26 Pregnant Students Sat For 2014 BECE In Gomoa West

Twenty-six pregnant students were among candidates who were presented for the 2014 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Gomoa West District. Out of the number, four of them were delivered of their babies on the eve of the examination. Their mothers, therefore, had to support them to carry the babies to the examination centres and wait for the babies to be breast fed. This was made known by the Private Schools Co-ordinator of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the district, Mr J. K. Mbruw, at a guidance and career counselling seminar for final year students for 10 private schools at Apam last Monday. Organised by the private schools association in the district, the seminar was to educate the students on the selection processes into senior high schools (SHSs). Mr Mbruw said the new guidelines by the GES required, among other things, that students who played truant after their BECE registration and absented themselves from classes for five or more days would be sanctioned. He said those who absented themselves on health grounds would be made to write their examinations only after the production of a medical report. In addition, he said expectant student mothers would not be allowed to write the examinations. The Gomoa West District Director of Education, Mr Peter Bright Amankra, said the guidance and career counselling unit must play its role well. Mr Amankra, therefore, asked the students to know their abilities and capabilities before they made their choices. The special guest for the occasion, Nana Effrim X, who is also the Chief of Apam, said the seminar was an opportunity for them to decide on their own future. He also advised them to consider the financial background of their parents, as well as their own capabilities before selecting their Senior high schools.