The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has charged the government to as a matter of urgency, take some proactive actions to rescue candidates preparing to sit the Basiic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Chereponi in the North East Region.

Two ethnic groups in Chereponi, the Chokosis and Kokombas have over the past few weeks, attacked unsuspecting residents of the rival faction, maiming them and displacing hundreds which has resulted in many women and children fleeing the conflict-ravaged town.

The conflict has led to a situation where students in the area, especially BECE candidates feel unsafe and unstable even as they prepare for their final exams.

With only a week for the Basic Education Certificate Examination to begin, the National Union of Ghana Students believes that a lot more needs to be done immediately to take away the fear and panic that has currently engulfed the students.

NUGS has also recommended that government should as a matter of urgency, transfer all the BECE candidates within the conflict zone to a more peaceful and safe community nearby.

The union has also recommended that extra classes be organised for these candidates to be able “to make up for the uncompleted topics within the syllabus” and further get the the candidates counseled, to put them in the right state of mind, ahead of the exams.

They expressed optimism, that if government considers these recommendations, it would give the students the opportunity to write their exams in peace.

Read full statement below;

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

31/05/19

NUGS CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO TAKE PROACTIVE ACTIONS TO RESCUE BECE CANDIDATES IN CHEREPONI

At this momentous time in our lives, where education is seen as the key to success and a developmental tool for every developing country, we write with profound resentment with regards to the plight of the Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) candidates within the Chereponi District in the Northern Region.

As a result of the recent cleavages between the two major ethic groups within the said district which has led to mass wanton destructions, candidates preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) slated to begin on the 10th of June are in great panic and fear.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) therefore wishes to call on government to take the following proactive measures:

1.The BECE candidates within the conflict zone should be transferred to a more peaceful and safe nearby community.

2.They must be provided with counselling sessions, to ensure that they have a psychological serenity ahead of their exam.

3.There should be an organized special extra classes for the students in order to ensure that the candidates make up for the uncompleted topics within the syllabus

The NUGS secretariat firmly holds to the belief that, these measures would deem the BECE candidates within the affected areas fit and in good standing to write their exams successfully without any fear and panic for their lives. It is our hope that the government would consider these measures as soon as possible to give these students equal opportunity to write their exams in peace as their other colleagues in other parts of the country are enjoying.

Aluta Continua Victoria Ascerta_

Signed…… Walker Obeng Darkoh Press & Info. Secretary 0242763736

Sanctioned by; Gombilla S. Mohammed President 0200608218