Twenty-four (24) candidates, who registered for this year�s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Kumasi Metropolis, on Monday, failed to show up at the examination centres.
Some of them are said to be unwell, others reportedly travelled, whilst no explanation was given on a sizeable number of them.
They were supposed to write their papers at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (SHS), Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and T.I Ahmadiyya SHS.
Their absence were noticed when the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr John Alexander Ackon and the Regional Education Director, Mr Kofi Sarfo Kantanka, toured the centres.
Mr Emmanuel Felli of the Regional Education Inspection Directorate informed them that things had so far gone well and that, there had not been any reports of challenges.
All the needed materials were distributed on time and adequate arrangements put in place to protect the integrity of the examination.
He said everything was pointing to the conduct of a �very successful examination�.
A total of 83,859 candidates, made up of 40,533 girls and 43,326 boys, are writing the BECE in Ashanti at 327 centres, with the Kumasi metropolis presenting the highest number of students - 21,935, consisting of 10,529 males and 11,404 females.
Mr Ackon said he found it refreshing that for the first time, more girls than boys in the region were sitting for the examination.
It shows that the girl-child education campaign launched by the Education Ministry is paying off, he added.
Mr Sarfo Kantanka expressed satisfaction with the relaxed atmosphere and the confidence of the students and said this was indicative that �they have been adequately prepared for the examination�.
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