Cape Coast, April 15, GNA - The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has started in earnest in all Senior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis.

When the Ghana News Agency visited some of the schools on Tuesday, students were seen busily writing the Oral English paper with all seriousness and attention. At the St. Augustine's College, the assistant headmaster in charge of academics, Mr Henry Arthur-Gyan who is also the supervisor, said out of the 399 candidates registered for the examination only one was absent and that everything was going on smoothly.

At the University Practice Senior High and Academy of Christ the King schools, which have 219 candidates each, there were no absentees. Both headmistresses, Mrs Juliana Owusu-Ansah and Mrs Aba Tachie-Menson, said there had been no problem and that the examination was going on as expected as the candidates have been given enough counselling and advice. The assistant headmaster in charge of academics at the Adisadel College, Mr Kofi Mensah Adator, however told the GNA that of the school's registered 401 candidates, four had been dismissed for various offences including drugs and robbery and were therefore not taking part in the examination. He said the remaining 397 were all present and were writing their papers.

Mr Jonathan Blankson, assistant headmaster, also in charge of academics at the Mfantsipim School said 443 candidates were registered, but two left the school after registering. He said everything was fine because the students have been well prepared for the examination. There were security personnel at all the examination centres visited. The examination is scheduled to end on May 28.