeliga, one of them had married.
Three absentees were recorded at Gbantongo. One of them was deceased while the other two were impregnated
Meanwhile, addressing the candidates at Zebilla, the Bawku District Chief Executive, Victoria Ayamba has advised to put up their best but warned them against cheating in the examination, and write what they have learnt so far.
She said those who come out successfully in the exams would enjoy the government ‘s free SHS education to further their education.
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