FOGET Holds ‘PASSCODE’ for BECE Candidates
Parents have been urged to support their children taking the Basic Education Certification Examination (BECE) by reducing their house chores.
In about one week, BECE candidates across the country will be writing the final exams for the three-year Junior High School (JHS) level.
The candidates, who now need more time to revise their notes in preparation towards the exams must not be overburden with household chores that would have negative effects on their performance.
A representative from the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Augustina Henyo, made the appeal while addressing BECE candidates at a programme dubbed “PASSCODE” put together by Non-Governmental Organisation Foundation for Generational Thinkers (FOGET) on Friday in Accra.
“Parents should reduce the household chores of their wards so that it will help them have enough time to prepare,” Mrs Henyo said.
She, however, cautioned the candidates to use the free time allowed them responsibly.
“Have enough sleep and rest, don’t be reading too much because the brain also needs rest,” she said.
She also urged the candidates to form study groups to discuss the subjects and the topics that are likely to come in the exams.
Augustina Henyo further urged them to reduce entertainment activity and minimise the time they spend on smartphones and the internet.
She admonished the candidates to endeavour to use the internet to search for information that will improve their knowledge.
The WAEC rep further urged them to be seated 30 minutes before starting time and relax.
She said the candidate be required to read the instructions to every question thoroughly.
She charged the candidates to take their time to write so that the handwriting will be legible enough.
“if you write all the beautiful ideas that you have and the examiner, who is going to mark cannot read, he/she cannot award you marks.”
She added that BECE is not war, hence candidates should not allow anybody to put fear in them since they are capable of writing the papers and passing to get the school of their choice.
Dr Gloria C. O. Dzeha, Acting Registrar-Central University, on her part condemned examination malpractice that is on an alarming rate.
Quoting from WAEC report, she said in 2009 malpractice identified was 2,317, 2011 was 4, 201, 2012, 2439, 2013, 5,653, and 2014, 8,051.
According to her, the figures were frightening since it tells how serious cheating in examination has assumed alarming proportions.
“If this menace of cheating in the examination is not addressed, it will have an awful consequence on our country human resource and would breed corrupt future leaders because they have become used to cheating,” she said.
Prosper Dan Afetsi, President of FOGET added that the foundation is a youth orientated organisation that has mandated itself push and propagate youth agenda by building their capacities through engagements.
The passcode 2019 edition was organised in collaboration with Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), Greater Accra Zone five.
