Education Minister urges BECE candidates to uphold integrity

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged candidates sitting this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to be guided by honesty and integrity throughout the exercise.

Addressing candidates at the Asawinso Senior High School examination centre in Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region, the Minister stressed the importance of strong moral values in both academic and national development.

“Honesty and integrity define citizenship, honesty and integrity define patriotism and honesty and integrity must be the hallmark of your moulding,” he told the candidates.

Mr Iddrisu expressed concern about the increasing incidence of examination malpractice, noting that such practices often result in the withholding or outright cancellation of results.

He urged candidates to rely on their own preparation and avoid any form of cheating.

The Minister also issued a strong warning to examination officials, urging them to uphold professionalism and refrain from facilitating malpractice.

He cautioned that officials found culpable would face strict sanctions, recalling that some individuals involved in malpractice in previous years had been convicted and imprisoned.

Mr Iddrisu further indicated that teachers who had been convicted would have their names removed from the payroll of the Ghana Education Service.

The Minister’s visit formed part of a monitoring exercise of selected examination centres and was accompanied by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis.

The delegation was received by local authorities and taken on a tour of the facilities.

Mr Iddrisu also visited the Boako M/A Basic School examination centre, where he reassured candidates that the examination was within their capability and encouraged them to remain calm and focused.