Kumasi, April 20, GNA - The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) started in earnest at the various centres in the Kumasi metropolis.

Candidates were busily writing the English paper when the GNA visited most of the centres amidst tight security. Centres visited included the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School (SHS), Kumasi Technical Institute, Prempeh College, Kumasi Anglican SHS, Armed Forces SHS and T.I. Ahmadiyya SHS.

At the Armed Forces SHS centre, Mr Emmanuel Panford, the supervisor, said 762 candidates were supposed to have written the first paper but five were absent.

At the Anglican SHS centre, two out of 1,088 candidates were absent. Mr. Paul Ayamba, the supervisor, said the writing of the first paper was delayed due to the late arrival of the examination papers. He expressed the hope that the West African Examinations council (WAEC) would bring subsequent examination papers on time. Mrs. Agnes Gyamfi, Municipal Director of Education of the Ejisu Juaben Municipality, commended the BECE candidates in the Municipality for their comportment since the start of the examination. Some of the centres she visited were Kwaso Primary, Ejisu Senior Technical School A/B, Ejisu M/A Primary A/B and Ejisuman Senior High School centres.

Out of 2,252 candidates, who registered to write the exams in those centres, 17 of them were absent due to various reasons. It was observed that some of the candidates had difficulty in shading.