A total of 2,362 candidates from 59 schools are taking part in the Basic Education Certificate Examination in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality.

Out of the number, four students were reported to be absent of which one is said to have died two months ago.

Mrs Catherine Davis, Municipal Education Director told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Tuesday, when the Municipal Chief Executive Mrs Christina Cobbinah visited the seven examination centres within the assembly.

The centres included Dompim-Nsueam, Catholic Junior High School, Fiaseman Senior High School and Tarkwa Senior High School.

The Municipal Education Director explained that, for the total schools registered, 42 were from the public schools as against 17 private schools.

She said total candidates from public schools are 1,803 of which 946 are males as against 857 females while 559 candidates were recorded from the private schools of which 285 are males 274 females.

Mrs Cobbinah, expressed delight that she did not witness any of the females being pregnant as compared to the subsequent years.

She commended the Municipal Health Directorate and Municipal Education outfit for the frequent educative programmes they had organised for the youth on the need to abstain from teenage pregnancy.

Mrs Cobbinah promised to assist them to continue to organise such programmes to eliminate the high rate of teenage pregnancy among the youth.**