Techire (B/A), July 21, GNA - One hundred female candidates who sat for this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Brong-Ahafo region were pregnant. Mr. Eric Opoku Manu, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, who disclosed this, said 98 of the pregnant candidates could not trace those responsible for their pregnancies. He was speaking at a durbar to commission a police post constructed by the people of Techire in the Tano North District of Brong-Ahafo region.

Mr. Manu expressed concern about the high incidence of immorality, especially sexual promiscuity, drug abuse and alcoholism among pupils and students in basic schools in the region. He appealed to parents and teachers to monitor school children during and after school hours in helping to check them from venturing into unhealthy practices which could ruin their future. The Deputy Regional Minister expressed concern about the abysmal performance of students who sat for the latest BECE in the region and appealed to teachers to redouble their efforts to improve academic standards.

Mr. Manu explained that the government was doing its best to ensure high academic performance on the part of students, and cautioned parents to endeavour to provide their children with the necessary learning and teaching materials as a supplement to government's efforts. 21 July 09