Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister for Education, has expressed happiness with the smooth take-off of this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Volta Region.

“I am impressed everything is going on well,” he said during a tour of some examination centres in Ho on Monday, when the nationwide BECE started.

He will be touring centres in the southern sector of the Region.

Mr Ablakwa was accompanied by Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr Emmanuel Keteku, Volta Regional Director of Education.

At the Ola Senior High School (SHS), all 291 candidates made up of 141 boys, and 150 girls were present. Mr Peter Labada, Supervisor at the Centre told the Deputy Minister and his team.

He said the first English Language paper began on time and that the centre did not record any challenge.

At Mawuko Girls SHS, a total of 336 candidates, 174 boys and 162 girls wrote the examination the first day with one candidate absent.

The story was not different at Mawuli School, which also had no challenge apart from a visually impaired candidate who was given a magnifying glass to aid his vision.

Mr Azigi David Wilson, Supervisor at Centre “A” of the School, said all 311 candidates, 149 boys and 162 girls were present to write the examination.

Mr Ablakwa urged the candidates to approach the examination with “all seriousness,” reminding them that it was an opportunity for them to shape their future.

Mr Afotey Agbo, who led another team to Ho-West District, interacted with candidates at Kpedze SHS and Hlefi Junior High School after the first paper, and urged them to tell themselves “yes we can” and come out successful. At both schools, no candidate was absent.

Mr Afotey Agbo said he was impressed with the atmosphere at the centres.