Four girls could not write this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) in the Akuapem North and Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipalities, due to pregnancy.

This came to light when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere and the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Rossetta Addison Sackey visited some examination centres in the two Municipality.

At the Mangoase Methodist Junior High School (JHS) in the Akuapem North Municipality where six schools were writing the examinations, a total of 158 candidates are expected to write the examinations.

Three were absent, all females, and two as a result of pregnancy, and one ill health.

The Regional Minister also visited the Adawso Presbyterian Primary and JHS, where 300 candidates from nine schools are writing the examinations.

There were three absentees, two being pregnant.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako also visited the Nsawam Presbyterian Basic Schools, where 408 candidates from 13 schools, made up 195 girls and 213 boys are writing the examinations.

One female pupil was absent because she was pregnant.

At the Nsawam Methodist Basic School Examination Centre, 324 candidates from nine schools, including three inmates of the Nsawam Prisons, are writing the examinations.

At the Saint Martin SHS Examination Centre, 402 candidates from 11 schools are writing the examinations with five absentees.

In the two Municipalities visited by the Regional Minister and his entourage, a total of 17 candidates were absent.

The Regional Minister admonished the candidates to observe all the examination rules so that they would not be found wanting.

Mrs. Sackey cautioned teachers to desist from loitering around examination centres.

In all, a total of 41,172 pupils are writing the BECE in the Eastern Region, made up of 22, 034 males and 19,138 females