Cape Coast, April 23, GNA - A total of 33,812 candidates in the Central Region are expected to write the Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) that started throughout the country on Monday and scheduled to end on Friday.

Mr Nii Omani Quaye, the Central Regional Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), told the GNA that the candidates would write a maximum of between nine and 10 subjects during the five-day period in 112 centres.

At Aggrey Memorial Secondary School, one of the centres in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Mr Isaac Amissah, the Supervisor, told the GNA that 488 candidates from 17 schools are to write the examination at the centre but three were absent and that only one was reported to have been taken ill.

Mr Lawrence Owusu Addi, the supervisor at the Holy Child School centre, said 471 out of a total of 475 have reported for the examination, whilst at Mfantsipim School 365 candidates reported with one absentee.

Mr Seth Kotei Kotey, supervisor at the St Augustine's College, said the centre recorded 495 candidates with seven absentees and at the Adisadel School of the 631 candidates, seven were absent. Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, in the company of the Regional Director of Education, Ms Rosemond Blay, visited some of the examination centres.

He said he was impressed about the turn out and also about the fact that this year most of the absentees are not pregnancy cases. "The region is expecting better results this year". At the University Practice Secondary School the supervisor, Mrs Juliana Owusu Ansah, said 424 candidates from six schools were taking part in the examinations with two students absent.