Only one pregnancy case has been recorded so far at on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Agona West Municipality, as against four cases last year.

Mr Francis Obeng Ampadu, Agona West Municipal Director of Education, made this known when Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, Central Regional Minister, toured some examination centres at Agona Swedru.

Mr Ampadu expressed satisfaction about the situation and said it would help girl child education in the Municipality.

The Regional Minister was accompanied by Mr Kofi Sarfo Kantanka, Central Regional Director of Education, and some Agona West Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and some education officers.

The centres visited are Nyakrom Secondary/Technical School, Swedru School of Business, Nyakrom Siddiq Senior High School, Bobikuma Methodist Junior High school and Swedru Senior High school.

A total of 2,245 candidates made up of 1, 193 boys and 1052 girls are writing the examination at these centres.

Six hearing impaired students from Agona Swedru Salvation Army School for the Deaf, are also taking part in the five days examination.

Mr Ampadu expressed the hope that, this year’s BECE results would be better than last year’s because of some mechanisms the directorate put in place before the examination day.

The mechanisms include, organisation of extra classes and mock examination for the final year students to prepare them adequately for the exams.

Mrs Doe said, she was impressed by the confidence and zeal the candidates exhibited during the visit, unlike last year when the students looked miserable.

She expressed the hope that the result would be better this time to redeem the image of the Central Region, known for its best education facilities and high academic profile.

The Minister said the Government, under President J.E.A Mills, would continue to provide infrastructure to enhance education in the region.

Mr Sarfo Kantanka for his part, said this year’s BECE results would be different because the students wrote mock exams, which had prepared them well for the examination.

The Minister and her entourage had earlier visited examination centres at Ajumako-Enyan Essiam, Abura-Asebu Kwamankese,Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Awutu-Senya and Effutu Districts.**