It is just about week away Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to kick start and parents have been advised by the East African Examination Council (WAEC) to create space for their wards by reducing their house chores.

This as the candidates need more time to revise their notes in preparation towards the BECE and during, must not be overburden with household chores that would have negative effects on their performance.

A representative from WAEC, Augustina Henyo made the appeal while addressing BECE candidates at a programme dubbed “PASSCODE” put together by Non-Governmental Organisation - Foundation for Generational Thinkers (FOGET) Friday in Accra.

“Parents should reduce the household chores of their wards so that it will help them have enough time to prepare,” she, however, warned that “It doesn’t mean that when reduce household chores for you, you will use it to be doing something else.”

“When they release that you are not using it to learn that privilege will be withdrawn. Sometimes, when they give you that privilege use it and manage your time very well. Have enough sleep and rest, don’t be reading too much because the brain also needs rest,” she said.

She advised the candidates that examination is often classified in three steps, thus before (registration of candidates & subject and school selection), during (continuous tuition/ attending class) and after (completion of exams) – which she urge the candidates to form study/discussion groups to discuss the subjects and the topics they were through the period.

She also urged them to reduce entertainment activity, minimise time they spend on smartphones and internet, but should endeavour to use the internet to search for information that will improve their knowledge.
Mrs Honye on examination dos and dons, indicated that “When it gets to the BDTs, where it is written subject, don’t write BDT rather write Pre-tech, write visual arts, or write home economics – depending on what you are writing.

“So as if it is Ghanaian language, write Ga, write Ewe, write Adangbe, write Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi, Fanti Nzema, Kasem, Gonja, Dagbani, all those. Please indicate the name of the subject you are writing exams on, it is very important,” she stress.

The WAEC representative further urged them to be seated 30 minutes before starting time and should relax as well as being silent. The candidate are also required to read the rubrics, since every subject has its own instructions governing it.

The candidates are to devote their time to questions they can answer better by not attempting to answer all questions and at least 20 minutes should spend on answering a question.

She charged the candidates to take their time to write so that the handwriting will be eligible enough, “if you write all the beautiful ideas that you have and the examiner, who is going to mark cannot read, he/she cannot award you marks.”

She added that BECE is not a war, so they should not allow anybody to put any fear in them since they are capable of writing the papers and passing to get the school of their choice, “Don’t allow anyone to tell you this one if you don’t do it you would not pass, it is not the truth.”

Dr Mrs Gloria C. O. Dzeha, Acting Registrar-Central University, on her part condemned examination malpractice that is on an alarming rate.

Quoting from WAEC report, she said in 2009 malpractice identified was 2,317, 2011 was 4, 201, 2012, 2439, 2013, 5,653, and 2014, 8,051.

According to her, the figures are frightening since it tells how serious the nation is getting with cheating in examination, saying “If this menace of cheating in examination is not addressed, it will have awful consequence on our country human resource and would breed corrupt future leaders because they have become used to cheating.”

Prosper Dan Afetsi, President of FOGET added that the foundation is a youth orientated organisation that has mandated itself push and propagate youth agenda by building their capacities through engagements.

The passcode 2019 edition was organised in collaboration with Ghana National Association of Private Schools GNAPS), Greater Accra Zone five.